The Doctrines of Creation[1]
There are many views on Creation- especially in regards to the age of the earth- but this should not be an issue that divides Christians. The Hebrew word for “day” is used to mean both a literal day and a period of time. I believe that, in context, both the Genesis passage and Ex. 20:8-11 point toward a literal six-day creation.
This is consistent with other miracles in Scripture, the results of which are almost always mature in nature. For example, this is seen in John 2 where the water is turned into aged wine, even though it is only minutes old. It is generally believed that Adam was created as an adult; having an age which was much greater than the actual number of years he had been in existence. Likewise, in the gospels the lame walk, the blind receive sight, and the lepers are healed. They are not found learning to walk all over again, having their skin grow and become healthy over time, or gradually learning to see- the results were immediately apparent in a state of completion. In Genesis 11, at the tower of Babel , people do not have to learn languages from scratch; they automatically begin speaking them conversationally. Why, then, can the earth not appear to be older than it is if it was created in this way? God is not being deceptive with us; He simply spoke the universe into existence with the results ours to discover. If the earth was formed as we have discussed it would still appear to be billions of years old, because it would seem that it had been created in an immature state and then developed.
Despite differences of opinion about this, there are seven things we can agree on:
- God created the Heavens and the Earth, and all things visible and invisible which fill them (Gen.1, Col. 1:16, Acts 17:24, John 1).
- God created by His Word (Gen. 1, Ps, 33).
- God created through His Son (Heb. 1, John 1, Col. 1).
- God created in six days, whether they each contained twenty four hours or not. He created progressively, which is also how He works with His creatures; sanctification is a progressive process (Gen. 1).
- He values His creation; all He created is good (Gen. 1).
- All things are created for the glory of God (Rev. 4, Col. 1). Our purpose is to glorify Him.
- We are never more advanced in our concept of God than when we glorify Him as Creator. Salvation is God rescuing what He formed, and His creatures should worship Him accordingly (Rev. 4).
Application:
When we portray creation in art, it should be as majestic, beautiful, and good. Certain aspects may be portrayed as evil justifiably, since we now live in a fallen state, but we must not lose sight of the fact that all of creation was once without fault…and one day will be again.