article by site founder, Connie Rice
Do you have an innate desire to know what is true? Do you want your life to mean something? Do you value justice and fairness? Do you have the ability to reason using logic? Where do those desires and abilities come from? These are timeless questions that every human being has contemplated at one time or another. Our worldview determines how we answer them (if we make an attempt to answer them rather than pushing them to the back of our minds). Darwinian evolution and random chance cannot even explain where the first living cell comes from, let alone answer how any of the above-mentioned things came to be. Multiple generations now have been taught that they are a high-level animal that has gradually evolved and become more complex over time, as well as that this life is all there is. God is not given credit for the Creation of our world and the amazing design that we see in plants, animals, mathematics, scientific laws, and humans. People who believe God is their Creator with a Master Plan and as one made in His image, are accountable before Him, tend to be mocked and ridiculed. Is it any wonder that hopelessness, depression, suicide, drug abuse, anxiety, crime, fear, corruption, and confusion have increased substantially over the same time period? Others have gone much deeper into answering the big questions of life than is able to be addressed here, but let’s think about some of these questions:
Where did we come from?
Does our life have a purpose?
Do the decisions we make in life matter?
Why do people suffer?
Why is there evil in the world?
Where did our sense of justice and logic come from?
Is physical death really the end or is there a heaven or hell after death?
Let’s see if an evolutionary interpretation or a biblical interpretation can better answer these:
1. Where did we come from?
If Darwinian evolution is true, we evolved from an apelike creature – there was no plan because it would all be random (although for evolution to be true, new and more complex information would be needed along the way). The scientific law of biogenesis rejects the idea that life can come from nonlife (spontaneous generation), so how did the first living cell come about? Evolutionists cannot answer that, so generally just focus on mechanisms for change. The mechanisms given are natural selection and mutations, and of course time. Natural selection needs something to select from and mutations result in a loss of information and are generally harmful rather than beneficial. Therefore, Darwinian evolution cannot answer the question of from where we came.
If the Bible is true, we are made in the image of a loving, merciful, faithful, intelligent, logical, just, good, sovereign, and eternal Creator God. We as humans were created uniquely from all other creatures (made in His image) and possess some level of some of God’s attributes – the capacity to love, to have compassion, to create, to reason using logic, to have desire for meaning and purpose in life, to seek justice, to have a basic sense of right and wrong, etc. Each person also seems to naturally know that there is more to life than just existence, thus creating the motivation to seek answers.
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:26-27
2. Does my life have a purpose?
If Darwinian evolution is true, the only purposes are to survive (to search for food and either to flee from predators or to pursue other creatures as predator) and to reproduce. Interestingly, no mechanism has been suggested to explain many things, such as why some creatures migrate and where that tendency comes from, why some live in groups and others don’t, why some creatures exhibit abilities that more complex creatures don’t have, etc. No answer is given for why humans seek purpose in their lives and other creatures do not, why humans place such a high value on beauty, fairness, music, art, etc., or why it seems that only humans contemplate their future and meaning in life.
If the Bible is true, each person is created to know and love their Creator while living a life that gives glory to Him, and to reflect His love to others. God reveals Himself and the way to have a life of purpose through the Bible. Amazingly, God empowers His followers to accomplish this through the His Holy Spirit when we accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior – trusting in Him alone for salvation and following His teachings. A life of love, hope, selflessness, personal & spiritual growth, and purpose is available to all who choose to submit their Savior – we are made a new creation and our past no longer defines us. We are given the power to turn from the sins that so easily control us – this is true freedom.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
3. Do the decisions we make in life matter?
If Darwinian evolution is true, how we live our lives doesn’t really matter – each person is free to survive how he or she sees fit without regard for how their decisions may negatively affect others. Selfishness, arrogance, pride, corruption, and no end of evil are rationalized as a result of this worldview.
If the Bible is true, our lives on earth affect our relationships with both God and others, and we are to seek God with our whole heart, mind, strength, and soul, and love others as ourselves. We are to sacrifice for the benefit of others. The decisions we make in this life affect our eternity (whether we stand in judgment before a holy God or receive rewards from our Savior, Jesus Christ and live in heaven forever).
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’.”
