GOD CREATED THE EARTH
Jon Gary Williams
We seldom see lessons on this place we call home, and yet, our whole lives are centered on this marvelous globe. How much do we know about it? Or, still better, how much do we not know about it?
The earth spins at about 1,000 mph, but it’s powerful, gravitational force keeps everything from flying off into space. And, we still do not completely know how this works. As the earth circles the Sun, it travels at a fantastic speed of near 67,000 mph. This means that from the moment you are now reading this, in six months, you will be 93,000,000 miles on the other side of the Sun. So, you are, indeed, a space traveler. What a truly awe-inspiring world this is — that we call our dwelling place.
In this article we are looking at the earth from three perspectives:
1) The Earth’s Beginning,
2) The Earth’s Transformation,
3) The Earth’s Ending.
How do we explain the existence of the earth? Why does it exist? Where did it come from? When did it happen? Is it just an accident? Well, the earth had to come from somewhere! And, only three explanations have been offered.
1. The earth has always existed. In other words, it had no beginning. But this makes no sense. Logic tells us the earth cannot, of itself, be eternal. This is really no explanation. Somewhere, at some point, the earth had to have a beginning.
2. The earth came about spontaneously. This means that the earth arose apart from any external cause. Somehow, someway, it brought itself into existence. Or, as some express it, the universe came from nothing. This is called the inflationary model. “The inflationary model of the universe provides a possible mechanism by which the observed universe could have evolved from an infinitesimal region. It is then tempting to go one step further and speculate that the entire universe evolved from literally nothing” (Scientific American, May 1984, p.128). Such a view is not only illogical, it is absurd.
3. The earth was created. It was “caused” to exist. This is the only explanation making sense. This means there had to be a preexisting source — a creator. And, this calls for a super-intelligent, powerful, eternal Being. Our earth was created by God. And, God had the earth’s beginning recorded.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Gen. 1:1). But, what does this mean? There had to be a special place for the earth to exist. Before creation, the only realm that existed was God’s completely spiritual realm — nothing physical could exist there. So God created “heaven,” or “space” — a place compatible for a physical, material earth to exist.
God’s plan for all creation took place during a period of six normal 24hr days. However, some, to allow space for billions of years for evolution, place a giant gap between verses five and six of Genesis one. This theory says that verses one through five compose an “initial creation” of space and earth — or an extremely “long day” — a “day” of billions of years. Then, this theory says that at verse six begins the normal five days of creation.
This view, of course, is terribly false. The Bible clearly shows that the total of creation took place within a normal six-day period. “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11). Everything, including heaven and earth, appeared in that first week. There is no such “gap” to allow for billions of years.
This, of course, has to do with the great worldwide flood which took place at the time of Noah. Through the years, man had filled the earth with vile corruption. The human race had become so wicked and debased that God made the devastating decision to blot man from the earth.
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them (Gen. 6:5-7).
While all outside the ark perished, we read that Noah found favor in God’s eyes. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen. 6:8).
But now, what about the condition of the physical earth itself? During the year long global flood devastation, the appearance of the earth was drastically changed. Not only was everything with the “breath of life” destroyed, but because of the cataclysmic action of the global flood, the earth itself underwent a tremendous, almost unbelievable, physical transformation!
The surface of earth was fractured into gigantic pieces. Huge land masses were divided. Great oceans were formed. High mountains were pushed up. The surface of the earth was now completely transformed. Hence, we read, “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Gen. 7:11).
The fountains of the great deep were the subterranean, volcanic regions of the earth. Notice, this included “all” the fountains — so it was a worldwide, tectonic action. Visualize an egg blown up to the size of a beach ball. However, the egg’s shell remains the same narrow thickness. This illustrates what the thin, outer crust of the earth was like, easily subject to be broken apart.
The worldwide, subterranean “fountains,” caused the outer crust of the earth to undergo tremendous, catastrophic upheavals. The earth’s surface was twisted and torn apart. Today we still see aftermaths of this when volcanos erupt, or when earthquakes shake the outer crust of the earth.
But, we remember: God said he would never again destroy the earth by water, so he placed a rainbow in the sky to serve as a reminder (Gen. 9:13-16).
Yet, what if God had said, “I’m going to bring another global flood! And if you think the first flood was terrible, just wait, this next one will be much worse, for the earth will be completely destroyed!” If that had been God’s plan, every time bad floods would come, people would be asking: “Is this the end? Is the world about to be over?” But that was not God’s plan. For there is something else awaiting the earth’s ending. And this brings us to the third happening.
Yes, some day our earth will have a sudden, horrifying conclusion. It will be completely removed — like it had never even existed. Jesus foretold of it’s great ending: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35).
The apostle John also foretold of this event. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Rev. 21:1).
But now, what will this ending actually be like? The apostle Peter speaks of it in dramatic terms.
First, he contrasted it with the dreadful Genesis flood. “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men”( 2 Peter 3:6-7). Then Peter gives more specific terrible details. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” 2( Peter 3:10-12).
Peter also gives us a wonderful, hopeful message. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:13-14).
Think about it — a “new heaven and a new earth!” This is God’s way of describing His own home — heaven itself.
People everywhere need to be made aware that the time is coming when the earth will be no more; and, that time is always growing nearer.
Everyone needs to also know that a home in heaven is waiting. But for whom? Only for those who are preparing to go there — those who Believe and Obey the Lord God.
jongaryw@aol.com
jongarywilliams.com
posted by Believer | 1:00 AM
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