What is the work of creation?
The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.
There are numerous divisive topics that serve to split the church of God into factions – the creation narrative is one such topic. Since Darwin introduced the idea and others have championed the cause with their own godless imaginings, the church (more recently) has dodged left and right in an attempt to make sense of what “science” supposedly says.
Is there really a disparity between science and faith? It may seem so if we listen to those interested in making these two enemies who are naturally friends. Faith and science are not natural enemies because both arise from God who has given both. If we listen out of faith to those that make much of God’s wonder revealed through science we do arrive at a much more solid footing in faith and in science. Pitting these two friends against one another is not required despite the godless claim they must be.
“Profane men think that religion rests only on opinion, and, therefore, that they may not believe foolishly, or on slight grounds, desire and insist to have it proved by reason that Moses and the prophets were divinely inspired. But I answer, that the testimony of the Spirit is superior to reason. For as God alone can properly bear witness to his own words, so these words will not obtain full credit in the hearts of men, until they are sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit.”
John Calvin, ICR chapter 7
Choosing who you listen to is a perpetual activity. We begin by listening to God through His Spirit inspired Word:
Genesis 1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Hebrews 11:3: “By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Proverbs 16:4: “The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
So what does God have to say? He says, I have done it all. How? Well that’s the question. The mind you use to see, understand and consider creation, this too I have made fit for its purpose. It is only the mind that has cast God out of it that would dare arrive at science being the enemy of faith.
I would love to spend countless hours delving into the mystery and wonder between the Divine Logos, Word, that creates all the material and physical world and then connects it together in our minds so that we can perceive what is actually there. It is not by happenstance that, word, language, creation, perception, knowing and trust all converge and play so well together. It is because science and faith both serve the same end…both serve us to better understand God our Creator.
Calvin our friend and guide says this about God’s creations:
“The Creation is quite like a spacious and splendid house, provided and filled with the most exquisite, and at the same time, the most abundant furnishings. Everything in it tells of God.”
Calvin offers us two word pictures: exquisite and abundant. These are both true about what creation presents to us. God has thought of everything it seems. Creation is abundantly filled with diversity of all kinds and unity in their creatureliness. There doesn’t appear to be a lack, but is wonderfully exquisite in both detail, purpose and function.
Consider for a moment that at any level, macro or micro, the creation is astoundingly complex, beautiful and wonderous. There are puzzles and mystery that confound and perfect simplicity that comforts. We take in color, balance, symmetry and design but when considering these more fully we ask, why? Why these colors? Why symmetry and balance? It seems we are driven to think and to think more deeply as we consider the exquisiteness and abundance in God’s design and decree.
Lest we think Calvin was all roses and puppies on the topic he provides a bit of sarcastic bite…no doubt for a certain audience. He quotes Augustine here…
“It was a shrewd saying of a good old man, who when some one pertly asked in derision what God did before the world was created, answered he made a hell for the inquisitive (August. Confess., lib. 11 c. 12). This reproof, not less weighty than severe, should repress the tickling wantonness which urges many to indulge in vicious and hurtful speculation.”
John Calvin, ICR chapter 14
Is science and the godless scientist what he refers to as the curious? It might be, if the scientist seeks to understand God’s work without Him. Of course those “curious” will not expect hell or even acknowledge its reality. This is just another defect present in those that forget God but make much to do about His creation as if it tells a story of its own apart from Him who authored it.
Many, including many Christians’ attempt to reconcile the friends of science and faith, in different ways. Some would say, faith rules over science as a king to his subject. No!, others say, the king is science who rules as a tyrant over faith. So which one is it? Perhaps neither need rule over the other but both are the subjects to the King/God who rules over them both. If any insist to throw God out, then as Calvin is quoted above, the Spirit rules over reason. They need not be enemies and can dwell happily together in a non rebellious mind.
It is rightly said, science provides truth, scientists on the other hand lie. The same can be said of men and faith. The True Word provides truth but men lie. In both cases it is best to avoid the lies being told and listen to the Word (God) who speaks through both.
“It is true, indeed, that in the law and the gospel are comprehended mysteries which far transcend the measure of our sense; but since God, to enable his people to understand those mysteries which he has deigned to reveal in his word, enlightens their minds with a spirit of understanding, they are now no longer a deep, but a path in which they can walk safely—a lamp to guide their feet—a light of life—a school of clear and certain truth. But the admirable method of governing the world is justly called a deep, because, while it lies hid from us, it is to be reverently adored.”
John Calvin, ICR chapter 17
Now this is really simple to say and much harder to do; admittedly the tension in this drama is profoundly thick. With patience and charity we must endure with one another as ignorance is more prevalent than insight and seeing clearly all the time is an illusive fiction.
With charity we must endeavor to avoid costly mistakes by rejecting, denying, distorting what God has said. I commend this video not as the final and full truth but as an important voice to be reasoned with on this topic. Its purpose: to avoid taking God’s word as a wax nose for the goal of making science and faith friends. They already are.
I encourage all to utilize charity in this and all topics. God is not mocked without profound complications on the part of the creature.
We rest in this sound fact – God knows how He did it and we benefit so exquisitely and abundantly that He did. We will more deeply appreciate His love when in eternity all our questions will be answered more fully. Until then we Glorify Him and enjoy Him forever as Creator and Sustainer through providence.
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