Creation

‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth’, Gen. 1. 1, is not only the opening statement of the Bible, but the basis to scripture that follows. It is a foundational truth on which Christians stand. If these words, along with the following record of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 are disregarded, or even subtly adjusted in an attempt to fit the biblical account of creation with other world views, the truth of scripture is undermined. This leads to serious problems - if I don’t accept that these chapters are the exact and accurate account of creation, how can I rely on the whole Bible, including God’s way of salvation?

It is therefore important to start with the basis that ‘all scripture is given by inspiration of God’, 2 Tim. 3. 16, and ‘thy word is truth’, John 17. 17. As a believer in the Lord Jesus, my conviction should be formed on the fact that God’s word is true, no matter what the world around me thinks, understands or believes.

The purpose of this article is not to show that science can agree with biblical creation, but to state some of the biblical truths relating to creation and then consider the implications to me practically. After all, I’m no scientist and there are many good resources available.¹

The truths stated

• God is eternal and there was a point in eternity when He created: ‘Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God’, Ps. 90. 2.
• The Son of God was instrumental in creation: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made’, John 1. 1-3.
• Creation was for God’s glory: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’, Ps. 19. 1.
• God created from nothing: ‘God created the heaven and the earth … the earth was without form, and void’, Gen. 1. 1, 2.
• The entire universe was part of God’s creation: ‘Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven?’, Job 38. 31-33.
• God created all things in six days: ‘And the evening and the morning were the sixth day’, Gen. 1. 31.
• Mankind was distinct in creation: ‘God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion’, Gen. 1. 26.

Implications

So, what are the implications of the stated truths? First, because God has stated these things in His word, I believe them as true facts - without question! As a Christian, this is to be my conviction, regardless of what other voices say around me, including most schoolteachers and textbooks. This is hard, particularly for those in schools and universities that are taught opposing views, disguised as facts. As such, it’s important to be prepared:

• Learn God’s word, and become familiar with verses about creation, such as those above.
• Pray about the verses and ask the Lord to help you to be certain and unmovable in your own conviction. After the Apostle Paul had taught about the truth of the resurrection he said, ‘God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ … be ye stedfast, unmoveable’, 1 Cor. 15. 57, 58.
• Recognize that it is ‘through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God’, Heb. 11. 3.

Second, I can praise and worship God - ‘All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee’, Ps. 145. 10. We can appreciate God’s great power displayed in the vast universe. But also, how amazing it is to think that we who ‘were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ’, Eph. 2. 13, because the eternal Son of God came to the world He created.

‘Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty’, Rev. 15. 3.