Our Creator God
What do art and inventions have in common? Both are a form of creation if we define creation as something produced by a person’s original and unique imagination, ideas, and thoughts. The key difference between these two concepts is their intent. Art focuses on communicating and expressing feelings, ideas, and thoughts, but inventions focus on meeting needs, solving problems, and improving the quality of life. Art primarily influences culture, whereas inventios primarily affect behavior.
In either case, however, society recognizes the importance of acknowledging the source of creation. That’s why our legal system provides copyright protection to artists and patent protection to inventors. Copyright protection ensures that a person’s artwork is attributed to them and is not attributed or stolen by someone else. Patent law ensures that a person’s invention is attributed to them and is not attributed or stolen by someone else.
Why do we create things? We’ll answer this question further in a future sermon, when we consider God’s creation of mankind, but we can acknowledge today that we create things because we were created by God to do so. Why did he make us this way? Because he himself is a creative God and the only true creator.
Why do I say he is the only true creator? Because any creating we do as humans is secondary and derivative. By this I mean that anything we create, whether art or invention, merely interprets, manipulates, reapplies, rearranges, or reflects ideas, impressions, or materials first created or provided by God. Only God is the true creator because only God has ever created anything (or rather everything) from nothing (ex nihilo). As 1 Cor 4:7 rightly observes, “What do you have that you did not receive?”
For this reason, it is imperative that we give credit (or glory) to God for his creation of the universe. When we fail to acknowledge, appreciate, and praise God as Creator, we dull our conscience and our hearts shift away from God, leading to an increasingly godless, meaningless, sinful, and unsatisfying lifestyle.
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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Rom 1:20-21)
Today, let’s take a look at the creation of the universe to increase our appreciation and understanding of God as the one, true God who made everything. May this look encourage us not only to be like him, but to respond to him with greater humility and praise. And may it not only increase our curiosity and fascination with the wonders of the created world, but may it increase our commitment to obey and submit to him.
Creation reveals the absolute power of God’s Word.
From this passage, we see not only the fact that God created the universe (which we acknowledged last week), but also the means by which he created it and the timeframe in which he did so.
First, we see the means by which God created the universe. He did so with his Word, that is, he spoke it into existence. The key phrase, “God said,” appears 10 times at regular intervals throughout Genesis 1. This is how God created the world. This is how he made everything.
No other being has such power or is so effective with words. We are impressed by authors who can write captivating stories, stories which can capture the imagination of millions of readers and can, in some cases, can even change the opinions and influence the behavior of society. But no author or speaker of any kind can create something from nothing – except God.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; t shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isa 55:10-11)
Knowing the power of God’s Word underscores our need to know, cherish, and do what God says. Thankfully, we have an accurate and reliable record of God’s Word, which we call the Bible and Scripture, which is God’s Word given to us in writing, so that we know not only what he has created but why he has created and how he intends for us to live.
This is why Jesus said:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4).
When he said this, he was actually quoting what Moses said centuries before:
“that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut 8:3).
Did you know that it is impossible to believe on Christ for salvation without accurate and personal exposure to the Word of God?
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)
It is also impossible to follow and become like Christ without persistent examination of, exposure to, and obedience to God’s Word. God’s Word creates faith in us, and it also guides, nourishes, and strengthens our faith over time. No other book, influence, or source of information has this sort of faith-building, life-giving power.
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. (1 Pet 2:2)
Just as it is impossible for a plant or garden to grow well and produce fruit without regular intake of sunlight and water or for an infant to grow and be healthy without nursing, so it is impossible to grow well and to produce fruit as a follower of Christ without consistent intake of, submission to, and obedience to God’s Word.
If you believe in the God of the Bible and have trusted in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, then you must regularly read, study, and submit to God’s Word in the Bible. You should also submit yourself to the teaching ministry of your church, in one-on-one, small group, and congregational settings.
Next, we see not only the means by which God created the universe – with his Word, we also see the timeframe in which he did so. He created the universe in the time equivalent to six solar days. I say “equivalent to” because an actual solar day did not exist until the fourth day of creation, since God did not create the sun and moon until then. Even so, the length of time for each day was the same length of time as a solar day, which we also understand to be twenty-four hours long.
