Author: Robin D. Fish
Note: Creation Moments exists to provide Biblically sound materials to the Church in the area of Bible and science relationships. This Bible study may be reproduced for group use.
The Concept of evolution contains within itself the idea that the world is progressing, getting better and becoming more what it can or should be. If the world evolved from cosmic dust, and life spontaneously arose and developed into ever higher and more complex forms, then that idea would fit. But the world was, we believe and confess, created by our God only a few millennia ago.
Scripture leads us to understand that God planned the world, created it in all of its fullness and variety, and finished the work. Here again, as at nearly every single point, creation and evolution are at odds. This study will look at the Bible and discover how clearly it tells us that when God created, the world was perfect and complete.
1. For a change, we will not begin with Genesis. We will begin with John 1:1-4. Turn to this passage in your Bible. This speaks of Christ (v. 14) as our Creator. Notice the time frame given for this creating activity. This gospel starts precisely the same as the book of Genesis, except in Greek instead of Hebrew. “In the beginning” is when the narrative begins. What was in the beginning? Make a list, then compare it to the following.
2. In the beginning was God, the Word of God, and at this “beginning” all things were created through the Word, and nothing which has been created was created without Him. All of this was “in the beginning.” The double mention that He was in the beginning with God serves to tell us that all of this is talking about the very beginning of time and creation. How do we know this for sure? Find the answer to that question in Hebrews 11:3.
3. Now we can turn to Genesis 1. It begins with the same words. First skim through verse 31 and take note of how God assesses each day’s work. God calls each day’s work “Good.” Knowing the exact standards of God, how good is “good”?
Then notice the change in verse 31. How is the whole of creation viewed? What must that word mean in the vocabulary of God?
Now, carefully read verses 28 through 30. Notice the word “every” as it is used each time.
4. Discuss: Could God give man dominion or the right to use as food that which did not exist? Yet every type of life is mentioned as under the dominion of man, and every plant yielding seed and plant with fruit yielding seed is given as food. They were all there. Not every individual was present, but every kind was.
5. Now carefully read Genesis 2:1-3. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their host.” Notice that the heavens and the earth were finished. There was nothing left that needed improvement. “And all their host” is meant to include all that they contain. They were all completed and perfect, for God had found them “very good.”
So what did God do? He rested. From what? From all the work which he had done. There is no idea of progressive creation here. God planned, and did what He had planned, and all was finished and completed. Everything was created and made.
6. Is this taking a lot out of a very few words? Consider that this is the Word of God. Then consider how carefully and redundantly these facts are stated. God repeated these ideas in quick succession so man would not mistake them for an incautious turn of phrase. Consider, too, that this evidence from Scripture is far more data within this realm to make these reasoned judgements than scientists have within their realm to concoct the “theory” of evolution (“theory” is in quotes because this is not a scientific theory, but a dogmatic article of an atheistic faith).
7. Naturally, then, the question arises, “What about the changes in the world since the creation?” If the world was created complete and perfect, why have changes occurred? How would we account for them? Look at Romans 8:20-22. Note that the world was subjected to “futility” (NASB) and is now in “slavery to corruption.” Why is this so?
8. It is subjected to death and corruption under which it “groans” due to the sin of man. The world was created ready for use, perfect and complete. Then man sinned. So God subjected the whole of creation to futility and corruption for the sake of man. When the Scriptures here say that it was not subjected to such corruption “of its own will,” it means that creation had done nothing to deserve it. Only man had sinned. That explains why creation groans in hope of being once again set free, and why creation waits eagerly with us for the revealing of the adoption of sons (which is the image, here, of the judgement day).
9. Sit back and think for a moment: What sort of changes do we see in the world around us? Don’t consider the fanciful, fictitious ramblings of those who devise evolutionary scenarios, but the changes we actually observe. What are they? We see erosion, extinction of species, mutations, decay and corruption. These are changes for the worse, not the better. These are the corrupting effects of sin, not “progress” toward a better and brighter day. We use things up. They are gone, and we do not know how to replace them.
10. The changes we see are a falling down from perfection and completion. The second law of thermodynamics works to the destruction of order and energy we see around us. The world is not progressing, except to its end and death (if the Lord were not returning before that day).
11. We do see engineered changes: buildings built, new breeds selectively bred for, new plants and hybrids cultured. But these changes are designed from what already is, and by man who retains the creative urge given to him by God when He created us in His own image. We see little to hope in, little (if any) true progress in the natural order of things. No, God made the world complete and perfect, and the changes we see are the damaging effects of sin.
Close this study with a prayer for God’s preservation of our world, and of repentance for our sin contributing to the destruction of His perfect creation.
Footnotes:
1989 Bible Science Newsletter.
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