The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse of heaven shows the work of His hands. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. (19th Psalm 1-3)
The opening verses of this beautiful psalm are a clear reminder that God has shown Himself to mankind across the far stretches of our world. His craftmanship is on display throughout the explored universe, and beyond that, we might look and witness His glory and might. The creation of God itself teaches us as we explore it and uncover the great mystery of its workings. And all that it has to declare of the great God that fashioned it, all of its wonders to discover, are visible and obtainable to each and every one of us…for regardless of the place of our birth, it speaks our shared common language, the language of wonder with regards to the contemplation of this vast universe that our little plant is hung in.
In light of the fact regarding God’s declaration written into the very creation that He formed, as expressed in this psalm, Paul provides Christians a very stern warning in Romans 1:18-20:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest among them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and divine nature, so that they are without excuse.
The truth which is often suppressed is the fact that God is very real and that He alone is the source of creation. There is much that one can learn about a craftsman by examining the products that they have fashioned, and the same is true with regard to the vast expanse of the universe which God crafted. All of its complexities and interwoven codependent systems bear clear witness to His power and nature. So, evidently clear is their message that Paul declared in the scripture above that there is simply no plausible excuse not to believe in a Divine Creator.
Yet, many choose not to believe. Many place their beliefs in myths and fables…in reasoning that is presented as knowledge and truth but is simply a self-refuting lie. Unfortunately for them, one day, God will speak similar words to them which He spoke to Job’s ill-informed friends in the whirlwind. “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?’” (Job 38:1-2). Like Job’s friends, there are so many who think they have all the answers, but what they think they know as truths is built on a foundation of lies and misinformation.
Take, for example, the theory of evolution, which violates the first two laws of biogenesis. Or the big bang theory, which has gone through multiple iterations, has those who support it need to try and reinforce it against all the scientific facts and laws which not only contradict it but flat out shreds it to pieces. Once a theory is proven false, it should be thrown into the trash, but since those who refuse to accept the actuality of a divine source cannot invent sounder arguments, they continue to perpetuate the same old false narrative.
If you have a deeper interest in being able to provide an answer to those that hold to false theories, head to the Cogitations’ YouTube channel and listen to the six-part series titled “How Can I Know.” This series originally aired on the Cogitations’ Radio Program on 106.1 Flip-FM, which is on every Sunday morning at 9 AM. Also, at the Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney, Texas, I will be starting a series this coming Sunday focused on this same topic. These are both good options for gaining deeper knowledge in this line of discussion, far more than can be squeezed into this short article.
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
