Creation theories are numerous and vary from one religion to another and from one race of people to another. Some believe the ‘Big Bang’ was the source of our universe commencing and the Bible tells the story of God creating our world in six days. Some even see certain star groups in the cosmos as the source of man’s creation.
The opening words of ‘the Bible’s Book of Genesis refers to God’s creation of the universe, not the beginning of God’s existence. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:17, Paul tells how Christ existed ‘before anything was created”.
All the creation theories seem to have a starting point, prior to which everything is ‘unknown’. For example, who created the stars or who instigated the ‘Big Bang’. If it was God who started creation rolling, then who created God? Many people of different faiths just throw their hands in the air and are prepared to accept that it is a big mystery that can’t be understood.
As human beings we like to think everything has a ‘beginning’ but many tend to accept the term ‘everlasting’. Our prayer ‘Glory be…’ says, “As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be”. Most of us believe there is a form of life after death and often add “forever and ever. Amen” to our prayers.
You must wonder whether those who don’t believe in a life hereafter question in their own minds just what their life is all about? What is the purpose of their living? Is life just about enjoying oneself and having a good time irrespective at whose expense that might be, because everything comes to a stop when we die? So, we often hear the phrase, ‘let’s eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die’!
For those of us who believe in a life hereafter, our struggle here on earth must be seen as a preparation for that time when the promises of Christ will become a reality. We are human. We fail. We get up again. We are not expected to be perfect, but just to be triers.
Once again, for many it all seems to fit into the ‘too hard’ category. However, if we can so readily accept the words, ’forever’ and ‘everlasting’ then we need to look beyond the word ‘beginning’. If we believe our loving God ‘always was’ and ‘always will be’ then this makes our acceptance of our Faith so much easier.
I’m Peter Mack and that’s how I feel.
20 January 2020