Why is it important to believe that God created the universe in six twenty-four-hour days? For at least two reasons. First, to uphold the correct and responsible way to read and understand Scripture, which is to accept what it plainly says; to follow normal, usual means of reading words and understanding what they say based upon definitions of words that are shaped by grammar, syntax, and style of writing (whether historical record, poetry, letter, etc.). Second, to refute the erroneous theory of macro-evolution which, among many other errors, suggests that the creation or formation of the universe occurred over much longer periods of time, usually suggesting intervals as long as hundreds of millions of years.
Though many advocates for macro-evolution disregard Scripture entirely, some – even well-meaning believers – attempt to support this theory from Scripture. To do so, they often point out that the Hebrew word for day (yom), which is another key word in Genesis 1, appearing 9 times, may refer to periods of time much longer than a 24-hour calendar day. They suggest what is called the Day-Age Theory.
It is true that yom can mean something more than a twenty-four-hour day. In a broad sense, it can refer to any period of time which is characterized by some unifying feature or quality, such as when “the Day of the Lord” (a period of multiple years) refers to a long period of time characterized by a dramatic and unusual degree of judgment by God or when we say each other, “We live in a difficult day” (referring to an undefined period of time, like an era or generation, characterized by a difficult economy, culture, etc.).
But this possible meaning of a long period of time does not mean that this is what yom always or usually means any more than our English word day must always or usually mean something more than a 24-hour period.
To know what yom means when it is used, we must look at the place in Scripture where it is used to see whether it refers to a longer period of time or an actual twenty-four-hour day. Let’s look at some clues from Genesis 1 to find out what yom means in Creation.
"The Evening and Morning"
In Genesis 1, the phrase "the evening and the morning" (6 times) precedes the word day. This additional description limits the meaning of the word day to a twenty-four-hour period. This tells us that the word yom should not be understood as a long period of time in this case but should be understood as an actual twenty-four-hour day.
Additionally, some people claim that Genesis 1 should be read as poetry and not in a literal, factual, historical way, but this is untrue. Genesis 1 is written as a factual, historical record and does not have the qualities of Hebrew poetry.
Plants Before Sun
Gen 1:11-13 places the creation of plant life on Day 3, while Gen 1:14-19 places the creation of the sun on Day 4. If the Day-Age Theory is correct, then plant life would have come into existence and evolved over a long period of time without sunlight and photosynthesis, which is a problematic and implausible scenario for sure. In other words, plant life would have existed for millions of years without photosynthesis. If God created the world in six, literal days, though, then this presents no such problem, since plant life could exist for less than 24-hours without sunlight.
From the Beginning
The Day-Age Theory contradicts how Jesus himself described Creation when he spoke about God’s creation of marriage (which we’ll look at more closely in a future sermon from Genesis 2). He described marriage as being “from the beginning of creation” (Mark 10:6). This phrase indicates that God created marriage from the beginning of time. Such a description fits well with creating marriage on the sixth solar day of history, but it does not fit at all with creating marriage after hundreds of millions of years had first elapsed.
The Entrance of Death
Finally, from a theological standpoint, this may be the most important observation in this debate. If the Day-Age Theory is correct, then death would have occurred in the world before human beings came into existence. I say this because plants and animals would have died in the millions of years before mankind existed. Even if a millions-of-years evolutionary process is true (which it is not), their interpretation of the geological layers of Earth’s surface also requires this to be the case.
But Rom 5:12 clearly teaches that there was no death before Adam and Eve sinned.
Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Also, Rom 8:20-22 teaches that this curse of death extended to the rest of the created world – as a result of mankind’s sin and not beforehand.
The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
This is significant because Christ’s death and resurrection is the basis for rescuing and restoring everything that was cursed as a result of mankind’s sin. If death existed in the world before mankind sinned for millions of years, as macro-evolution suggests, then Christ’s death does not resolve that scenario and Scripture does not speak about that. But Scripture, instead, teaches that Adam’s sin ruined everything and is the cause for all death and destruction in the world, and that Christ’s death will restore everything. In this way, the Day-Age theory, when applied to all six days of creation, contradicts the sufficiency of the gospel.
