The Bible tells us that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, that God is the originator of all things, that all things came into being through Him, and that He created all things, especially man, for His purpose. Before God created the universe, there was nothing. He had an eternal purpose, a dream, a plan, to fill mankind with Himself as life and to build mankind together as a corporate man to express Him and represent Him for eternity. He proceeded to create the heaven, the earth, man, and all things for His eternal purpose.
Some Bible readers believe that God created the universe approximately six thousand years ago with all the living things that we see today. For ease of writing, we will refer to these people as "young-earth creationists." Many scientists dispute this belief because of the abundance of physical evidence to the contrary, including fossils of dinosaurs and other living creatures, petrified wood, etc., which points to a much older earth. The young-earth creationists say that the fossils were either created six thousand years ago or left as evidence of the flood at the time of Noah. However, many scientists use various scientific techniques developed according to certain other theories, such as radiometric dating, to argue that the fossils and the earth should have existed for a few billion years. In addition, based on this fossil record, scientists have developed some theories of evolution. Basically, they believe that there was an evolutionary progression from no life to simple and lower forms of life which then evolved into more complex and higher forms of life. Some further believe that this explains the origin of all the life forms that we see today, including man, which is directly opposed to the biblical record of the creation of man by God from the dust of the ground. In this article, we will use the term "evolutionists" to refer specifically to scientists who insist that man evolved from some lower forms of life.
The young-earth creationists claim that, according to the Bible, God created the heaven and the earth six thousand years ago with all the living things that we see today and that the fossils were either created at that time or left as evidence of the flood at the time of Noah. The evolutionists argue, based on their beliefs, that the earth should have existed for at least a few hundred million years.
The evolutionists have many theories and assumptions which are not proven as facts. Many evolutionists condemn young-earth creationists for blindly trusting in beliefs based on their interpretation of the Bible. However, the evolutionists themselves believe in their unproven theories with blind faith just as much as the ones whom they have accused. Some have even used fossils to try to force-prove their theories of evolution. However, pure science is by observation; theories are secondary to the actual evidence. If after many decades of research they cannot find all the proofs they need to substantiate their theories, they should not be too strong in believing them blindly nor too bold in teaching them to others as facts. Many biological scientists are controlled by the widespread acceptance of the evolution theories. If any scientist were to challenge these unproven theories, that one would be considered a scientific heretic.
Teachers and textbooks should stress that scientists are still studying and what they present are only theories. However, evolutionists have won the approval of lawmakers and school boards to teach their theories and beliefs in textbooks as pure science. The fact that evolution is taught in public schools does not mean that God did not create the heaven and the earth with all living things. Courts of law and school boards cannot legislate the historical facts that happened many years ago.
In this article, we are not addressing the validity or error of the theories of evolution, but pointing out a third understanding that both the evolutionists and the young-earth creationists may not have considered.
The young-earth creationists have misunderstood the Bible in this matter, so their difficulty in convincing people of their beliefs does not disprove the Bible. The Bible does not set an age for the universe. According to Genesis chapter one verse one, God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning, maybe billions of years ago or longer. The Bible does not give any record of how the earth and the first living creatures came into being or what things were like. However, it does indicate that the most powerful archangel, now called Satan, was given charge of the earth. At some time he rebelled against God and was judged. At that time the earth became covered by water, and all living things on it were killed; then the earth became void and remained in darkness. After another unknown stretch of time, God came back to "re-create" by first saying "let there be light" and then continuing on to create all the living things on earth. The fossils we find from hundreds of millions of years ago were of the living creatures of the original creation. The living things that we see today came into being by God's "re-creation" approximately six thousand years ago.
The Bible and the facts of pure science do not contradict one another. The contradiction is between the shallow and improper study of the Bible by the young-earth creationists and the unproven theories of the evolutionists. The fossils that we mentioned above do not contradict the Bible; in fact, they support the Bible. Historical records of human culture mainly date back no more than six thousand years, which matches what the Bible says. If one would recognize all the theories as merely theories and compare the scientific facts with a more thorough study of the Bible, one would be able to see that God created all things and that the living creatures on earth today did not evolve from the creatures that were here millions of years ago.
It is convenient for some people to believe that everything evolved; it allows for the possibility that there is no God, no accountability, and no judgment after death. In such a case, some people may consider that they have the license to do whatever is right in their own eyes, that they can be immoral if they choose without fear of a tragic destiny. This obviates the need to live by their conscience. If the universe was created by God for a purpose, however, we all need to change our thinking and lifestyle to fit into God's desire, purpose, ways, and judgment. To deny the existence of God is to act like the fabled ostrich which, chased to the point of exhaustion, buries its head in the sand so as not to see its pursuers. Just as the ostrich is overtaken, so one day sudden destruction will come upon all who try to pacify their conscience and think that they are living in peace and safety while refusing to repent to God.
Your most basic need is not to figure out how God created man but to receive God the Creator into you as life, because He created the universe for this purpose. It is not good enough to find the right answer; you must receive Jesus as your Savior and life. He is the all-inclusive Answer to all the questions in the world. To receive Him, just pray, "Lord Jesus, thank You for creating me. Come into me and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. Fill me with Your life that I may live properly according to You and express all that You are, thus fulfilling Your original intention in creating me."
Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And
the earth became without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face
of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And
God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over... all the earth.
John 10:10 I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.
Ephesians 3:9-11 And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy
of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who
created all things, In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in
the heavenlies the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through
the church, According to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the
nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Hebrews 9:27 It is reserved for men to die once, and after this comes
judgment.
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth now, by the same word, have been
stored up for fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of
ungodly men.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 So that all who have not believed the truth but have
taken pleasure in unrighteousness might be judged.
Acts 24:16 I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without
offense toward God and men.
1 Timothy 4:2 By means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, of men who
are branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.
Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are
corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 When they say, Peace and security, then sudden
destruction comes upon them, ...and they shall by no means escape.
1 Timothy 4:10 We have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior
of all men, especially of those who believe.