Creation vs. Evolution

Psalm 139:14 - I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. 

Ah, tackling a touchy topic! I was watching a program on creation. (Sorry, specifics about the program and the narrator have left the building!) The man narrating was once an agnostic science teacher who taught evolution until one day two of his students questioned his theory and he did some research...no doubt to debunk their theory. Long story short, his research drew him into relationship with Christ and opened his eyes to the truth.

Throughout the program he described various creatures and the complexity of each of their bodies, structures and natures. Each one was so very unique. He stated that there was no way all the hundreds of thousands of creatures could possibly have evolved from one single organism like the Big Bang theory supposes. They each had to have, from the very first egg, every component specific to their species.

The Word of God says: So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21)

At the end of the program we were shown a small airplane. We were told that "it seems clear that someone or a design team designed it for flight. But when some people consider how some creatures function, it seems strange to me that they don't acknowledge that same principle. When you look at these amazing animals and insects, it's clear they were remarkably and carefully designed."

This reminded me of Psalm 139 above. Each of us was uniquely designed. When we were conceived, every part of our structure was made to make us different from one another (even in twins, triplets, etc.) And we are unique even though we carry the same design parts as both our parents. Not even two fingerprints are the same. How can that be?

"What I see is art, creation, not a mindless random chance process that produced this thing," this man said. Here is a God who created and eventually came down from heaven into His own creation as the man Jesus Christ, that through His words and the great things He did we might even more realize what He did to create...and cause us to believe...and cause us to look to someone greater than ourselves for our salvation.

Creation happened that we might recognize this Creator, to see that the intricacies of each part of creation can only be designed by a super intelligent Designer. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20). When this is realized, we can only be completely taken aback, amazed that He does exist.

He exists that we might realize His incredible power, intelligence, even love for us that He would give us the things we sometimes might take for granted each day. Through His creation we can know Him, worship Him (not that we worship the creation over the Creator) and exalt Him for the greatness of who He is and what He has done. I thank God for what I am able to see each day.

We do not breathe apart from Him. We did not evolve into this world. We were uniquely created...by His hand. Although He might have created for His own pleasure, it's more about our recognizing Him and that He might draw us into a relationship with Him. He did it for us. He is more than able to provide us with just what we need. So thankful for His creation, His love, His wooing us into redemption. Thank You Jesus.

Jeremiah 10:12 - He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. 

This Is Your Nature

Psalm 19:1-3 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 

At last. A hint of real spring! I filled the bird feeders, grabbed my Bible and sat outside to relish the warm breeze, hear the sound of a gentle water feature we have and listen to the birds as they eagerly munched away and proclaimed their delight in more food.

As I sat there I praised God for all of this. The colors, the textures, sounds, fragrances...even the anxious dog frantically barking somewhere nearby. 

Nature is defined in two ways: The characteristics of human life and the characteristics of those living things among us. Amazing.

We are told that all of creation glorifies God; it reveals God's creative nature. It exemplifies His vast imagination. All the colors and textures. All the variety of fragrances and sounds. All created by one powerful and sovereign God. Who can dismiss the existence of a Divine Creator? It's all too great and mysterious.

He has brought all this into existence for His own pleasure. But there's more. He brought us into existence for His own great pleasure, too. He loves us so much that He has given us His best. Can't you see it when you look out a window or walk in a park?

Speaking of which, He also gave us His best when He came down from His throne and lived on earth with us in the person of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! He gave us His best so that we might believe in Him and receive Him into our lives.

His human creation failed Him. And He knew He had to do something about that. He is holy and cannot be in the presence of our sinful nature. We were cut off from entering into His presence. 

Yet look at what He still does for us...He still provides us His nature in nature. We don't deserve all this. Just like He has given us His son that our sins might be forgiven. We don't deserve that either.

I hear the gurgling sound of the water nearby and think of Jesus as our Living Water. He is a wellspring of life. He is our refreshing...when we know Him as our own Lord and Savior. We cannot live without water. Neither can any living thing we see outside. 

Now go a step further, life is in the blood. Without blood we cannot exist. Just as we cannot exist without blood in the natural neither can we live without blood in the spiritual. We all need the cleansing power of Jesus' blood for our eternal life. Leviticus 17:11 tells us, For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. This may be Old Testament, God speaking to Moses, but consider it as Jesus' words to you. 

Nature has much to show us...and tell us. Our lives imitate nature. God is in control of all. We have our own seasons of life. He brings life in this world, He brings life to all living things and He causes all the seasons to rise and wane. Our lives come to an end as does nature. Can you grasp all this? It's amazing.

If He cares so much about us, why shouldn't we regard Him with the love that is due Him? How can we go a day without thinking of Him, seeking Him, seeing His nature in what we view as we live each day? His nature surrounds us in what we view and as we realize the Divine power of His creativity. When you take notice of a sunset or clouds, or storms and lightening, or flowers and trees, consider them as God's qualities, His nature. It's here all for us...that we might realize Him.

Psalm 36:5-7 - Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.