These four biblical clues, both from Gen 1 and the NT show that the Day-Age Theory is wrong, regardless of what unbelieving scientists may claim or suggest. These biblical observations show that God created the world and life in six, twenty-four-hour days.
Why is this important to understand and believe? First, so that we give full and proper credit to God for creating the world. Second, to uphold a correct view of the gospel. And third, to ensure that when what this world considers to be accurate scientific knowledge (such as the theory of macro-evolution and a timeline consisting of millions of years to bring about the universe and the many lifeforms on earth), then we can and must reject such so-called hypothetical knowledge and believe what the Bible says instead. Is your faith in God and the clear teaching of his Word strong?
God’s creation of the world not only reveals the absolute power of his Word. It also reveals his unparalleled artistry.
The universe reveals God’s unparalleled artistry.
What can you get done in a day? Have you ever wished you could have a few extra hours to get things done? Have you ever faced a deadline which seemed impossible to meet? Perhaps there are students among us who feel as though they have more schoolwork than they can finish well by the end of the year – or perhaps we have some teachers and professors who feel the same way with their end-of-year responsibilities?
Despite the relatively brief timeframe in which God created the universe (six solar days), we can conclude from Genesis 1 that God felt no time constraints. For him, a day is no different than a thousand years (2 Pet 3:8), which means that 365,000 days (1,000 years) in our human experience is no different than a 24-hour day in God’s experience.
Compare this unlimitedness to our limited human experience and perspective. According to some estimates, human beings have explored (or rather seen in some fashion or other) only about 4% of the universe. Perhaps even more fascinating is that according to other estimates, we have explored only about 5% of the Earth’s oceans and have only mapped approx. 10% of Earth’s oceans with sonar. This is esp. fascinating when you realize that abt. 70% of the Earth’s surface is ocean, not land.
Yet when we read Genesis 1, we see that God not only created but personally observed and evaluated the entire universe. He made it, he looked at it, and he called it good. Six times in Genesis 1, we read, “God saw that it was good.” Then after he created everything, it says, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good” (Gen 1:31). To be “good” means to be exactly how it should be, to be appropriate, beautiful, correct, favorable, and morally right. Most importantly, it means to be enjoyable and pleasing to a holy God. What did God make and see that he called good?
Consider the number of stars out there, most or all of which are significantly larger than our sun. Astronomers estimate that there are approx. 100 billion stars in our own Milky Way galaxy (that’s 1 followed by 9 zeroes). Then they estimate that there are up to 200 sextillion stars altogether (that’s 1 followed by 24 zeroes).
Despite this immeasurable, incomprehensible vastness, Gen 1:16 simply says, “He made the stars also.” Most literally, it actually says, “the stars, also,” making it sound as though for God to create all these stars in one day was no big deal.
From another angle, let’s ask how long it would take to travel to various destinations in the universe, by current measurements and with current technology (according to sources cited by USA Today:
When we read Genesis 1, we encounter a kaleidoscopic tour of the universe and we realize just how creative our God truly is. The diversity of objects and phenomenon in the universe is matched by the topographical and biological diversity on Earth.
By topographical, I am referring to the diversity of land and water locations and phenomenon. This calls to mind the scientific word biome, which refers to nine main categories of climates and land-types in our world. These are: (1) marine biome (like corral reefs, oceans, etc.), (2) freshwater (rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.), (3) savannah (grasslands), (4) evergreen forests, (5) tundra (snowy climates), (6) desert, (7) deciduous forests, and (8) rainforests.
By biological, I am referring to the diversity of life forms and kind of life. From non-life forms (such as liquids, minerals, etc.) to non-intelligent life forms such as plants, to intelligent life forms such as animals, God made them all. Then consider the variety and diversity within each realm.
Current research indicates that there are 118 chemical elements with unique molecular structures and properties, which combine in a variety of ways to form a variety of materials.
Current research also indicates that there are from 320,000 to 382,000 species of plants.
