IN THE BEGINNING

IN THE BEGINNING

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1)

Aristotle reasoned that since matter could not create itself it had to be eternal. This was the prevailing view of science for centuries. In recent years, however, it has become popular to “believe” that the universe had a beginning. Dr. John P. Mills in his article “How Did the Universe Get Started”? pointed out that in 1959 two out of three scientists in America believed that the universe did not have an origin. Five years later, in 1964, radio astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered a microwave signal which they labeled as the “Cosmic Microwave Background” (CMB). This discovery convinced them that the universe had a beginning.

The Big Bang theory is the leading “scientific” explanation of the “beginning”. Matt Williams in Universe Today explains: “The basics of the theory are fairly simple. In short, the Big Bang hypothesis states that all of the current and past matter in the Universe came into existence at the same time, roughly 13.8 billion years ago. At this time, all matter was compacted into a very small ball with infinite density and intense heat called a Singularity. Suddenly, the Singularity began expanding, and the universe as we know it began.” “Believing” that an explosion created order is a sign of desperation by those who do not like to retain God in their knowledge (Rom. 1:28).

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Heb. 11:3). Our “faith” , however, is based upon evidence. John wrote: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20:30, 21). Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1).

The word “genesis” refers to the “beginning” or “origin” of anything. Thus the first book of the Bible is aptly named for it involves the beginning of everything.

• In the beginning God created, but now nothing is being created or destroyed.
• In the beginning God gave man dominion over all the earth and it’s creatures (Gen. 1:26).
• In the beginning God involved man in the science of naming all creatures (Gen. 2:20).
• In the beginning God created male, female, and marriage ((Matt. 19:4 - 6).
• In the beginning God ordained families so children would be cared for (Eph. 5:32 - 6:4).
• In the beginning God demonstrated His right to determine good and evil (Gen. 3:1 - 24).
• In the beginning God taught the importance of faith (Heb. 11:4).
• In the beginning God taught the importance of love (1 Jn. 3:11).
• In the beginning God began the long process of redemption (Eph. 3:1 - 13).
• In the beginning God ordained civil government (Rom. 13:1 - 7).
• In the beginning God created a universe that will perish while He remains (Heb. 1:10 - 12).
• In the beginning God demonstrated His wrath against sin with a flood (Gen. 6:5 - 7).
• From the beginning unbelievers deliberately forget about the flood (2 Pet. 3:3 - 7).
• From the beginning we are warned that the devil has been sinning (1 Jn. 3:8).
• In the end the devil and his followers will be destroyed in a lake of fire (Rev. 20:10 - 15)