In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3 (KJV)
Darkness can make us feel uncomfortable. It’s not just literal, physical darkness that makes us squirm. But there’s spiritual and emotional and relational darkness that’s uncomfortable… and confusing.
I’ve been there. I’ve experienced the death of a dream I thought God was going to fulfill for me. I was in a spiritual and career darkness. We’ve had some significant family challenges over the years. We’ve known a kind of relational darkness. When my dad died and then Maryanne’s dad died, we knew the darkness of grief.
At times like these, you wonder, where’s God? What’s He doing? Why is my life in such a mess? What should I do next? I’m in the dark.
Maybe that’s where you are today. Right now, there are things in your life that don’t seem to make much sense. And you are wondering, “What’s going on? What’s the next step?”
This is when we need God to say, “Let there be light!” He shines His light inot your darkness as Creator. Our faith says, “If He is Creator, then He’s creating something good for you out of your darkness.” Or, to it another way: There is a Designer who defeats your darkness and He has a design for your life.
Designer Genes
We’re going to see how He has designed your genetic code along with everything else.
In this series, we’re going to seek to ask and answer some questions – deep questions – profound questions. God wants our questions. He says, “Bring it on! Ask Me your toughest questions.” So we’re asking questions about creation, resurrection, and the Bible. The implications play out powerfully.
Today, we’ll talk about evolution. We hear about two types.
Micro evolution. Within particular species of plants and animals, change happens. No one disagrees with that. Micro evolution.
Macro evolution. This is where the controversy lies. This is where the wheels begin to fall off.
This theory of macro-evolution gained prominence in 1859 when Charles Darwin wrote “On the Origin of Species.” He said that all life is the product of undirected, un-designed, unintelligent natural selection. That the universe had the appearance of design without a designer. The theory of evolution became intellectually “in.”
So, some people believe we are cosmic accidents. If we believe that, we’ll be tempted to do life that way. If there is no Creator God, there’s no right or wrong. If we are the by-products of chance, then there’s no purpose.
Now, most evolutionists and atheists are law-abiding citizens. But every now and then, someone takes evolutionary thought down a tragic path. Jeffrey Dahmer was a real life Hannibal Lector – a murderer. He said that early on he decided that there is no God, only evolution. In an interview with Stone Phillips on Dateline, he said, “If a person doesn’t think there is a God to be accountable to, then what’s the point of trying to modify your behavior? I always believed the theory of evolution as truth, that we all just came from the slime. When we… died, that was it, there is nothing.” So he concluded, “I do what brings me pleasure.”
Again, most evolutionists and atheists are respectable. But many would say that the theory of godless evolution has helped to corrode the character of our culture.
Evolution points to a “survival of the fittest” and “might makes right” approach to life. So, I can do what I want. There’s no reason to treat anyone else with a shred of dignity because there is no right or wrong and no consequences. That’s a logical conclusion if we’re just cosmic accidents.
Bit other people believe that we are tailor made in the image of God. If that’s true then we have guardrails to live by and a purpose to live for. We have a life worth living and a love worth finding. If it’s true, then there is a Designer who will defeat your darkness and He has a design for your life.
This past week, I processed a lot of information. We just want to hit a few high points this weekend. And I’m challenging you to come up with your own evaluation of the data. How you feel about this matters. What you believe about this counts.
It doesn’t make sense to me for you just to hear from some pastor about evolution vs. creation. So, I’ve invited some scientists to help me with this topic. I want you to meet…
Chris Williams – PhD in biochemistry from Ohio State University.
Works in the area of genetic screening to discover metabolic disorders.
Ron Cleveland – PhD in microbiology from Penn State University.
Head of microbiology and immunology at Metro Hospital and on the faculty at CWRU.
As I thought about both of you and the great minds you have, a verse in the Psalms comes to mind:
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.
Psalm 111:2 (ESV)
God likes it when we study His works. Scientific study pleases God!
Chris used to be an atheist. He has examined the data and become a creationist. Chris, how did that happen?
(3 minutes: Chris shares.)