When we consider the diversity we see in the realm of intelligent animal life, here, too, we see an astounding degree of variety. Here that we should acknowledge what we call “taxonomy” today. This terminology refers to how we identify and classify animals in our world. According to Carl Linnaeus (a Christian scientist of the 1700s), we can classify animals (and life) in the following structure:
According to recent estimates, there are approximately 45 animal orders in the world, followed by 20,000 animal families, which expands to 239,093 genus groups, then approx. 213 million species. Altogether, by some estimates (and how can we know for sure), there are approx. 10 quintillion of animals alive in the world (which includes insects, birds, water animals, and land animals) – that’s 10 billion, billion!
What does all this astronomy, geology, and biology data mean? Well, first, it means that there is a lot of variety in the world!
What does this variety tell us about God? It tells us that God appreciates and values diversity, the kind of diversity we see in the world. He created the vast diversity of our universe and is therefore, himself, a complex God with an unparalleled artistic, beautiful, and majestic nature.
For those who believe in God and in Christ as our God and Savior, we should let the reality of God’s unparalleled artistry in Creation motivate us to (1) explore and better understand his world, (2) to enjoy the natural world more attentively, and (3) to express the artistic, creative abilities God has given to us individually.
The universe reveals the goodness of God-designed distinctions.
Here we should note how this modern animal classification system relates to the Genesis creation account. And what Genesis calls “kind” (“according to its kind”) corresponds most closely to what we call either a family today. And while the reality is a bit more complex than this simplified explanation, the general principle is that this “kind” classification of Genesis 1 refers to animals which are able to procreate together.
So, for instance, fish cannot procreate with mammals, and cats cannot procreate with dogs. These are God-designed distinctions which set boundaries and limits on the astounding diversity which God has created. Also, this is why I have used the term previously of “macro-evolution” as a wrong, secular theory to reject. That’s because “micro-evolution” is a biblically acceptable concept, in which genetic adaptations, changed, and mutations do occur within species and perhaps genus. Changes happen, for instance, through breeding. But what does not and never has happened is changes between kinds, in which a cat turns into a dog, a fish turns into a mammal, etc.
Here are some of the “big picture” distinctions we see in Genesis 1:
In a future message, we will also observe that God created two distinct genders, too – male and female. When we consider these distinctions, we must accept that to acknowledge God as God and as the creator of all things, we must acknowledge, accept, and honor the distinctions and limitations he has designed into our world as well.
In the name of creative pursuits, scientific advancement and innovation, or self-expression, we should seek to glorify and reveal the goodness of God, not the fallenness of our selfish, sinful nature. And we should honor and uphold the God-given boundaries and distinctions he has placed into our world. This is how we glorify and honor God and remain most free and satisfied in our human experience. When we ignore God’s distinctions and boundaries as the original artist and designer of our world, we will – as Rom 1:20-21 warns – dull our conscience and shift our hearts away from God, leading to an increasingly godless, meaningless, sinful, and unsatisfying lifestyle and society.
May our belief in God as the creator of our world, as taught by Genesis 1, increase our appreciation and understanding of God as the one, true God who made everything. May we not only seek to be like him as we depend upon and follow Christ by faith as God and Savior, but to respond to him also with greater humility and praise.
May we read and study his Word more seriously, recognizing the unmatched authority and power of his Word in our lives today – as the Word which created the universe. And may we appreciate, enjoy, and explore the world that God has made and give ourselves to creative pursuits which bring glory to him and bring others to believe in him, as well.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psa 8:3-9)
Discussion Questions
In either case, however, society recognizes the importance of acknowledging the source of creation. That’s why our legal system provides copyright protection to artists and patent protection to inventors. Copyright protection ensures that a person’s artwork is attributed to them and is not attributed or stolen by someone else. Patent law ensures that a person’s invention is attributed to them and is not attributed or stolen by someone else.
Why do we create things? We’ll answer this question further in a future sermon, when we consider God’s creation of mankind, but we can acknowledge today that we create things because we were created by God to do so. Why did he make us this way? Because he himself is a creative God and the only true creator.
