[Biblemat] A) "INCREDIBLE" BEGINNING

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Monday morning
to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here is an article from 
my recent files:

"INCREDIBLE" BEGINNING

       The beginnings of things always intrigue us.  We often mark
them with great ceremony at the time if we anticipate their import-
ance (weddings, ribbon-ctutting grand openings, signings, etc.).
We frequently research beginnings if only later we realize some-
one's or somehing's importance (the work of historians).  It is
therefore of no surprise that thinking men and women have often pondered the 
beginning of the physical universe.

       While many are content to not give it any consideration and
perhaps assume that because it is here it has always been here,
most observe and realize that all physical things have measura-
ble deterioration and, therefore, cannot be eternal but must have
had a beginning point.

       Essentially, there are two possibilities for how the physical
began:  1) It happened by random chance, or 2) It happened on
purpose.  Expressed another way: 1) It happened by random
chance, or 2) It happened by design.  Stated yet another way 1)
It began spontaneously from ignorant nothingness, or 2) It began 
intentionally from intelligence.

       In modern parlance it is the debate between "Big Bang" and
"Intelligent Design" or "Evolution" vs "Creation."  While some
have attempted to harmonize the general theory of evolution and creation 
theory, at its core such an attempt is futile.  To borr-
ow from the apostle Paul, "what fellowship has purpose with 
accident, what communion has design with chance, what acco-
rd has intelligence with ignorance, what agreement has creation
with evolution," (adapted from 2 Cor. 6:14-16).  The answer is
none.

       When anyone is challenged to give a historical explanation
for the existence of something physical, spontaneous generat-
ion from nothing is never considered sound reasoning.  Yet this
is what modern science teaches is the best explanation for the
beginning of all things.

       However, the ancient book of books, the Holy Scriptures, 
offers another explanation.  Many find its explanation incredible,
but it is far more credible than the spontaneous generation of
something from nothing suggested by atheists and agnostics.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen.
1:1).  Indeed, mankind is without excuse for not drawing the bas-
ic conclusion that  a powerful supernatural intelligence (God) is
the cause of this physical existence (Rom. 1:20).

       Scripture reveals that God simply spoke things into existen-
ce.  "Then God said...and it was so," is an oft repeated phrase in
Gen. 1.  To be able to speak material things into existence demands a power 
that is beyond nature and beyond our compre-
hension.  It is super-natural.  Therefore, it is understandable that
atheists assume that this creation account (along with the rest 
of the first eleven chapters of Genesis) is mythical, legendary or,
at best, allegorical, but certainly not literal.  Yet, even some believers in 
God attempt to explain the creation using the natur-
alistic assumptions of unbelievers.

       Forgetting that with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26),
many find these accounts incredible and unbelievable.  How-
ever, again borrowing from the sayings of Paul, "why should it
be thought incredible by you that" God spoke things into exist-
ence in six literal days?  Of course, Paul was addressing Agrippa with regard 
to Jesus' resurrection (Acts 26:8).  But be-
ware!  If you find a six-day creation incredible, you might have 
the sme problem with the resurrection from the dead.  Most peo-
ple do.  Whenever we doubt the powers of God's spoken Word,
we have no foundation for faith in any apect of His Word.

       As disciples of Christ, we would do well to follow His lead concerning 
the authority of the Genesis account.  In responding
to His adversaries about a point of great controversy regarding
divorce, Jesus refers to the Genesis account of the beginning
(Matt. 19:3-8).  Jesus' authoritative use of Moses' account of cre-
ation affirms that He believed it to be accurate.  Indeed, we can-
not claim Christ as our Lord and reject the accuracy of Moses'
words (Jno. 5:46,47).  To adapt Jesus' Words to the Sadducees
and apply them to the present controversy over creation/evolut-
ion, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the pow-
er of God" (Matt. 22:29).  Beware, a rejection of these beginning
truths undermines the whole foundation of the rest of Scripture
and, therefore, our faith in God's power to do anything.  (If one
does not believe in all the Bible says, he is an infidel and unbelie-
ver even in God Who created all things in and by His own way,
you can't have one without the other, JWS). ---- Andy Diestelkamp via Gospel 
Power, Vol. 15, No. 30, July 27, 2008.   </HTML>
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