Creation

“For we cannot speak of the beginning; where the beginning begins our thinking stops, it comes to an end.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Creation is one of those things that defines us as humans.  As artists, we create works of art.  As entrepreneurs, we create businesses to compete in the marketplace.   And as parents, friends, and even enemies, we create relationships with one another.

Creation is an attribute of humanity that is special, that separates us from the animals and plankton.

But what is creation?

Or, maybe the questions makes better sense to ask this way: why is creation?

Let me illustrate what I mean.  Consider for a moment the history of war.  As far back as written and oral history go, we have stories of war and destruction.  Or, the theory of evolution–were it true–states that life comes out of death, or failure.  Even, finally, our own bodies, if not taken care of, will waste away.  The common denominator here is that things are getting worse.

Plainly, these things all take a form of anti-creation, or destruction.

Yet, in all of this, man has an intrinsic desire to live.  And not only a desire to merely survive life, but a desire to enjoy life.

If so much of life is winding down and degrading, where does this desire for something better come from?

I believe the Bible answers just this question.

The Bible explains creation like this: God created everything out of nothing.  He was the first cause, and he is eternal–without beginning and without end.  Logically, philosophically, this is the best answer, because this accounts for the ubiquitous belief that bad things shouldn’t be.

But often, when we struggle with understanding bad things, the intellectual answers are just not enough.  Sometimes, our questions come from some place deeper.

Simply put, we are created for a purpose (Colossians 1:16).  When God created us, he had in mind that we’d live full and enjoyable lives.  That’s why Jesus says that he came so that we’ll have life abundantly (John 10:10).

The reason, I believe, we have this built-in desire for a better life is not because of our surroundings or our social theories tell us to.  No, it’s because that’s the way we were designed.

The Christian teaching of Creation answers the hurting when they cry, that yes, there is more to life than just hurt.  It answer the lost and the lonely, that yes, there is purpose and comfort in life.

Creation provides the wonder and amazement of discovery and the joy and satisfaction of relationships.  But most importantly, creation explains the hole in our lives we all long to fill — love.

The Christian understanding of creation teaches that God created out of love.  All of our deepest needs come together here.

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The Main Things, or Basic Doctrines, are the cornerstones of the Christian faith.  These are the pillars on which everything else rests.  Understanding these first help everything else to make sense.