Why do I say he is the only true creator? Because any creating we do as humans is secondary and derivative. By this I mean that anything we create, whether art or invention, merely interprets, manipulates, reapplies, rearranges, or reflects ideas, impressions, or materials first created or provided by God. Only God is the true creator because only God has ever created anything (or rather everything) from nothing (ex nihilo). As 1 Cor 4:7 rightly observes, “What do you have that you did not receive?”
For this reason, it is imperative that we give credit (or glory) to God for his creation of the universe. When we fail to acknowledge, appreciate, and praise God as Creator, we dull our conscience and our hearts shift away from God, leading to an increasingly godless, meaningless, sinful, and unsatisfying lifestyle.
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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Rom 1:20-21)
Today, let’s take a look at the creation of the universe to increase our appreciation and understanding of God as the one, true God who made everything. May this look encourage us not only to be like him, but to respond to him with greater humility and praise. And may it not only increase our curiosity and fascination with the wonders of the created world, but may it increase our commitment to obey and submit to him.
Creation reveals the absolute power of God’s Word.
From this passage, we see not only the fact that God created the universe (which we acknowledged last week), but also the means by which he created it and the timeframe in which he did so.
First, we see the means by which God created the universe. He did so with his Word, that is, he spoke it into existence. The key phrase, “God said,” appears 10 times at regular intervals throughout Genesis 1. This is how God created the world. This is how he made everything.
No other being has such power or is so effective with words. We are impressed by authors who can write captivating stories, stories which can capture the imagination of millions of readers and can, in some cases, can even change the opinions and influence the behavior of society. But no author or speaker of any kind can create something from nothing – except God.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; t shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isa 55:10-11)
Knowing the power of God’s Word underscores our need to know, cherish, and do what God says. Thankfully, we have an accurate and reliable record of God’s Word, which we call the Bible and Scripture, which is God’s Word given to us in writing, so that we know not only what he has created but why he has created and how he intends for us to live.
This is why Jesus said:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4).
When he said this, he was actually quoting what Moses said centuries before:
“that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut 8:3).
Did you know that it is impossible to believe on Christ for salvation without accurate and personal exposure to the Word of God?
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)
It is also impossible to follow and become like Christ without persistent examination of, exposure to, and obedience to God’s Word. God’s Word creates faith in us, and it also guides, nourishes, and strengthens our faith over time. No other book, influence, or source of information has this sort of faith-building, life-giving power.
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. (1 Pet 2:2)
Just as it is impossible for a plant or garden to grow well and produce fruit without regular intake of sunlight and water or for an infant to grow and be healthy without nursing, so it is impossible to grow well and to produce fruit as a follower of Christ without consistent intake of, submission to, and obedience to God’s Word.
If you believe in the God of the Bible and have trusted in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, then you must regularly read, study, and submit to God’s Word in the Bible. You should also submit yourself to the teaching ministry of your church, in one-on-one, small group, and congregational settings.
Next, we see not only the means by which God created the universe – with his Word, we also see the timeframe in which he did so. He created the universe in the time equivalent to six solar days. I say “equivalent to” because an actual solar day did not exist until the fourth day of creation, since God did not create the sun and moon until then. Even so, the length of time for each day was the same length of time as a solar day, which we also understand to be twenty-four hours long.
Why is it important to believe that God created the universe in six twenty-four-hour days? For at least two reasons. First, to uphold the correct and responsible way to read and understand Scripture, which is to accept what it plainly says; to follow normal, usual means of reading words and understanding what they say based upon definitions of words that are shaped by grammar, syntax, and style of writing (whether historical record, poetry, letter, etc.). Second, to refute the erroneous theory of macro-evolution which, among many other errors, suggests that the creation or formation of the universe occurred over much longer periods of time, usually suggesting intervals as long as hundreds of millions of years.
Though many advocates for macro-evolution disregard Scripture entirely, some – even well-meaning believers – attempt to support this theory from Scripture. To do so, they often point out that the Hebrew word for day (yom), which is another key word in Genesis 1, appearing 9 times, may refer to periods of time much longer than a 24-hour calendar day. They suggest what is called the Day-Age Theory.
