The Bible begins with this line: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

I find hope in the purposeful nature of creation. God chose to bring the world into existence, ex nihilo (out of nothing), giving his time and attention to the process. Day by day God layered wonders. Stars, oceans, swarming creatures below the seas and magnificent beasts roaming the lands. In the midst of this cornucopia of curiosities, the Lord placed Adam and Eve.

A rival hypothesis posits the universe arose through a random assortment of cosmic accidents, out of dust and energy from who knows where. Through a series of collisions over billions of years, perfect conditions developed on a planet for life to spark and take hold. This living iota pulled itself from the sludge, and after several more billion years walked erect. You and I are simply the result of an unseeing and uncaring cosmos, here for a minute and then absorbed back into the void.

I reject that theory of creation, both on scientific and theological levels. God created, and in so doing imbued this world with meaning. My life and yours, knitted in the womb by God’s himself, carries purpose and significance. Not merely accidental side-effects, you and I are children of the Creator. May we live this new year with that in mind, as men and women the Lord placed on this planet to enjoy him and serve others.

Genesis 1:1

Photo by Ravi Pinisetti