Ron was a former theistic evolutionist. He believed in God. But that God created everything through the process of evolution. He has become a creationist. Ron, tell us your story.
(3 minutes: Ron shares.)
Now, guys, a lot of us in this room believe that God is Creator, but we don’t know why. We don’t know the evidence and facts that support our beliefs. So, we sit quietly in our classrooms. And we feel intimidated by a discussion about evolution in the office.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. I know both of you have…
Doubts about Darwinism
One problem with evolutionary thought has to do with our not finding transitional species as fossils. According to evolution, there should be transitional fossils, like half birds half reptiles or half dog half horse type creatures. I call this…
The fossil flaw
Chris, would you tell us why this is a problem for evolutionists?
(2 minutes: Chris shares.)
The evidence against evolution says that there is a Designer.
There is a single mother here who’s in the dark and she’s wondering how she’s going to keep up with her kids, her job, her bills, her health. If that’s you, you need to know…
There is a Designer who will defeat your darkness and He has a design for your life.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)
This fossil flaw brings up the question: “What about the ‘missing link’?” You know, the link between apes and humans? Hasn’t the “missing link” been found? Yes. It’s been found… wanting. A word to evolutionary paleontologists and archeologists… my advice: “Stop digging. Stop looking at the fossil record!” If you want support for the missing link theory, put down your shovel and pick up your remote and watch professional wrestling!
Look at “The Rock.”
Look at Shawn Michaels…
or Shane Douglas. These guys look like the “missing link.” This is a great support for evolution.
You know I’m just joking. But if you know the Rock or Shawn Michaels, tell them that I love professional wrestling. Tell them that I don’t think it’s fake. I don’t want to take them on!
Another problem with evolutionary thought is that it violates what’s called “the second law of thermodynamics.” I call this…
The chaos-to-cosmos question
Evolution requires disorder (chaos) to become more and more orderly (cosmos). Ron, what’s wrong with this thinking?
(2 minutes: Ron shares.)
Saying that chaos produces order is like believing that leaky buckets dripping in a paint factory could produce the Mona Lisa.
The evidence against evolution says that there is a Designer.
There is a child or teenager her who’s in the dark. No friends at school. You feel like you don’t belong. You’re on the outside looking in. If that’s you, you need to know…
There is a Designer who will defeat your darkness and He has a design for your life.
For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48:14 (NIV)
More and more scientists are seeing that evolutionary thought is a building that is crumbling. We’re going to look at some truths that make a…
The Case for a Creator
Charles Darwin said, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” That’s been demonstrated. You could call it…
The evidence of complex design
Ron, explain to us, a bunch of non-scientists, why this concept of irreducible complexity is creating shock-waves in the evolutionary community.
(3 minutes: Ron shares.)
I read this week that there are as many molecular machines in the body as there are functions the body has to do. Where do they come from? The evidence points to a Designer.
There’s a young man or young woman here starting out in a career. And no good job is in sight. You’re in the dark. If that’s you, you need to know…
There is a Designer who will defeat your darkness and He has a design for your life.
Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us…
Luke 1:78-79a (NIV)
There’s more evidence in the case for a Creator…
The evidence of creative intelligence - DNA
Chris, what does DNA tell us about creation and evolution?
(3 minutes: Chris shares.)
If we just let the evidence speak for itself, we will come to a different conclusion than evolution. We’ll see a Designer!
There’s a couple here who are about to quit their marriage. Too many fights. Things seem hopeless. If that’s you, you need to know…
There is a Designer who will defeat your darkness and He has a design for your life.
He leads the humble in what is right, teaching them His way.
Psalm 25:9 (NLT)
One more price of evidence in this case for a Creator.
The evidence of cause and effect - cosmology
Every cause has an effect. This happened to make that happen. That happened to make this happen. Now, go back to the very first effect. There has to be an uncaused Cause. And that uncaused Cause is God!
There are parents here who watched kids they’ve raised walk away from God – walked away from what is good and right and true. And if that’s you, you need to know…
There is a Designer who defeats your darkness and He has a design for your life.