It is true that yom can mean something more than a twenty-four-hour day. In a broad sense, it can refer to any period of time which is characterized by some unifying feature or quality, such as when “the Day of the Lord” (a period of multiple years) refers to a long period of time characterized by a dramatic and unusual degree of judgment by God or when we say each other, “We live in a difficult day” (referring to an undefined period of time, like an era or generation, characterized by a difficult economy, culture, etc.).
But this possible meaning of a long period of time does not mean that this is what yom always or usually means any more than our English word day must always or usually mean something more than a 24-hour period.
To know what yom means when it is used, we must look at the place in Scripture where it is used to see whether it refers to a longer period of time or an actual twenty-four-hour day. Let’s look at some clues from Genesis 1 to find out what yom means in Creation.
"The Evening and Morning"
In Genesis 1, the phrase "the evening and the morning" (6 times) precedes the word day. This additional description limits the meaning of the word day to a twenty-four-hour period. This tells us that the word yom should not be understood as a long period of time in this case but should be understood as an actual twenty-four-hour day.
Additionally, some people claim that Genesis 1 should be read as poetry and not in a literal, factual, historical way, but this is untrue. Genesis 1 is written as a factual, historical record and does not have the qualities of Hebrew poetry.
Plants Before Sun
Gen 1:11-13 places the creation of plant life on Day 3, while Gen 1:14-19 places the creation of the sun on Day 4. If the Day-Age Theory is correct, then plant life would have come into existence and evolved over a long period of time without sunlight and photosynthesis, which is a problematic and implausible scenario for sure. In other words, plant life would have existed for millions of years without photosynthesis. If God created the world in six, literal days, though, then this presents no such problem, since plant life could exist for less than 24-hours without sunlight.
From the Beginning
The Day-Age Theory contradicts how Jesus himself described Creation when he spoke about God’s creation of marriage (which we’ll look at more closely in a future sermon from Genesis 2). He described marriage as being “from the beginning of creation” (Mark 10:6). This phrase indicates that God created marriage from the beginning of time. Such a description fits well with creating marriage on the sixth solar day of history, but it does not fit at all with creating marriage after hundreds of millions of years had first elapsed.
The Entrance of Death
Finally, from a theological standpoint, this may be the most important observation in this debate. If the Day-Age Theory is correct, then death would have occurred in the world before human beings came into existence. I say this because plants and animals would have died in the millions of years before mankind existed. Even if a millions-of-years evolutionary process is true (which it is not), their interpretation of the geological layers of Earth’s surface also requires this to be the case.
But Rom 5:12 clearly teaches that there was no death before Adam and Eve sinned.
Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Also, Rom 8:20-22 teaches that this curse of death extended to the rest of the created world – as a result of mankind’s sin and not beforehand.
The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
This is significant because Christ’s death and resurrection is the basis for rescuing and restoring everything that was cursed as a result of mankind’s sin. If death existed in the world before mankind sinned for millions of years, as macro-evolution suggests, then Christ’s death does not resolve that scenario and Scripture does not speak about that. But Scripture, instead, teaches that Adam’s sin ruined everything and is the cause for all death and destruction in the world, and that Christ’s death will restore everything. In this way, the Day-Age theory, when applied to all six days of creation, contradicts the sufficiency of the gospel.
These four biblical clues, both from Gen 1 and the NT show that the Day-Age Theory is wrong, regardless of what unbelieving scientists may claim or suggest. These biblical observations show that God created the world and life in six, twenty-four-hour days.
Why is this important to understand and believe? First, so that we give full and proper credit to God for creating the world. Second, to uphold a correct view of the gospel. And third, to ensure that when what this world considers to be accurate scientific knowledge (such as the theory of macro-evolution and a timeline consisting of millions of years to bring about the universe and the many lifeforms on earth), then we can and must reject such so-called hypothetical knowledge and believe what the Bible says instead. Is your faith in God and the clear teaching of his Word strong?
God’s creation of the world not only reveals the absolute power of his Word. It also reveals his unparalleled artistry.
The universe reveals God’s unparalleled artistry.
