A Grander Design

Friday evening’s YouVersion reading was Galatians 5, which includes this verse:

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Galatians 5:7 KJV)

As I went to sleep, a quote I read Friday morning combined with that verse. From Stephen Hawking's "Grand Design":

“Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist…. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the Universe going.”

That's nothing new. The book came out in 2010 and Hawking's theories have been around a lot longer than that. He once said he wanted to find out what happened before the 'big bang.'  In an interview following the book’s publication, Hawking is quoted:

"One can't prove that God doesn't exist, but science makes God unnecessary."

I must admit that it would be nice to uncreate a God that would allow amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or myasthenia gravis, or anyone of a number of cancers along with the death of children, wars and natural disasters. Mr. Hawking is not the first to uncreate God. There are, however, scientists who believe otherwise. From Gerald Schroeder’s article:

Our concept of time begins with the creation of the universe. Therefore if the laws of nature created the universe, these laws must have existed prior to time; that is the laws of nature would be outside of time. What we have then is totally non-physical laws, outside of time, creating a universe. Now that description might sound somewhat familiar. Very much like the biblical concept of God: not physical, outside of time, able to create a universe.

I found Dr. Schroeder’s article while doing background. A rabbi as well as a physicist, his scientific research does what my own research has done – confirms belief that God not only exists but takes an active interest in His creation. I go a step further than he does, though, and believe:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

We will never be able to prove nor disprove God’s existence. Paul gives us good advice:

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (Romans 3:3 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is necessary and has rewards:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

In seeking philosophical answers or scientific answers, how diligently does the researcher consider God in the results? How diligently do we seek Him in our daily lives. More importantly, going back to the first verse here, do we hinder anyone in their seeking of God or His will in their lives. Think seriously on that – Jesus mentioned consequences:

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17:1-2 KJV)