John 8:31-32
4. Why do people suffer?
If Darwinian evolution is true, it’s a “dog-eat-dog world” where each person’s focus is on themselves and their own needs, so suffering and death would be part of it for those who are not at the top of the “food chain”, so-to-speak. The strongest and fittest would still suffer from various things, but their control over those not deemed to be as strong or as fit would cause much greater suffering for them.
If the Bible is true, suffering and pain is never wasted. God allows suffering in our lives to draw us closer to Himself, to teach us, to grow us, to increase our compassion for others, to equip us to come beside someone else going through a similar trial, or to prepare us for something in the future of which we are not yet aware. Since God is omniscient, He knows everything – past, present, and future, so He alone really knows what lies ahead and how we need to be prepared. Some might be uncomfortable with the thought that God knows our hearts and thoughts and that nothing is hidden from Him. However, when we are in the center of His will, this knowledge can be a true comfort to us – He knows everything about us, yet He loves and values us anyway.
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12-13
5. Why is there evil in the world?
If Darwinian evolution is true, there is no foundation for the existence of either evil or good – living things in nature exist only for survival and reproduction. Not only does it not offer an explanation of why good or evil exists, but it also cannot explain why humans are able to recognize good and evil. Although what defines good and evil for different people may depend on their culture and opinions, it seems that all humans acknowledge that some things are good and some things are evil.
If the Bible is true, God created a perfect world and the first two humans (Adam and Eve). In it was a garden that included fully formed fruits and vegetables for food as well as both the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God instructed Adam not to eat from the latter tree, but Eve was deceived by the serpent (Satan) and both of them disobeyed. They were expelled from the garden and their disobedience brought sin and death into the world. We live in a broken world with sin, illness, pain, and death which explains the evil in the world, but look forward to when Jesus will fight evil once and for all and be victorious. God promises to create a new heaven and earth where there is no sin, pain, illness, or death for those who accept His free gift of eternal life through believing in Jesus Christ for salvation.
“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death’.”
Revelation 21:1-8
6. Where did our sense of justice and ability to reason with logic come from?
If Darwinian evolution is true, there is no explanation for how our sense of justice and logic came to be. On another note, there is also no way to explain the existence of natural laws, mathematical laws, music, or beauty. How can intelligence arise out of nothing?
If the Bible is true, our Creator God is logical, intelligent, and just. Since we are made in His image, humans are also logical, have intelligence, and seek justice. Who hasn’t said, “That doesn’t make sense.” Even very young children say, “That’s not fair!” Scientists acknowledge that all DNA contains information and information can only come from intelligence.
“Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows Himself holy in righteousness.
Isaiah 5:15-16https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+5&version=ESV
7. Is physical death really the end or is there a heaven or hell after death?
If Darwinian evolution is true, we die and that’s it. There is no hope for anything else.
If the Bible is true, we exist eternally – either with our loving Savior in heaven or if we choose to deny Him, in a place without His presence. Hell was created for Satan and his demons, but God does not force Himself on anyone. He gave us liberty to choose our own destiny. Rejecting Him naturally results in our being somewhere else. God offers us hope for help in this life as well as the hope of heaven.
“All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as My gospel declares.”
Romans 2:2-16
What do you say? Which belief system best answers the big questions? If you want to know God and yourself better, if you want to experience God’s amazing love, if you want your life to mean something, and if you desire justice, then use your God-given ability to reason logically to seek the Lord. He does not hide from you.
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”
Lamentations 3:25
Truth matters, but how can we determine what is true when conflicting reports about the same issues are all around us? Let’s reason together using our God-given sense of logic to recognize that God not only created us, but gave us the Bible (His revealed word) to guide us through this life and prepare us for the next. Seeking Him as we read through it is how we know truth as well as what is good and what is evil. Only a biblical worldview can supply us with the answers we each so desperately need. Our culture has individually and corporately turned our backs on God and rejected His teachings to our own peril. Each of us needs to turn from our sin, turn to our Creator, and cry out for His mercy. He is the source of truth, forgiveness, hope, purpose in this life, and is the perfect all-knowing judge. As evangelist, Billy Graham, referenced often in his Crusades from 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the day of salvation”. For those who have already accepted the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, Peter offers further wisdom:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:3-11
© Constance Rice 2022
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