We are a tiny part of a very immense Cosmos. In just the past 100 years it has been discovered that the known Universe does not just consist of the Milky Way with its 100 billion stars, but also billions of similar galaxies unbelievable distances away from our island universe. The known Cosmos is now believed to be about 16 billion light years in diameter. (As most of you know a light year is the distance light travels in one year at 186,000 miles per second)
We wonder at the immensity of the Cosmos and its apparent conflict with the simple story of the creation in Genesis. What is not generally known is that the Genesis account is only about our solar system. Moses is told (In the Book of Moses) that "only an account of this world I give unto you. Worlds without number have I created..." etc. Read the Genesis account again. Note that as an after thought it is said: "He made the stars also." In my view creation has been going on for billions of years - the galaxies were already here when our solar system was created. The world itself may have existed in some form long before it was created (prepared for our dwelling place with atmosphere and water and rotation and revolution set for times and seasons). This makes sense when we consider that God has created worlds without number....obviously most of them were in existence when our solar system was created.
This is all consistent with the concept that "as God is, man may become." We believe that is true, and if so then we at least have the possibility of becoming creators of new solar systems to help the universe expand with new worlds made expressly for the use of beings like us. If everything just popped into existence at the time of the creation of our solar system this concept could hardly be true. The scriptures, taken as a whole, clearly tell us that we are a part of a huge Cosmos which continues to expand now and forever. "For this is My work and My Glory. To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
Paul also tells us in Rom 1:20 that God created the visible from the invisible and that the invisible (being God"s Power) is now made visible. In other words, God created visible things through his invisible power and the fact that we now see the result of his Power in this world leaves us without excuse. This is truly in keeping with known fact. The search for the ultimate building block goes on (it was thought to be the atom but now even that is subdivided by many other particles). What we may ultimately learn is that God's Power (energy) is really what holds the materials of the Universe together. This is also consistent with the fact that the world of the tiny seems to obey different rules and natural laws than the world of the astronomical.
All of this should humble us and keep us from dismissing seemingly simple stories because we do not understand how they could be true. This is a stumbling block many run into concerning the Genesis story but with later revelation telling us that the Genesis Creation is about our solar system the time problem need not give us any concern.
5 comments:
It is interesting to me that people can dismiss God by embracing science. I never understood why the two should be mutually exclusive. God's power is what has made our world and everything in it, and therefore only He knows exactly how it works. A scientific explanation is just our way of explaining in a tiny way how God's power has been used to do His will. It's truly amazing how little we know, not just of His power, but of His creation.
Wow, very insightful. I'll have to reread this again. Neat!
Wonderful, thought-provoking, and comforting. If anyone listens to what you said and how you explained it, they will come away with another reason to "be still, and know that I am God." I find my faith strengthened , my hope increased, and my reliance on Heavenly Father and Jesus indispensable. Thanks for yet another inspiring treatise.
This is Clint...
One of my favorite classes in college was Geology. The professor was well known throughout the country and he started the class by explaining that he was there to show us how things worked, were formed, etc...not why. If you want to know why, go to religion. I think he understood that Science discovers truth, but does not create it as some believe in their own arrogance.
Keep writing...it's a gift!
Thank you for another great thought. I look forward to these. I appreciate not only the sound wisdom of what you say but the faith and testimony that supports it.
--Barry
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