The Heavens Declare His Handiwork
Scientists who embrace a creation worldview have specialized in virtually every field of study. Their research is continually producing sound scientific theories that are consistent with the teaching of Scripture. As with any scientific study, theories come and go as knowledge and technology improve. It is wise to not invest the same degree of confidence and certainty in a scientific theory as is afforded to Scripture.
One particular question of interest relates to distant starlight. The question is, how can the light from distant stars and galaxies be visible on the earth within a 6,000 year time span? This question is a significant dilemma. (Of course, no other worldview has answers for every question either.) Bear in mind, we will never fully comprehend all the mysteries of our universe. We embrace what we know to be true even though questions remain.
The Bible offers a valuable clue that may resolve the issue. The observant reader will notice a pattern in the verses below:
Job 9:8 He alone spreads out the heavens, . . .
Job 26:7 He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.
Psa 104:2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
Isa 40:22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, . . . Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
Isa 42:5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, . . .
Isa 44:24 . . . “I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, . . .
Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, And created man on it. I–My hands–stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.
Isa 51:13 And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens . . .
Jer 10:12 He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
Jer 51:15 He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding.
Zec 12:1 . . . Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, . . .
Job, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah all testify, under the inspiration of the Holy Sprit, that God stretched out the heavens. There is no indication how or when this took place. But this assertion offers a theory.
We have evidence that the universe is expanding. This fits with Scripture. The Genesis account shows a pattern of God creating then shaping His creation. That same pattern could have occurred with the “heavens.” If the stars were created then the galaxies stretched out and spread out across the universe, the light we see would be the trails of the stars that were being moved away from the earth. We don’t have to wait eons of time for distant stars to travel to earth if the stars were moved out by the creative power of God and “set” in place as stated in Genesis 1:16, 17 . . . He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, . . . . All the cosmic events we observe today could have literally happened as God stretched out and positioned everything in place.
It’s just a theory. It may be full of astronomical holes. We may not be able to explain how God did everything, but we can be confident and thankful that He did.
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October 18th, 2007 at 11:43 am
That is interesting… I’ve thought about it some and always believed that he made earth last (and the stars he had already made), but that doesn’t line up with scripture.
To explain it “scientifically” is difficult because God created everything. And it’s also interesting in Genesis, He created the stars FOR light. Light was his intention. Look at Gen. 1:14-15:
“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, (15) and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.”
Because God is infinite and far beyond us, He is able to “create” and do things that defy our rules on earth. The creation is amazing because it’s against science altogether. Science is only able to observe what is here. And because God is able to create, then we cannot fully explain everything that we see. It’s really amazing to me.
October 20th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Interesting theory. Due to the nature of God, having power over everything, we can only surmise that however it happened, He caused it to happen. Just to throw you a curve, it would seem equally as possible for God to have set everything in place and then stretched the light to earth, or even made the light simultaneously with the stars.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Gen 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
It seems that God “set” the stars and they were “for” light on the earth. The sequence being the setting first.
Just a thought. This I do know, God did it and science continues to prove the bible true to many scientist’s dismay.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
The appearance of age concept is fine with me. We have examples of God creating a “full grown” creation; i.e., Adam and Eve were created full grown and the fruit trees were bearing fruit.
But this view does not satisfy some. They don’t think this is a sufficient explanation for all the cosmic events that are witnessed in the star record. Some argue that it is “dishonest” if these things didn’t really happen. I’m not hung up on that and am not bothered by it. I think it is a poor argument.
Still, if there is a way to resolve these concerns and offer a way to explain how God may have accomplished the process, it might remove one more stumbling block and give us greater insight into our world.
Ultimately, we do take God at His word. He said He created it and that is fine. He is the only eyewitness.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hello my friends
