Scientists tell us that it took millions of years for our earth to be as it is today. They can work out the age of the rocks fairly accurately. But when we turn to the Bible and to the first book –Genesis - we are told that the world was made in six days. Isn’t this all a glaring contradiction in terms?
We must remember that the Bible is not a book of science and it is not written in scientific language. In fact, the Hebrew word for day can mean not only twenty-four hours but also an age or period of time. So when we read Genesis chapter 1 we can see the story of creation in a new way. We can see not just how it happened, but why it happened.
Behind all the activity in creation we see God slowly but surely working out His plan for all living things.
But what was His purpose and why are we here?
We have been made in God’s likeness. This does not mean God has a huge human body. It means that, like God, we are able to love and choose, to think and make rational decisions. We have a mind and a will. We have been made to have a special relationship with Him - to know Him and love Him, to belong to Him and be His children.
“In the beginning God created (brought forth into existence out of nothing) the heavens and the earth.” The Bible shows that behind the beauty and complexity of the universe is a God Who had planned and made it all.
We have been made to worship God. Even the most primitive man has this inbuilt desire to worship a God.
We have been made to care for the earth and all living creatures, to develop and use wisely its amazing resources.
We have been made with very great creative skills in music, art, science, medicine and engineering. It is in our very nature to invent and explore. Where we see all these skills being creatively used we see God at work, whether He is acknowledged or not. For He is not only the giver of life in all its variety and richness, He is the very source of life.
