Have you ever flown on an airplane? I travel cross-country for work periodically and I can still remember my first look down at the ground from 38,000 feet. The glass isn’t great and there are multiple layers but it can’t hide the grandeur of the Earth. Clouds lay far below, blanketing the earth in wool. Towering here and there were massive thunderheads that stretched up to our altitude.
Some time later I looked down and saw a curious bit of geography. I tried to figure out what it was. We were past the Rocky Mountains and been cruising over a landscape of browns with occasional green circles where well based fields dotted the arid landscape. It finally hit me that we were flying over the Grand Canyon. What confused me was that at 38,000 feet it still looked big. The size and scope of the canyon system was impressive. Massive fissures cut into the Earth as though some giant beast had dragged its claws along the surface.
I stared for a while until I sat back in my seat in wonder. Hurtling along at 38,000 feet in a metal tube going 500+ mph. I marveled and felt my complete insignificance compared to this massive world. This beautiful, varied, and complex world.
God Creates
I can remember when seeing the Rocky Mountains they looked like a massive hand had reached down and pinched them up out of the ground as though someone pinched a sheet or a napkin. That sticks with me when I consider that God created all things. Yet, he didn’t need to physically touch anything to effect it. God creates merely by the power of his will.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gen 1:1)
The Bible in its opening line states that God created the heavens and the Earth. When? In the beginning. How is it the beginning? His creative act of something from nothing begins our journey in time as we know it. The orderly progression of events. Yet, don’t lost sight that before he created something, God was there. He was not created with his creation. He performed the action to create and thus necessarily preexists it.
How did he create? The Bible says he spoke. “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Gen 1:3) He spoke. Light came into existence. He willed, and there was something where previously there was nothing. God created ex nihilo. He literally created out of nothing. In the numerous conversations about whether scientists can create life from amino acids or other means and thus “disprove God” they neglect this important part. They are starting with things already created. They begin with building blocks put here by God. Perspective.
There are many debates over the creation narrative. Some call Genesis poetry, though I don’t think it is. I take it as historical narrative. Some try to incorporate evolution into the creation narrative and say each day is an unspecified age. This introduces more interpretative and philosophical trouble that doesn’t line up with a plain reading of Scripture.
Why is it so hard for us to believe God can create everything as we see it? If there is a God, (there is!) and he is all-powerful (he is!) creation is as simple to him as taking a breath is to us. Even that comparison is faulty as we expend effort and God never broke a sweat.
We believe in a God who transcends the natural order. Why? Because he created the natural order. If he were bound to operate only in the natural order he would be contingent upon creation and thus couldn’t be its creator. If he depended upon creation he cannot the creator of that creation. He could not be God if he had needs. To need means there is a deficiency that exists can only be remedied by an external action or thing. There is no deficiency in God. He is perfect.
If God can’t manage the creation of everything you see in a spec of time, a day, or a week, how can you reasonably expect him to manage the creation of your new heart? How can you rely on God to save you from your sin by regenerating your cold dead heart of stone and giving you a heart of flesh
God creates. He creates stars and starfish. He makes Nebulae and clouds. He makes air and breathed life into you when he created you. He demands your obedience because you are his creation and he is worthy. Only he can make you, and only he can make all things new.
If he can speak galaxies into existence he can save your soul; it’s all his.
Psalm 19 (ESV)
The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
19 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
