The Universe and Creation

[Michael Hawk]

I have been a Christian most of my life and I love God deeply.

One thing I have been struggling with recently is the creation story and the universe.

I mean, we are so small and the universe is huge with almost an unlimited amount of space, so how are we the center of things you know? Is all this extra space just for us to explore one day?

Would like to know anyones thoughts on this, especially those who have studied astronomy.

Thank you.

 

[RAnonUS19B]

I doubt it's there just for us to explore i'm sure God created other life intelligent life, plants, animals on other planets the Bible never says he did not nor does it say he does i guess that's for us to discover.

 

[Peripatetic]

I mean, we are so small and the universe is huge with almost an unlimited amount of space, so how are we the center of things you know?

Theologians have wrestled with this question for centuries. Some believe that God chose Earth to be the center of things and either the universe is uninhabited, or that other life would be damned because Jesus only came here, or that we may some day spread the Gospel to other worlds.

While it's possible, I find any kind of certainty in those views to be too narrow and prideful. I prefer to approach the question with awe and mystery. Who am I to say that Jesus hasn't redeemed other worlds? Maybe salvation is available to them in some other way, or maybe some of those beings don't need to be saved from a fall as we did?

We are becoming too addicted to certainty. I believe that we should wrestle with questions like these, but also have the courage and humility to acknowledge that some answers aren't for us to know - at least not in this life.

 

[BFine]

My thoughts are along the lines of...
Psalm 19:1
"The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

Psalm 147:4
"He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names."


Isaiah 48:13
"My hand laid the foundation of the earth,
and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them, they stand forth together."

--And I'm in awe.

 

[1watchman]

We can only know what God is pleased to reveal to us ---all else is speculation. If one does not understand the Bible, which shows us all that God wants us to know, there is little profit in wondering about the universe and space --right?

 

[Michael Hawk]

I prefer to approach the question with awe and mystery. Who am I to say that Jesus hasn't redeemed other worlds? Maybe salvation is available to them in some other way, or maybe some of those beings don't need to be saved from a fall as we did?

We are becoming too addicted to certainty. I believe that we should wrestle with questions like these, but also have the courage and humility to acknowledge that some answers aren't for us to know - at least not in this life.

Wow, I never thought about it that way.

 

[JacobLaw]

I have been a Christian most of my life and I love God deeply.

One thing I have been struggling with recently is the creation story and the universe.

I mean, we are so small and the universe is huge with almost an unlimited amount of space, so how are we the center of things you know? Is all this extra space just for us to explore one day?

Would like to know anyones thoughts on this, especially those who have studied astronomy.

Thank you.

don't believe everything the world has taught you, believe God, its is the exact opposite of the world teaching, be renewed in your mind, the world's knowledge is a out right hoax.

 

[Johnnz]

Size is not the most significant consideration. God created and placed us here as His image bearers, came to live here with us in Jesus for a period and one day will restore our broken cosmos in a new unity between heaven and earth. That is what gives us significance.

John
NZ

 

[Goodbook]

Wow I dont know but as the bible says the heavens declare the glory of God..and he did promise Abraham that his descendants, including you and me through the line of Jesus, will be as numerous as the grains of sand or the stars in the sky.

! Awe inspiring when you think of it. He loves us even if we are small speck in the universe. But you know, size is relative. God isn't looking at the physical size of us but how big our hearts are. I haven't studied astronomy, but my dad is an amateur astronomer.

We aren't the centre of things, God is. After all, he is the creator and we are his creation.

 

[LoricaLady]

I have been a Christian most of my life and I love God deeply.

One thing I have been struggling with recently is the creation story and the universe.

I mean, we are so small and the universe is huge with almost an unlimited amount of space, so how are we the center of things you know? Is all this extra space just for us to explore one day?

Would like to know anyones thoughts on this, especially those who have studied astronomy.

Thank you.

Physical smallness is not even as important to you yourself as you think. For ex. what is more precious to you, all the stars in the Milky Way or a few white blood cells that just gobbled up some dangerous disease producing cells? Perhaps one reason, of more than we can presently know about, that the universe is so vast is so that we will be humbled at the sight of it to know how awesome the Creator is.

But the Bible does say that the descendants of Abraham will be as numberless as the sands of the sea. That hasn't happened yet. I don't know but I wonder if maybe after the Millenium, maybe starting in the Millenium, people will be able to move to other places in the universe.

Maybe in some ways we don't understand all that material in outer space (and outer space itself is a material, a stretchy material science has discovered, mirroring what Scriptures say about how YHWH stretched out the Heavens) is doing some kind of a balancing act for life on earth.

There are so many things we don't know! Praying for you to not to try to see things from your perspective, but to simply rest and trust in your Heavenly Father's perfect ways.

 

[ForJesusChrist]

I believe that we should wrestle with questions like these, but also have the courage and humility to acknowledge that some answers aren't for us to know - at least not in this life.

 

[ForJesusChrist]

don't believe everything the world has taught you, believe God, its is the exact opposite of the world teaching, be renewed in your mind, the world's knowledge is a out right hoax.

 

[Michael Hawk]

don't believe everything the world has taught you, believe God, its is the exact opposite of the world teaching, be renewed in your mind, the world's knowledge is a out right hoax.

I know we have to be renewed in our minds, but does your comment mean that astrology is a hoax?

 

[JacobLaw]

I know we have to be renewed in our minds, but does your comment mean that astrology is a hoax?

The depth of astrology was realized by the Wisemen that followed the Star of Bethlehem, for how did they know what it meant?
Of course everything has been perverted and twisted to put things out of perceptive.
Did you know that Christian that believed the word of God not only look at creation as 6 days but have a Geocentric view?
However the divination, incantations, sorceries, and bewitching of the world have lead us away from the truth.
We have been programed by a narrative that is anti-bible, thus anti-Christ!
Being renewed in our minds, the spirit of our mind, is essential to overcoming the bondage of deception that deceives the whole world; and until we quit letting it do that we will never see what is really going on.

 

[Johnnz]

I know we have to be renewed in our minds, but does your comment mean that astrology is a hoax?

Astrology, seeking guidance 'from the stars' is wrong. But astronomy, the study of the stars, is a perfectly valid discipline.

John
NZ

 

[Michael Hawk]

Astrology, seeking guidance 'from the stars' is wrong. But astronomy, the study of the stars, is a perfectly valid discipline.

John
NZ

Haha, yeah sorry I ment astronomy.

 

[rockytopva]

Here is the way I would see it... I believe that the creation of the known universe is in response to Lucifer's rebellion.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Let me break this one down...

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. - Genesis 1:1

Space and mass - Nothing else

And the earth was 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. - Genesis 1:2

Space and mass - Nothing else
Waters - The Galactic Center of the Milky Way is obscured by dark clouds. As this center can be observed with infrared light I can only assume this as H2O water. If it were dust particles could it be seen with infrared God may have included dust particles in his definition of waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. - Genesis 1:3

As m = E/c2 so the mass dissociates into energy and light flowing out as plasma from a point of origins forming into what elements the Father willed it to.

*** I believe that 15 billion years transpired between Genesis 1:3-4***

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. - Genesis 1:4

Keep in mind that the first day has not occurred yet. By dividing the light from the darkness the earth is put in orbit around the sun, dividing the light from the darkness.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. - Genesis 1:5

Now we are ready for the first day and the seven day creation story... 15 billion years from the time that God said, "Let there be light!"

 

[Radagast]

so how are we the center of things you know?

Who says we are? God created the Universe because He wanted to.