Thoughts about Creation and Evolution (7)

“Yea, hath God said?”

In this closing article we wish to consider two topics. In the first place, we wish to look at how the reading of Genesis 1 determines how all of God’s Word is read. Following that, we wish to point out that it is possible to make use of science while still upholding God’s Word as the Lord has given it to us.

The Word of God is true. In His high priestly prayer, Christ confessed, “Thy Word is truth.” It is so firm that we may not even question it. Who would dare to question the most high Majesty whether or not He has spoken the truth? The moment that we enter into a discussion with those who do not believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, we have already crossed a boundary. We have then made the holy Word of God subservient to our darkened understanding. Therefore, it is necessary not only to believe in Creation as it is recorded in Genesis 1 but also to bow under God’s Word! Paul writes in Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

The proof of God’s Word

The results of scientific investigation do not determine how we should read God’s Word. It is the other way around. God’s Word is the standard or the touchstone. When it is stated that we now know that the sun does not circle the earth so we should no longer take literally the sun standing still as we read in Joshua 10, that is out of order. The fact that Joshua called out, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon,” only confirms the historical accuracy of the report. As Joshua observed it, that is how it is literally written. (Do not we also speak of the sun rising and setting, even in our “enlightened” days?) It is very sad when people who agree with the biblical account of a six-day Creation as recorded in Genesis 1 are pushed aside as no longer being up to date. If science is to determine whether something should or should not be taken literally, we lose the authenticity of the Bible. The walking of Christ upon the water is not in step with natural science. The resurrection of Christ is also impossible scientifically speaking. He who wishes to bring Genesis 1 into agreement with the theory of evolution will sooner or later have difficulty with the entire Scriptures, and thereby the foundation of salvation is lost.

Living our life according to God’s Word

At the same time, science is not repudiated in Scripture. On the contrary, when natural science is in practice, what a beautiful field of learning it is! In the light of Scripture it is not undermined, but it is enriched. The command and the understanding of it are then not on the foreground, but the wonder and the unsearchableness of God’s great Creation are. In Lord’s Day 47 of the Heidelberg Catechism we read at the beginning regarding the first petition, “Grant us, first, rightly to know Thee, and to sanctify, glorify, and praise Thee in all Thy works, in which Thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed.” What a privilege it is to study the science of nature and through renewing grace to see something of the greatness of God’s attributes which are revealed in His Word and in His works. He makes a person humble and small.

Revealed unto babes

Christ said in Matthew 11:25, “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Every scientist will, if it is well, agree that he has studied only a small amount and in small area, even though one may know a bit more than another. We should not be walking with our head in the clouds as highly educated ones. How much greater it is when the Lord has taken those who, by nature, walk about as wise and educated ones and has made them small through renewing grace. Just studying a small portion of God’s beautiful Creation will cause one to look upward with childlike eyes toward the Lord who has made all of it, and such a one will stammer, “Oh, Lord, how great are Thy works, and Thy thoughts are very deep.” p

(This installment marks the end of this series.)

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