What can you get done in a day? Have you ever wished you could have a few extra hours to get things done? Have you ever faced a deadline which seemed impossible to meet? Perhaps there are students among us who feel as though they have more schoolwork than they can finish well by the end of the year – or perhaps we have some teachers and professors who feel the same way with their end-of-year responsibilities?
Despite the relatively brief timeframe in which God created the universe (six solar days), we can conclude from Genesis 1 that God felt no time constraints. For him, a day is no different than a thousand years (2 Pet 3:8), which means that 365,000 days (1,000 years) in our human experience is no different than a 24-hour day in God’s experience.
Compare this unlimitedness to our limited human experience and perspective. According to some estimates, human beings have explored (or rather seen in some fashion or other) only about 4% of the universe. Perhaps even more fascinating is that according to other estimates, we have explored only about 5% of the Earth’s oceans and have only mapped approx. 10% of Earth’s oceans with sonar. This is esp. fascinating when you realize that abt. 70% of the Earth’s surface is ocean, not land.
Yet when we read Genesis 1, we see that God not only created but personally observed and evaluated the entire universe. He made it, he looked at it, and he called it good. Six times in Genesis 1, we read, “God saw that it was good.” Then after he created everything, it says, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good” (Gen 1:31). To be “good” means to be exactly how it should be, to be appropriate, beautiful, correct, favorable, and morally right. Most importantly, it means to be enjoyable and pleasing to a holy God. What did God make and see that he called good?
Consider the number of stars out there, most or all of which are significantly larger than our sun. Astronomers estimate that there are approx. 100 billion stars in our own Milky Way galaxy (that’s 1 followed by 9 zeroes). Then they estimate that there are up to 200 sextillion stars altogether (that’s 1 followed by 24 zeroes).
Despite this immeasurable, incomprehensible vastness, Gen 1:16 simply says, “He made the stars also.” Most literally, it actually says, “the stars, also,” making it sound as though for God to create all these stars in one day was no big deal.
From another angle, let’s ask how long it would take to travel to various destinations in the universe, by current measurements and with current technology (according to sources cited by USA Today:
- The moon: 1-3 days
- Mars: 150-300 days
- The "end" of our solar system: 40 yrs.
- The nearest star: 80,000 yrs.
- The nearest galaxy: 749 million yrs.
- The end of the known universe: 225 trillion yrs.
When we read Genesis 1, we encounter a kaleidoscopic tour of the universe and we realize just how creative our God truly is. The diversity of objects and phenomenon in the universe is matched by the topographical and biological diversity on Earth.
By topographical, I am referring to the diversity of land and water locations and phenomenon. This calls to mind the scientific word biome, which refers to nine main categories of climates and land-types in our world. These are: (1) marine biome (like corral reefs, oceans, etc.), (2) freshwater (rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.), (3) savannah (grasslands), (4) evergreen forests, (5) tundra (snowy climates), (6) desert, (7) deciduous forests, and (8) rainforests.
By biological, I am referring to the diversity of life forms and kind of life. From non-life forms (such as liquids, minerals, etc.) to non-intelligent life forms such as plants, to intelligent life forms such as animals, God made them all. Then consider the variety and diversity within each realm.
Current research indicates that there are 118 chemical elements with unique molecular structures and properties, which combine in a variety of ways to form a variety of materials.
Current research also indicates that there are from 320,000 to 382,000 species of plants.
When we consider the diversity we see in the realm of intelligent animal life, here, too, we see an astounding degree of variety. Here that we should acknowledge what we call “taxonomy” today. This terminology refers to how we identify and classify animals in our world. According to Carl Linnaeus (a Christian scientist of the 1700s), we can classify animals (and life) in the following structure:
- Domain (includes plants and insects)
- Kingdom (excludes plants)
- Phylum (excludes insects)
- Class (excludes fish)
- Order (still includes both cats and dogs)
- Family (cats and dogs separate)
- Genus
- Species
According to recent estimates, there are approximately 45 animal orders in the world, followed by 20,000 animal families, which expands to 239,093 genus groups, then approx. 213 million species. Altogether, by some estimates (and how can we know for sure), there are approx. 10 quintillion of animals alive in the world (which includes insects, birds, water animals, and land animals) – that’s 10 billion, billion!
