There is something in each of us that causes us to wonder where we come from, why we are here and how everything else came into existence. Yet creation is one of the most hotly debated and challenged doctrines of the Christian faith.
While the Bible reveals our earth is about 6,000 years old, those who oppose the gospel date the earth at about 4.5 billion years old. Quite a difference! But where did everything really come from? How did mankind come into existence? Why does it even matter?
You see, if biblical creation is not valid, then everything else we believe is at stake.
The first sentence in Scripture tells us that God is the Creator. “In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (Amplified)
Last year, I wrote a post entitled, Created By God and For God in which I examined the first verb we find in Scripture, created. It’s the word bara’. And while there’s nothing surprising about its definition, the fact that it is always used in conjunction with God as the subject is foundational to the doctrine of creation.
Sandwiched between the biblical definition of faith and the roll call of faith is this verse…
“By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3 (Amplified)
It is God who created all that exists. To believe that it could be anything else would require much more faith than it takes to simply trust that what God said is true. Although some still put their faith in the failed attempts of science to disprove the biblical account of creation, we believe the Word of the Living God.
Other than the ones already mentioned, let’s look at other verses that remind us that it is God who created the heavens and the earth and all living things:
Deuteronomy 4:32 – God created mankind
Psalm 102:18 – future generations will be created to praise Him
Psalm 148:1-14 – all creation is created to praise God
Isaiah 40 – God is not only the Creator and Sustainer, He is also the upholder of our weary souls
Isaiah 42:4 – God is the infallible Creator
Isaiah 45:11 – We are the work of His hands
Colossians 1:15-17 – He is before all things and Creator of all things
And while there is some debate as to the “hows” of creation even in Christian circles, there is no debate as to the “WHO”. As Galileo once said, “the Holy Ghost intended to teach us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.”
As you contemplate the certainty of creation, remember that you are a masterpiece, divinely designed from a heart of love and with a purpose in mind. The days you are given on Planted Earth are not random moments of existence. Like Esther, you were placed here for such a time as this. Carefully crafted by the Creator of all things – to glorify God – to impact a generation.
Knowing you were created matters because:
It reminds you that you are valuable – Psalm 139:13-18
It reminds you that God has a plan for your life – Jeremiah 1:3-6, Jeremiah 29:11
It reminds you that you have work to do while walking on Planet Earth – Ephesians 2:10
It reminds you that you are accountable – Hebrews 9:27
Knowing we were created by God and for God makes all the difference in the world. It give us peace, purpose and hope. I’m so amazed at the unfathomable love of God – that He would create us knowing He would have to die for us! Love so amazing!
Like David, I cry out, “LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?”
And then I am reminded, I am His creation…and so are you!
How does knowing God created you affect your life?
Some great resources to help you dig deeper into the doctrine of creation are:
Strobel, Lee. The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God
Ross, Hugh. The Genesis Question: Scientific Advances and the Accuracy of Genesis
Websites: http://www.answersingenesis.org/ , http://www.icr.org/ , http://www.christiananswers.net/creation/
I love the line, “As you contemplate the certainty of creation, remember that you are a masterpiece, divinely designed from a heart of love and with a purpose in mind.”
Until reading this post, I had never really thought about the converse of this: Believing that creation was formed from random chance leaves little hope that one has any significant place in this world. What a dreary thought on which many hang the very foundation of who they are and why they are here!
Thanks for a great word this morning.
Natalie ~ You’re so right! Significance is wrapped up in whether we are just a mere accumulation of molecules or a Loving God intentionally created us. Oh, and how dreary it would be to live without knowing we are a masterpiece of the the Diving kind! :-) Thanks so much for sharing that!
Thanks Stephanie! Great reminder on Valentine’s Day that we were created by God and we can experience His amazing love!
Kathy ~ When I was preparing for this I was thinking about how awesome it is that this fell on Valentines Day. Then after I was finished I realized I didn’t write anything about that beautiful connection. But I was truly overwhelmed by how great the Father’s love is for us! Yes…amazing love!! :-)
Trusting in the account of creation as God’s Word tells it gives me confidence to believe all that follows it. How amazing that you point out that He still created us, though He knew it would mean He would have to die for us. Such love!
Julie ~ I love that you used the word “confidence”. Isn’t it wonderful that we can be confident in and of His love! AMEN!