What may be known about God is plain, because God has made it plain. Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator. (Romans 1:19-25)
This is just as true today as it was when written by Paul nearly 2000 years ago. The only thing that has changed is our “sophistication.” Science is now worshiped rather than physical icons. Astrophysicists have decided that the entire universe is the result of a “Big Bang” nearly 14 billion years ago. Perhaps, but what caused the Big Bang? Einstein’s theory, Mass is Energy divided by the speed of light, is being proven basically true. If we consider the total mass of the universe, we can only conclude that an inconceivably immense amount of energy was involved. Where did that energy come from? Scientists don’t want to consider that question, and it is very doubtful that it can ever be answered. We can only say, “In the beginning God . . . “
Carl Sagan said two things were needed for man to exist, and there must be thousands of inhabited planets in the Universe. Since his death, the requirements for life have been gradually increasing until now it is felt that life on a planet requires over one hundred correct conditions, and even the Earth does not meet all conditions. All we can say is, “But God . . . “
For the last several centuries our energy needs have been met by use of coal, oil, and gas deposits within the Earth’s crust. Scientists have calculated that these deposits were laid down when the Earth was covered by lush vegetative growth during the much warmer 60 million year Carboniferous Period of about 300 million years ago. Jewish historical records indicate that the God worshiped by both Jews and Christians knows both history and future. This can only be true if He is in a timeless “world.” We live in a three dimensional world with irreversible, one dimensional time. We can conceive of nothing else. For this discussion, however, if we accept the concept of God’s timeless world He would have understood our needs from the beginning of time. All we can say is, “And God . . . “
Today many have rejected the concept of a Holy God of creation who loves the World he created, along with everything in it. When we look around us, we see many things that really make no natural sense and we ask, “How can this have happened.” Scientists often create explanations which are not supported by observations. But if our mind is opened to an all-powerful, loving God who knows and meets our needs it falls together and makes sense. This is the God I worship – how about you?