What does all this astronomy, geology, and biology data mean? Well, first, it means that there is a lot of variety in the world!
What does this variety tell us about God? It tells us that God appreciates and values diversity, the kind of diversity we see in the world. He created the vast diversity of our universe and is therefore, himself, a complex God with an unparalleled artistic, beautiful, and majestic nature.
For those who believe in God and in Christ as our God and Savior, we should let the reality of God’s unparalleled artistry in Creation motivate us to (1) explore and better understand his world, (2) to enjoy the natural world more attentively, and (3) to express the artistic, creative abilities God has given to us individually.
The universe reveals the goodness of God-designed distinctions.
Here we should note how this modern animal classification system relates to the Genesis creation account. And what Genesis calls “kind” (“according to its kind”) corresponds most closely to what we call either a family today. And while the reality is a bit more complex than this simplified explanation, the general principle is that this “kind” classification of Genesis 1 refers to animals which are able to procreate together.
- Domain (includes plants and insects)
- Kingdom (excludes plants)
- Phylum (excludes insects)
- Class (excludes fish)
- Order (still includes both cats and dogs)
- Family (cats and dogs separate)
- Genus
- Species
So, for instance, fish cannot procreate with mammals, and cats cannot procreate with dogs. These are God-designed distinctions which set boundaries and limits on the astounding diversity which God has created. Also, this is why I have used the term previously of “macro-evolution” as a wrong, secular theory to reject. That’s because “micro-evolution” is a biblically acceptable concept, in which genetic adaptations, changed, and mutations do occur within species and perhaps genus. Changes happen, for instance, through breeding. But what does not and never has happened is changes between kinds, in which a cat turns into a dog, a fish turns into a mammal, etc.
- On one hand, we must ask what the astounding diversity of God’s creation reveals to us about God.
- But, on the other hand, we must ask what the God-designed distinctions and limits of creation also reveal to us about God.
Here are some of the “big picture” distinctions we see in Genesis 1:
- God divided dark from light.
- He divided night from day.
- He divided sky from sea.
- He divided sea from land.
- He distinguished birds from sea creatures.
- He distinguished land animals from “water” animals (both sky and sea).
- He distinguished all animals “according to its kind.”
In a future message, we will also observe that God created two distinct genders, too – male and female. When we consider these distinctions, we must accept that to acknowledge God as God and as the creator of all things, we must acknowledge, accept, and honor the distinctions and limitations he has designed into our world as well.
In the name of creative pursuits, scientific advancement and innovation, or self-expression, we should seek to glorify and reveal the goodness of God, not the fallenness of our selfish, sinful nature. And we should honor and uphold the God-given boundaries and distinctions he has placed into our world. This is how we glorify and honor God and remain most free and satisfied in our human experience. When we ignore God’s distinctions and boundaries as the original artist and designer of our world, we will – as Rom 1:20-21 warns – dull our conscience and shift our hearts away from God, leading to an increasingly godless, meaningless, sinful, and unsatisfying lifestyle and society.
May our belief in God as the creator of our world, as taught by Genesis 1, increase our appreciation and understanding of God as the one, true God who made everything. May we not only seek to be like him as we depend upon and follow Christ by faith as God and Savior, but to respond to him also with greater humility and praise.
May we read and study his Word more seriously, recognizing the unmatched authority and power of his Word in our lives today – as the Word which created the universe. And may we appreciate, enjoy, and explore the world that God has made and give ourselves to creative pursuits which bring glory to him and bring others to believe in him, as well.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psa 8:3-9)
Discussion Questions
- Why does neglecting praise to God as creator dull our consciences and enable our sin?
- How can we cultivate a hunger for God's Word, which He emphasized in Creation?
- How does the beauty of creation help us to enjoy nature?
- Do the boundaries of creation, like the separation between the heavens and earth or light and darkness, teach us anything about moral boundaries?
Posted in Sermon Manuscript
Tagged with Creation, Creationism, Genesis, Science, Creativity, Animals, Birds, Life, Origins
Tagged with Creation, Creationism, Genesis, Science, Creativity, Animals, Birds, Life, Origins
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