You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory.
Psalm 73:24 (ESV)
Ron, bottom line… how has your study of God, His word, and his world changed your life? How did this change the way you live?
(2 minutes: Ron shares.)
Chris, same questions… how has your study of God, His word, and his world changed your life? How did this change the way you live?
(2 minutes: Chris shares.)
There is a Designer who defeats your darkness and He has a design for your life.
Look at the order of the universe! The order demands a Designer. Computer illustration…
Look at the intricacies of the human eye. You want to argue that it is the result of happenstance? That is like saying a tornado that happens to blow through a junkyard could create a fully functioning 747.
There is a Designer who defeats your darkness and He has a design for your life.
As I was preparing for this teaching, I learned a lot. Every week, I believe that I learn more than you. My response this week was…
AWE
The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of Him.
Psalm 33:6, 8 (NLT)
What does God want us to do?
Admire your world
Think a lot about the sacredness of life. We’re not advanced algae. When you look at another person – your wife, your child, your parents, your friends, you are locking eyes with a masterpiece. When that person cuts you off, do you treat them like they matter, like they are sacred? Admire your world.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 (NIV)
Look at the stars with new eyes. Look at the dew on the grass with new appreciation. And learn. And think. And study. Admire your world.
This also ought to cause me to want to take care of my body. It’s part of this world I’m to admire. But we don’t exercise. We stuff our faces with nachos and twinkies and ice cream. I’m not saying we ought to start snorting carrot juice. But don’t trash the temple. The better you take care of it, the more you can serve God.
Worship your Lord
God created it all. But we don’t worship the creation. We don’t worship the plants or a tree or a rock. That’s pantheism. These things inspire us to worship. When you see a beautiful sunset, what ought that cause you to do? Worship!
You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve and give life to everything, and all the angels of heaven worship You.
Nehemiah 9:6 (NLT)
If you litter, you are creating cosmic treason. The earth is a holy place. Taking care of it is an act of worship.
Explore your faith
If you are an evolutionist who just showed up at CVCC, thanks for coming. Do the study for yourself.
But listen, I think it takes a greater leap of faith to believe something came from nothing than to believe that something came from something. Don’t take a pastor’s word for it or a couple of scientist’s opinion about it.
At the end of the day it’s a believe it or not deal.
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Hebrews 11:3 (ESV)
We have the freedom to decide what we think. God doesn’t force the issue. But don’t devalue faith. Everyday, we live by faith. You will trust a car will get you home.
We trust planes to get us from one place to another. We don’t know all about the laws of aerodynamics. But we get on the planes anyway… by faith.
When all the facts are rightly understood, I’m convinced that there will be no final conflict between scripture and natural science. We can approach both scientific and biblical study with the confidence that when all the facts are correctly understood, and when we have understood scripture rightly, our findings will never be in conflict with each other.
What’s God saying to you right now?
Don’t put your intellect aside. Think. Question. But do it with excellence. And pray a simple prayer: “God, reveal Yourself to me about this issue.”
At the very beginning of this talk, we thought about those ties in our lives when things don’t seem to makes much sense. “Where’s God? What’s He doing? Why is my life in such a mess? I’m in the dark. What’s going on?”
We need God to say, “Let there be light!” He will shine His light as Creator of your life and your future. He’s a personal God who wants relationship with you.
A truth to take home: The Designer has a destiny for my life. There is a Designer and He has a design for your life. Even my difficulties are part of the Designer’s design for my life. If He is Creator, then He’s creating something good for you out of your darkness.
A verse to remember: Seek God… reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist… (Acts 17:27b-28a, NIV)
A question to consider: What will I do to contact my Creator so I can discover my destiny?
Because God is the designer, you can say, “God is my personal Creator. He made me. He must have a plan for me.” God created you and you have meaning, value, purpose. You are not alone. God wants you to know Him. You can love and a relationship with Him even in the midst of your pain.
If there is no design, there is no designer. If there is no plan, there’s no planner... and we are without hope in the dark.
