The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Acts17:24-27
The Apostles Creed reminds us that we believe that He is the "maker of heaven and earth." Paul is talking to the philosophers of the day in Athens. He's addressing the brightest and the best.
Creation is a controversial subject. People argue creation vs evolution. Literal seven days vs figurative seven days. Real Adam vs mythological Adam and so forth.
Paul does a helpful thing when he discusses creation with the scholars: he doesn't talk about "how" but "why". When one gets down to the "why" of creation, the "how" is less of an issue.
Paul gives two reasons for creation:
Firstly creation is a display of the glory and grandeur of God. God doesn't need a temple made by human hands - all of creation is His temple. Creation is an expression of His glory and majesty.
Secondly creation is a signpost that points humanity toward God. God didn't create us because He was lonely. (God enjoys perfect community in the Trinity!) God creates because giving life, beauty and vastness to creation is an expression of WHO HE IS.
Creation is vast and majestic. The astronomers tell us that the universe is still expanding. As we unpack the wonders of DNA and other microscopic wonders scientists are using the phrase "intelligent design" more and more.
So... is there life like us on other planets?
If there is - then the vastness of creation speaks of a God much bigger than they can think or imagine and calls them to worship. If there isn't then creation still serves its two purposes:
- To speak of God's grandeur
- To call us to reach out for Him and find Him - though He isn't far from us.
Creation isn't centred around us - it's about Him.
Creation makes best sense when its creatures know Him.
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Theo Groeneveld theo @ emmanuel.org.za
