Darwin Was Darn Good at Titles

On the Origin of Species. Seriously, that would be the PERFECT title for this post, except it’s already taken. Anyway, in this post, I give my own informed answer to the ever-present question: Where did the world, and everything in it, come from?

God created the universe. I believe this statement wholeheartedly. Now, I have a scientific mind. I have a deep appreciation for modern science’s attempts at finding the answer to the question of “how did everything start?”. I don’t, however, believe that recognizing the validity of science and tangible fact means that I have to dismiss the possibility that the universe was designed by an intelligent creator. In fact, the probability of the universe having randomly taken a form suitable for life has been calculated at one out of 10,000,000,000¹²⁴. That figure is infinitesimal, bordering on impossible. Adding to that the intricate and thoughtful design of everything on this earth, from its very capability to support life to the labyrinthine processes of the human brain, it is far more logical to assume that an intelligent being was at work in setting the world in motion than to blindly follow the assumption that all the world came into being by chance.

At present, scientific data indicates that the universe is exploding outward from a point of infinite density, this point allegedly being the whole of three-dimensional space compressed to zero size. Even if the explosion of this singularity was indeed the beginning of the universe, the “big bang” as it were, where did that singularity come from? Everything has to start somewhere, science has proven over and over again that nothing cannot produce something. Matter does not just appear out of a void. Therefore, a deity without origin, one that has always been, one that is outside of time as we know it, is a reasonable explanation for the origin of this particular singularity.

In the words of author and Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias, “belief in a creator does not hinge on how he created”. The bottom line is: science itself denies the probability of life being a random product of time, matter and chance. Life cannot just pop into existence of its own accord, and nothing cannot produce something. Belief in a creator, whether considering a 7-day creation or a much longer time frame, is not a mere fancy of a child with an overactive imagination. It is a logical and educated option, based on a little scientific fact, a lot of faith and a measure of humility, as it involves admitting that maybe man is not the master of his own destiny.

The Grand Weaver

“How differently would we live if we believed that every event of our lives – from the happy to the tragic to the mundane – was part of a meticulous and purposeful design in which all the elements intertwined with breathtaking precision?”

So I started reading this book. It’s called The Grand Weaver, by Ravi Zacharias, and it’s really making me think. Zacharias writes so eloquently and he understands life and pain so well that you get the sense that he really knows what he’s talking about. I haven’t finished the book yet, but I had to write about what I’ve read so far, because it affected me so deeply.

Ravi Zacharias insists that every single moment of our lives is part of a much bigger, beautiful design. Every detail of us is in it’s perfect place, from the piece of toast you burned this morning to the birth of your baby cousin. Every event, every thought, no matter how big or small, has a part to play in the bigger picture. He uses the analogy of a tapestry, crafted after hours and hours of labor by a loving craftsman who keeps the pattern in mind and painstakingly weaves thread after thread.

The subtitle of the book reads: “How God Shapes Us Through the Events of Our Lives”. Zacharias really brings home the point that you, as an individual, are important, and God cares so much about you that He crafts your life, your story, just as painstakingly as a grand weaver crafts a tapestry. He uses the events in your life to mold you into the person He needs you to be. He uses you to affect other people, and He uses other people to affect you.

To be honest, I just find this incredibly comforting. I have a tendency to feel insignificant,  I mean, who wouldn’t with 7 billion people on the planet and not exactly anything special to offer? This book proved to me that I do have something to offer. I might not know exactly what that is, but that’s okay. God knows, and He is ultimately in control of, let’s face it, basically everything.

All in all, I DEFINITELY recommend this book. It’s a necessary read. Trust me. You can pick it up here.