Affirmation of Creation

Our world is full of evidence of thoughtful and intentional design, from the beauty we see in the brightly colored flowers and birds to the complexity of the cell and the very structure of the universe itself. Evidence of design is seen even in our capacity to appreciate the beauty, and our ability to examine the creation and thoughtfully contemplate its meaning. Inevitably, we are led to wonder how the design came about and what it means for our own existence.

This quest has led many to see a Creator God whose omnipotence is displayed in the size and power of the stars and whose omniscience is seen in the structure of living cells and the precise interaction of physical and organic features of the creation. This conclusion naturally leads one to seek for more information about the God of creation.

Study of the creation has revealed much evidence for the idea that a Divine Creator stands behind the scene. Scientists have wonderful opportunities to see the evidence of God’s creativity and to ponder His greatness. However, the creation does not speak clearly to our minds. The evidence of design is mixed with evidence of evil and violence. Organisms may appear to have imperfections that would not be expected from an all-wise Creator God. The ultimate resolution of this problem is not found in study of the creation, but is available to those who accept the Biblical revelation of God and His relationship to us and our world.

The Bible reveals the story of creation, and teaches us about the Creator God who effortlessly designed the world for His own purposes. In the space of six historical days, He prepared an environment suitable for living creatures and then filled that world with a diversity of organisms. He created humans in His own image and gave them responsibility for His creation. He gave them the gifts of cognition, language, relationships, responsibility, freedom and purpose. Here we find the explanation for the design seen in the creation – it reflects the character and purpose of the God of creation.

But what about the evil we see in the creation, which turns so many away from faith in Biblical creation? The Bible also reveals the story of evil, and how violence and death entered the perfection of creation. This story tells us something important about the character of the Creator God. It seems that God places a very high value on the kind of relationships that are possible only with beings that possess freedom of choice. The high value God places on human freedom is best understood in the light of the cross of Calvary. There we see the affirmation of the Biblical message of the special creation of humans, their rebellion and its evil results, and the depth of God’s self-sacrificing love. The cross reveals the significance of the creation story, with its elements of a six-day creative period, seventh-day Sabbath, original diversity of living organisms, and special creation of humans in a perfectly designed paradise. We would do well to contemplate daily the meaning of the cross and how it illuminates our understanding of the Creator God and His works.

A statement from the Geoscience Research Institute

Jim Gibson, Director