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One of the modern discussions of philosophers and theologians is, “Why is there something instead of nothing?” In other words, “Why does the universe exist?" That leads to the question, "Why does our solar system exist?” There are countless other galaxies besides our Milky Way. “Why?” These are questions no one can answer, at least not at the present time.
We know other galaxies, solar systems, planets, and moons exist. In the past 25 years, our improvements in Earth-based telescopes and the production of the Webb space telescope have provided evidence of the vastness of creation. Does intelligent life exist in any of these other galaxies? We cannot answer that question yet.
Since God created the physical world in which we live to carry out the battle between good and evil, would he also do that in other places? Isaiah 55:8-9 challenges us to understand that God is not limited to our capacity to think and understand. In that passage, God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, … For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Science fiction writers have created a whole industry on the assumption that the war between good and evil is ongoing and not limited to the planet on which we live. Theologians will object, saying, “Do you think Jesus died more than once and experienced more than one resurrection?” The answer to that is “no.” The biblical account is limited to planet Earth, so life elsewhere is purely speculation.
Many years ago, I was on a Larry King radio talk show with an atheist. A caller asked the atheist, “What would you do if a spaceship landed on the White House lawn and a little green man jumped out with a Bible in his hand and said, ‘Has Jesus been here yet?’ ” My atheist opponent smiled and said, “Punt.”
More to the point is that God may provide a different means for the battle between good and evil than what we see on Earth. God has a purpose for our existence and may see fit to use other places and methods for his purposes. The earth-bound atheist can see no purpose for existence on a cosmic level.
Another point we must consider about the reason for the universe’s existence is that everything we see may be the result of the creation of time, space, and matter/energy in the beginning. We now understand that the “big bang” singularity was not just a physical process. Time and space were created, and with space, matter/energy was ingrained in the fabric of space. For us humans limited to our five senses to comprehend the physical world in which we live, this is beyond our current understanding.
Recent advances in quantum mechanics have shown that time had a beginning and that the fabric of space contains all the residual matter and energy the creation process produced. God was not concerned only about people in the days of Moses and Christ. God knew that humans, as his ultimate creation, would eventually study the creation process and see evidence of God’s hand in the cosmos.
We suggest that what makes humans unique is our creation in God's image — our spiritual makeup. Our physical qualities are of secondary importance. The message of the cosmos is that God is a creator with incredible power, wisdom, and purpose. The universe radiates that, and the more we see of creation, the more we understand of its Creator.
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Cover photo: © NeagoneFo/Bigstock.com
© NeagoneFo/Bigstock.com
Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.