"before Religion" Series

One of the simplest stories in the Bible seems to be one of the hardest stories for some to believe.

One of the famous men that doubted the Biblical creation story was a man named Charles Darwin, who died in April of 1882.

Through Darwin’s studies he determined that man was not created by God, as stated in the creation story, but instead was an evolutionary descendent of the animal groupings of apes and chimpanzees.

Some have said that Darwin did more to move men away from God than any other man of his century.

Yet, years after he died, (August 19, 1915) an interview was published in a national Baptist magazine called the Watchman Examiner that claimed that he had a deathbed conversion.

The interview was of a woman who was called “Lady Hope” who visited him in Autumn of 1887 just prior to his death. Here’s what was printed:

Upon entering his room, I found the bedridden man sitting in his bed, reading an open Bible. When she asked him what he was reading he replied, “Hebrews--The Royal book.” When she mentioned the early chapters of the book of Genesis, Darwin replied, “I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything, and to my astonishment the ideas took off like wildfire. People made a religion out of it.”

Then he added, “I have a summerhouse in the garden, I want you to speak there tomorrow afternoon.” When she asked what about, he replied, “Christ Jesus and His salvation.” Then he added, “And then I want you to sing some hymns with them. If you take the meeting to three o’clock, this window will open and you will know that I am joining in the singing.”

After hearing this story Darwin’s daughter, Henrietta said: “I was present at his deathbed. Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness... He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier.”

Likewise, critics said that it if were true, why didn’t his wife who was a Christian find comfort in the conversion, and why did Lady Hope wait 33 years before relating it?

WE CAN ONLY HOPE, FOR HIS ETERNAL BENEFIT, IT IS TRUE.

Explanation:

I was once told that if a man can get through the first four words of the Bible, then he could read and believe the remainder of the words.

When God said in His Word, “In the beginning God…”

a) God refuted the atheist who says there is no God.

b) God refuted the agnostic who claims we cannot know God.

c) God refuted the polytheist who says there are multiples of Gods.

d) God refuted the pantheist who says all nature is God.

e) God refuted the fatalist who says God does not act in history.

f) God refuted the secularist who says there’s no need to pay attention to God.

The Bible never seeks to prove the existence of God; it just declares that God is. Yet, when an individual understands and believes, “In the beginning God” they are overwhelmed by these powerful and sacred words.

Transition: How do I know God exists?

I. God’s Presence is More Obvious Than You Think

vs. 1 – “In the beginning God…”

Illustration: Astronomy class- UT Arlington

When my wife was attending the University of Texas at Arlington, I was thrilled to learn that one semester she was taking a course in astronomy.

I remember, one dark and starry night, her professor invited all his students to come out to a darkened part of the campus, and there he had several high-powered telescopes for students to look into.

When Jan told me about the opportunity, I decided to tag along with her and see if I would have an opportunity to get a peek for myself. Fortunately, I was young enough to either pass as one of his students, or the professor was nice enough to overlook my presence.

Looking through the electric powered telescopes, I peered for a moment into space and was overwhelmed to see the stars and planets much closer than the naked eye can see.

Yet, as I saw these sights, there was something much deeper that touched me. There was something that overwhelmed me far beyond the study of astronomy. I was overwhelmed by God’s Spirit as He seemed to whisper to me, “In the beginning God.”

Explanation:

On warm summer nights, as we step outdoors and look into the starlit skies, God often reminds us that He is there and has always been there, and always will be there showing Himself to mankind.

Romans 1:20 says, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”