Creation Update 2025

Today I am reflecting on the marvels of creation. The creation of the universe by a divine power – or God – a power larger than we can imagine with our limited cognitive abilities.

Cultures and faiths throughout the world have their own version of a creation story, and this is not surprising. We all have the need to answer the questions we carry in our hearts such as - ‘where are we?’, ‘who are we?’ and ‘why are we here?

​These stories also often reflect the values, beliefs and moral ethics of that particular culture, and were usually handed down orally. These occurred prior to the formation of religion and are seen as the first step towards this.

How often do you think of the wonders of creation? It is so easy to live our lives confined to what we can immediately see – the material objects that contribute to our daily schedules. How often do we look to the night sky and see it as it really is – an unimaginable vast intricate expanse, precisely tuned in terms of constants and quantities. It seems these have been precisely calculated to permit intelligent life and are within a very tiny life permitting range. If any of these numbers were just marginally changed – there would be no life, no stars, no planets, no chemistry.

As theologian William Lane Craig says – this could only be done by a transcendent unembodied mind beyond space and time. In other words God!

Whilst we are I am sure all aware of the vast expanse of the universe, how often do we just think of it as a ceiling to our world? I myself am guilty of this.

In fact this is exactly how our ancestors understood the world. They undertook observational science – that is their ideas were formed by what they themselves could see of the world. We must make sure we do not do likewise, but rather we should see the universe as science has shown us.

To some people science dismisses God – which is so very sad. To me science enhances God and is no way in conflict. When we see the complexities of the universe how can anyone but God have made it?

And there is a succinct difference between God and science. God does not seek to provide an explanation of how our world works – that is what science does – and that is the difference. Science shows the how, God and Scriptures show us the Who and the why. Distinctness which enhances the beauty within both spheres of knowledge.

Daniel Migliore considers that whilst science deals with data, the Christian creation story deals with symbols, imagery, and poetry. Karl Barth once stated, it is ‘like trying to compare the sound of a vacuum cleaner with that of an organ.’ Neither tells the whole truth, yet each contributes in its own unique way, and neither should be treated as the whole truth to the exclusion of the other.

Let’s now think how special God made us and all living creatures in relation to the physical world. Something I only realised recently was how our eyes and ears work in relation to the outside world.

You may have heard the following philosophical question…

If a tree fell over in a forest which contained no humans or animals – would it make a sound?

Would it? What do you think?

Sound consists of soundless vibrations - with the mechanisms in our ears translating these vibrations into sounds in our brains. So soundless vibrations hit our ears and our brain translates them to sound. How awesome is that?

It is similar with our eyes. The colours we see are formed from light entering our eyes and the mechanisms in our eyes translate this light to colours in our brains. So those beautifully coloured flowers we admire are not actually that colour at all – it is our eyes which interpret the light so that we see those colours in our brains.

To me this is even more incredible than if God made the flowers in the colours we see. No - God made US to see these colours. God made US to hear the notes of Mozart….. not to mention the drum beats of Pink Floyd!

Margaret Silf, in her book Compass Points sums this up so well:

She talks about rocks and that ‘we ourselves, were bound up inside those rocks, those stars, from the beginning of space-time, until we were released by the midwife of evolution. Truly we are part of one another—the stars, the rocks, you and I. Yet we alone, upon this planet, are gifted with eyes, hearts, and minds to see the miracle, and to respond.’

It is so important for us to immerse ourselves in nature. I find this brings me from the material world straight into God’s creation and a place I feel close to God. Do you have a special place? Mine is being in the mountains – I really can’t describe the feeling I get – a case of not having the cognitive ability to put it into words as I mentioned earlier.

I really love this quote from the poet Rumi ‘Nothing I say can explain to you Divine Love. Yet all of creation cannot seem to stop talking about it.’ To me this means whilst I am sitting in nature I am surrounded by the divine love of God.

Nature really is amazing. Let’s talk about trees for example.

An underground network of fungi provides support for trees, allowing them to share resources and acting as a warning system for dangers such as disease. For example younger and struggling trees are supported by healthier older trees.

Additionally, threats are communicated through chemical signals to alert other trees to potential danger so they can defend themselves.

And some interesting research suggests that ‘mother trees’ provide parental care to their own offspring and related trees. How amazing is that! God’s creations working together for life.

We do indeed live in an amazing world! Regardless of your beliefs in how or who created the world we cannot help but be in awe of creation.

Finally, I would like to impart some important messages to perhaps think about.

Firstly, In the Genesis account, God finishes his creation days with a rest – the Sabbath. This has an important meaning and is a rhythm built into creation by God and something He wants us to do as well. God is saying the world is a place where we can safely rest and enjoy being in His amazing world. So let’s do that.

Secondly God makes humans in His image to provide stewardship. God wants to share the world with us, but sadly it seems we want to be God, with a lack of care for His creation. So sad, but if we all do a little bit perhaps we can help heal the earth.

And thirdly our earth is so beautiful – and interestingly, from space there is not a single border in sight! I wonder what our world would be like if we did not separate ourselves out into nations, with borders, and lived as one whole loving people. Would we perhaps have a peaceful world such as God intended?

I will finish with a prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the world and universe you created. The outstanding beauty, the intricate complexities that allow life. A universe lovingly made by you – and made for us to love too. Please help us show our love by caring for our world – to be the stewards you intended us to be. And let us love each other as you love us. Please help us bring peace to your world. Amen