Where Were We When God Laid the Foundations of the Earth?
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
I am a
creationist, a bit of an iconoclastic creationist, but still a creationist. I believe that my God is capable of speaking
the universe into being in any amount of time He would choose to do it, even in
nanoseconds. Moreover, I know the
importance of believing that God created the universe with a purpose and plan
in mind. I also believe that when we try
to explain how it all came about, not even the most ardent, educated, dedicated
creationist can possibly explain how God brought it all together.
We must
remember that evolutionary theory is founded in pagan religion just as creation
is founded in the Word of God. One is the tree of determining good and evil
that leads to death. The other is the
tree of life. Either choice is based on
faith.
Quoting
from an earlier article that I wrote, “The theory of evolution is not a modern
phenomenon. It is as ancient as
mankind. It is replete in the ancient
creation stories. In the predominant
Greek creation story, the Titan Prometheus created mankind from clay and Athena
breathed the divine spirit into them. In
the process of creating man, Prometheus created all other animal forms. He began with simple forms such as worms and
snakes. As he became more skilled, his
creations became more complex. After he
created monkeys and apes, he produced man. “ [i]
According to the myth, Prometheus was punished for his kindness to man.
Because
we are human, we can conceive and discuss spiritual phenomena only in human,
finite terms. Whether we are creationists or evolutionists, our human efforts
are inadequate. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the
LORD."For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts
(Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV).
In our endeavor to explain God, we
usually anthropomorphize Him. As we
attempt to explain the deeper truths, we often transform God into our
image. We forget that we are created in
His image and that He is transforming us by the renewing of our minds. We are in a process. John explains that process, “Beloved,
now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see
Him as He is” (1 John 3:2 NKJV).
God is not bound by our concepts of time. A 24-hour day as we know it didn’t occur
until the fourth day of creation when the sun, moon and stars were created. “The ancient Greeks had two
words for time, chronos and kairos. While the former refers to chronological or
sequential time, the latter signifies a time lapse, a moment of indeterminate
time in which everything happens.”[ii] God moves in kairos which cannot be measured
by a clock or a calendar. “Kairos” is
used more than 80 times in the New Testament.
“In the course of one day, Job receives
four messages, each bearing separate news that his livestock, servants, and ten
children have all died due to marauding invaders or natural catastrophes. Job
tears his clothes and shaves his head in mourning, but he still blesses God in
his prayers. Satan appears in heaven again, and God grants him another chance
to test Job. This time, Job is afflicted with horrible skin sores. His wife
encourages him to curse God and to give up and die, but Job refuses, struggling
to accept his circumstances.
“Three
of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to visit him, sitting with
Job in silence for seven days out of respect for his mourning. On the seventh
day, Job speaks, beginning a conversation in which each of the four men shares
his thoughts on Job’s afflictions in long, poetic statements.
”Job
curses the day he was born, comparing life and death to light and darkness…
Eliphaz believes that Job’s agony must be due to some sin Job has committed,
and he urges Job to seek God’s favor. Bildad and Zophar agree that Job must
have committed evil to offend God’s justice and argue that he should strive to
exhibit more blameless behavior. Bildad surmises that Job’s children brought
their deaths upon themselves. Even worse, Zophar implies that whatever wrong
Job has done probably deserves greater punishment than what he has received.
“Job
responds to each of these remarks, growing so irritated that he calls his
friends “worthless physicians” who “whitewash [their advice] with lies” (13:4).
After making pains to assert his blameless character, Job ponders man’s
relationship to God. He wonders why God judges people by their actions if God
can just as easily alter or forgive their behavior. It is also unclear to Job
how a human can appease or court God’s justice. God is unseen, and his ways are
inscrutable and beyond human understanding. Moreover, humans cannot possibly
persuade God with their words. God cannot be deceived, and Job admits that he
does not even understand himself well enough to effectively plead his case to
God. ..
“Job’s
friends are offended that he scorns their wisdom... Job sustains his confidence
in spite of these criticisms, responding that even if he has done evil, it is
his own personal problem. Furthermore, he believes that there is a “witness” or
a “Redeemer” in heaven who will vouch for his innocence (16:19, 19:25). After a
while, the upbraiding proves too much for Job, and he grows sarcastic,
impatient, and afraid. …
“Without
provocation, another friend, Elihu, suddenly enters the conversation. The young
Elihu believes that Job has spent too much energy vindicating himself rather
than God. Elihu explains to Job that God communicates with humans by two
ways—visions and physical pain. He says that physical suffering provides the
sufferer with an opportunity to realize God’s love and forgiveness when he is
well again, understanding that God has “ransomed” him from an impending death
(33:24). Elihu also assumes that Job must be wicked to be suffering as he is,
and he thinks that Job’s excessive talking is an act of rebellion against God.
“God
finally interrupts, calling from a whirlwind and demanding Job to be brave and
respond to his questions. God’s questions are rhetorical, intending to show how
little Job knows about creation and how much power God alone has… Overwhelmed
by the encounter, Job acknowledges God’s unlimited power and admits the
limitations of his human knowledge. This response pleases God.” [iii]
While I am unable to explain the creation, I know the importance of a God-created universe. God created the universe, and He created me. I know that He does all things decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40) I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I know that my life has meaning and purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11) I know that God desires the best for me. (John10:10). I know that before the foundation of the world, God chose that His only begotten Son would go to the cross for me. (Revelation 13:8) Because God is the Creator, I have hope in spite of what is happening in the world around me.
Pray:
▪ For
Christians to walk in the admonition of Titus 3:9:
“But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the
law; for they are unprofitable and useless.” (NKLV)
▪ That we will repent of being wise in our own eyes. (Proverbs 3:7)
No comments:
Post a Comment