In Less Than a Second

Physicists have discovered that everything in the universe was created in less than one second. Blink your eyes once. There. It is done. It is impossible for any of us to comprehend the kind of mind-boggling energy necessary to bring about such a massive event. Our most powerful thermonuclear explosions are but sparks off a flint. Christians believe that everything that exists was created out of nothing by the Almighty God, not by natural forces, but by His spiritual power. Thus, it is apparent that spiritual power is the most potent force in the universe—none other was extant. Few physicists will give heed to this truth. I understand, and I appreciate their study. They want to explain how it happened. To just simply say, “God created it,” is insufficient. Truly, it is a worthy task. But, as Johannes Kepler wrote, “The chief aim of all investigations of the external world should be to discover the rational order and harmony which has been imposed on it by God and which He revealed to us in the language of mathematics” Astronomis Nova de Motibus (1609). But the genius, Kepler, is ignored in contemporary physics. Attempting to follow this dictum is an unpopular endeavor. Well, we shall pray for them, that they will stop denying and suppressing the truth.

What we experience every day—the kind of power we experience every day—is natural power. We cannot ignore it and shouldn’t. This power is infinitely miniscule compared to God’s; nevertheless, we are so frail that even this paltry force dominates our lives. Let’s start with gravity, shall we? Or perhaps electromagnetic force, which holds atoms together. We could go on, of course. Jesus, who possesses all available spiritual power, and thus the most potent, performed only small displays of it when He was on earth. Nevertheless, these acts plainly revealed His dominion over gravity, light, and material substance. He walked on water. He stilled the storm. He was transfigured on the Mount. He changed a few barley loaves and fish into enough food to feed thousands of people. He healed the sick which required changes in physical human bodies. He changed water into wine. He raised three dead people. That would require a re-creation of dead brain and body cells. Jesus did not perform immense acts of power, just to exhibit power for power’s sake. He performed acts of grace and glorified His Father.

Now, consider this natural conclusion to our discussion so far: The Lord God Almighty is perfect in power. Nothing whatsoever in the universe or on the earth is impossible for Him: “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, ‘Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?’”(Jeremiah 32:26–27).¹

If anything was too difficult for Him, He would not be God.

I trust this truth will encourage those who pray for the sick. The Lord is able to change the material substance of the human body. In truth, He created it.

However, you have probably noticed the quest for human power in cultures. People lust for it. Minorities want it. White people want it. Both men and women want it. LGBTQ folks want it. We exalt people who are trying to achieve or have achieved earthly power. This is the way the world thinks.

It is all they have.

I encourage the Christian reader not to seek earthly power unless he or she is certain that power is solely to glorify the Lord and bring others to the knowledge of God. Natural power is dangerous, and very few wielded it well in the Bible. We are instructed to lower ourselves and follow Jesus sacrificially, not raise ourselves. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26).

Our great, glorious goal—the goal that brings God delight—is to understand and know Him. “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD’” (Jeremiah 9:23–24).

 

¹All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Gif courtesy giphy.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Je 32:25–27). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.