A brief piece I wrote on November 22, 2006 and have resurrected adding a few additional thoughts:
When an astronomer peers through his telescope and discovers eight lifeless rocks orbiting our Sun along with billions of other planets in the universe and finds no evidence of a planet as unique as Earth, I would think that he has to conclude with certainty that this is a result of a supernatural creative work.
Even when I was a child examining the fragile environment wrapped around this planet we call Earth and it’s balance of life maintained second by second, I have always been compelled to acknowledge that we are all wonderfully and fearfully made. Earth is by no means some random explosion of elements which over billions of years happened to evolve into this remarkable planet. Preposterous! Add to that, living creatures with DNA so complex that it staggers the mind to think it could have been some cosmic crap shoot of chance. No amount of time would lend itself in support of the arguments of contemporary evolutionary claims.
Scripture says that the Christian has creation itself as ‘a priori’ evidence of the existence of a transcendental creator/sustainer: Romans 1:20- ‘Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.’ The Christian has so many incomparable reasons for faith as we live our lives as visitors enjoying a brief moment in the corridor of time. Let us enjoy the blessings of holding unswervingly to the truths in Scripture.
Allow me to share a few significant passages which really spoke to me upon first reading them concerning God, the Creator, our great Architect:
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16
Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the Lord is his name. Amos 9:6
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11
Fast forward to 2023, I would add this crucial portion of Romans 8, a message of hope: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
God has eternity all worked out for which I am grateful. Even though our present world is decaying morally and physically, I completely trust Him knowing one day soon I will see Him face to face. Meanwhile, I patiently wait with great hope. Here’s one reason why:
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5
Amen!
Jim
I love your posts ! One weekend soon I’ll have time to go they very carefully! Thank you !!
Amen. You compiled a lot of evidence to show our faith is reasonable. We're not spiritual wingnuts for believing God's word.