Creation by Creator

There are three basic options for explaining the origins of the universe: 1) Creation by Creator, 2) Creation by Chaos, and 3) Creation by Chance. In this post we'll look at option #1: Creation by Creator.

When you see something that’s been made, the most logical conclusion is that someone made it, right? In other words, where there’s a creation, there’s a creator. Let me illustrate...When I go to Old Lime Beach and see a heart shape in the sand, I intuitively know someone made it. Did I see them do it? No. But it stands to reason that where there’s a creation, there’s a creator. In the same way, when I go to the Granville Gorge and see a Zen rock formation, I intuitively know someone made it. Did I see them do it? No. But it stands to reason that where there’s a creation, there’s a creator. 

So when I look at the heavens and the earth I make the same logical conclusion - creation by creator. When I see a heart shape in the sand on the beach I don’t conclude a wave crashed and created it by chance. When I see a rock formation by a stream bed I don’t conclude that the strong wind of a storm blew them into place. In the same, I don’t believe that chance or chaos created the world. I give credit to a creator. 

I believe God created the heavens. Isaiah 40:25-26 says "“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” NLT

And I believe God created the earth. Isaiah 40:28 says “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth...” NLT

Like it says in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” NIV

If God Doesn't Exist...

One of the questions we're answering in our TOUGH QUESTIONS teaching series is: Does God really exist? In this post I hope to show why this is an important question to answer.

If God doesn’t exist, life has no ultimate significance, value or purpose. If God doesn’t exist, there is no afterlife. If God doesn’t exist, there is no hope. If God doesn’t exist, there’s no difference between humans and animals. Without God, you’d be in a real dilemma if you saw a child and a squirrel in the road about to get hit by a car. A child has no more value than a squirrel apart from God, so why save the child and not the squirrel? If God doesn’t exist, then neither do good and evil. Without God, it’s impossible to condemn genocide, oppression, crime, terrorist bombings or school shootings as evil. Nor can you praise generosity, self-sacrifice and love as good. In a universe without God, to kill someone or to love someone is morally equivalent. Finally, if God doesn’t exist, we have no good reason to restrain evil. If life ends at the grave, then it makes no ultimate difference whether you live as a Hitler or as a Mother Teresa. Since your destiny is ultimately unrelated to your behavior, you may as well just live as you please.

Are you starting to see why the answer to this question is so important? See the difference it makes? Christian apologist William Lane Craig wrote in his book On Guard, “If God does not exist, then you are just a miscarriage of nature, thrust into a purposeless universe to live a purposeless life.” And I agree. That’s our situation apart from God, so it’s actually really important we make a decision where we stand on this issue of God’s existence.

To read other posts of an apologetic nature, click here.

Start Playing Offensively

If we're going to ensure the Christian life doesn't become something boring to endure, rather an adventure to be lived, we've got to start playing offensively. 

You can live the Christian life one of two ways. You can focus mainly on defensively avoiding that which is evil, or you focus mainly on offensively doing that which is good. 

It’s ironic that so many people play the Christian life defensively (not trying to be good, rather just trying not to be bad), because it’s actually quite risky to play defensively, as the Boston Bruins illustrated in the 2013 Stanley Cup. The Bruins were ahead 2 to 1 in game six, with about two minutes left on the clock. Trying to hold onto their lead they started playing defensively. Long story short, in those last two minutes they let up two goals. No game seven. Bruins lose. Chicago wins the Cup. Moral of the story? Playing it safe can be risky!!! 

Certainly there are times in the Christian life to play defensively, but the Bible teaches that our main focus ought to be not so much avoiding that which is wrong, but actively and passionately pursuing that which is good. Take a look at Ephesians 6:11 which says “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” NIV Included in the armor of God is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness (v.14), shoes of peace and shield of faith (vv.15-16), helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (v.17). Quick question: Is there any armor included in this list that covers your back? Answer: No! Why? Because we’re not supposed to defensively retreat! God intended for us to go on the offense!

Made for a Mission

When followers of Jesus find themselves bored with their Christian life , it's a tell tale sign they've lost their sense of mission. Let me illustrate...

In Despicable Me 2, Gru and Dr. Nefario have given up their villainous ways. They are bored to tears without a clear sense of mission (or purpose). As villains their modus operandi was clear: lie, pillage, steal. That's what criminals do. But they are both quite unclear what former villains are supposed to do. Dr. Nefario gets so bored he quits working for Gru and joins back up with the bad guys. He basically concludes he's rather have fun with the bad guys than be bored with the good guys. 

This is what's happened to many Christ-followers. Without a clear sense of purpose, they've faltered in their faith. Like Dr. Nefario, they've basically concluded they'd rather have fun with Satan than be bored with God. I guess we could conclude that a dull Christian life often results in dumping the Christian life. 

Well what's the remedy for our restlessness? What's the antidote for our apathy? What's God's cure for our boredom? The answer lies in rediscovering our sense of purpose - remembering that we're made for a mission! God is at work in the world and he wants us to join him. God is out to save the world and he has a role for us to play in his redemptive plan. If you're bored, chances are you're not playing your part. 

Here's four ways you can begin immediately partnering with God: 

1. Commune with God. As you spend time reading your Bible and praying you'll find a supernatural source of power for the mission. 

2. Get in community with other believers. As you engage in Christian community you'll find support and encouragement to persevere with the mission. 

3. Contribute your time and treasure. As you contribute your time by serving you staff God's mission and as you contribute your treasure by giving you fund God's mission. 

4. Take serious God's commission - the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). As you use your life as a sign post to point others to God, you continue the mission. Jesus started it and every time you share your faith or invite someone to church, you continue it.