What was it like before creation? What did it look like, feel like, etc.?

Yahoo! I love that question because the answer goes all the way back to the very first book of the Bible in the Old Testament and describes exactly what it was like before creation in the first two verses ever written! Genesis 1:1-2 says:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Whoa! That sounds kinda creepy and scary, doesn’t it? And yet, let’s look a little closer at what the Bible says just in these two verses. It starts, “In the beginning…” which tells us that this is literally the starting point of time as we know it! Then it says, “...God created…” The English word “created” is from the Greek word, “bara.” It is a verb used exclusively for God because it describes a full miracle. No man could ever attain the powers inherent in this word. So, by  an all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God, something absolutely new was brought into existence – the heavens and the earth.

Next we see that the earth was formless and empty and that darkness was over the surface of the deep. BUT, we also see that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. So, even though it sounds kinda scary, God was there! By the way, I find it fascinating that the earth was initially covered in water.

From that point on, God starts doing something absolutely incredible. He literally speaks the rest of creation into being. He creates light, he creates morning and evening, he creates the sky, then dry ground and vegetation. Next, he creates the sun, the moon and the stars. And finally, on the fifth and sixth days, God creates sea life, birds, animals and, lastly, man.

The best part is, God saw all that He had created and saw that it was very good and He blessed it all! He had created the perfect world. Amazing, isn’t it?

Why do bad things happen?

Wow. That is a very awesome question and one that has been debated for years by a lot of people. After all, some would argue, how could a “loving” God allow such things? How do we accept that a caring God, a God of infinite power, can allow bad to happen?

It seems that no one is untouched by tragedy and suffering, doesn’t it? Not even those of us who are Christ Followers can avoid some pain and suffering.

First of all, let’s be clear on a few things. While God allows bad things to happen, He does not want it for us. In fact, when God created the Earth, it was very good. Genesis 1:31 reads, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” This very good condition was the plan for all of God’s creation. 

Then God created Adam and Eve and God gave us human beings the ability to make choices. We call it free will. And, sadly, Adam and Eve flunked the test on decision-making. Because of their decision, sin entered the world and it’s that sin that affects our choices. Because we can make choices, sometimes those choices can be good and sometimes they can be bad. But, that’s the freedom God gave us because He wanted us to love Him freely and not because we are forced to. However, with that freedom to make bad choices comes suffering.

Sometimes free will results in evil and painful choices.  Remember, though, that all of the evil and pain in this world is human evil, not godly evil. God cannot sin so He can’t be evil. So all this pain and suffering is humanly-caused pain, which is a result of human sin. It’s not God’s fault when things go wrong.

But, thank God, it’s not over! Even though we are evil by nature, God still loves and cares for us. Jesus’ death on the cross paid the full price for each and every one of us. God’s Word promises that He will create a new heaven and a new earth and there will be “no more mourning or death or pain” because man’s sin will be gone and God will dwell with mankind. Praise God for that!

So, what about things that aren’t caused by people? Why do earthquakes that kill thousands of people happen? Why do some people get cancer? Why do little children get hurt or killed? Certainly those aren’t caused by human sin, are they?

Well, in a way, they are. All pain and suffering can be traced back to the original sin in the Garden of Eden. But, here’s the plus-side of suffering: it gives us the opportunity to lean on God and grow closer to Him and it is an opportunity for those around the person suffering to develop compassion and personal heroism. When things go bad, and we all will experience pain and suffering, it gives us the chance to come closer to God and to depend on His grace and mercy. We may never entirely understand our situation or experience but we can put our faith in God to get us through the storm.

One of my favorite Bible verses is a simple one and one that is easy to remember. It is Proverbs 3:5-6 and it says, “Trust in the Lord, your God, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

We have to trust God’s will despite what we see as being so sad and so tragic. And know, just know and put your faith in, the fact that God is good and that He loves you unconditionally.

How did God make the world?

That is an awesome question!!! The truth is God spoke the world into existence. He didn’t use some elaborate machine or create some fantastic formula … He simply spoke it and it became true. Look at all the different passages in the Book of Genesis where it says, “And God said…”

Let’s start with the very first passage in the Bible, which is Genesis 1:1. It reads, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Then after that sentence the Bible describes what the earth was like by telling us it was formless and empty and that darkness was over the surface of the deep. (Genesis 1:2)

Then, what happens? God says, “Let there be light.” And guess what? There was light! And God sees that the light is good and separates it from the darkness. God then decides to call the light day and the darkness, night. (Genesis 1:3-5)

The rest of the first chapter of Genesis is God speaking the rest of the world into existence and creating the plants and animals and, finally, creating man. And look what He says about man! God says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) So, not only did God speak us into existence, we are representations of Him! You and I and everyone else in this world are image-bearers of the Lord God!!! Isn’t that cool?

How is it possible that God has been here forever because it seems like everything should have a beginning?

Yahoo! I love that question because friends ask me that question all the time! I could easily give them the standard Biblical answer that “God has always been here and He has no beginning and no end and He will always be here because He is eternal.” But, I usually get that deer-in-the-headlights look when I say that.

So, here’s my way of explaining it: Imagine being able to go back in time to the days of the pilgrims as they were colonizing this country and trying to explain to them how a helicopter works or how an iPod works. Remember, there’s no such thing as electricity, gas engines, batteries, etc. So, how do you explain how those things work to people that have never seen stuff like that? You see, we’ve grown up with so much technology that we just accept what is there without really trying to understand how it works. But trying to explain something so difficult that we casually accept to someone who’s never experienced would be very challenging.

Let’s apply that thinking to the idea of God being eternal. Truth: God’s eternal power is clearly seen in the creation of our universe but our brains have a hard time wrapping around that idea. And we kind of know what eternity is but we don’t fully understand it. So, what do we do? We try to explain it in terms we can see and understand. But how do we explain eternity to people (all of us) who are stuck in the passage of time? We usually start by trying to simplify the idea!

The Bible is our place to start. The Bible simply says God “is.” Remember Moses? When he asked the Lord God what His name was, do you remember what God said? He said, “Tell them I AM” Exodus 3:14). Revelation 1:8 and 4:8 says that God is, God was and God is to come.

We know tht time is a measurement of physical change. Time, though, has only existed since the creation of the universe. Genesis 1:1, the very first book and chapter of the Bible, says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God created everything, so time started at creation.

We also know from Genesis 1:1 that God was BEFORE the creation of the heavens and the earth becuse He was there to create it. That makes God timeless (eternal) because He created time! So, to answer your question in the simplest of terms, God has been here for all eternity and will be here for all eternity.

Thank you for a great and challenging question!

How do we know if God is real?

Awesome question! So, let me answer your question with a question. How do we explain the complexities of our world and how everything just all seems to work together? Think about it … the DNA molecule, as small as it is, has more information in it than the most powerful computer microprocessor. How can we explain that? Think about our universe … did you know that there are over 350,000,000,000 galaxies in our universe? Think about the lowly caterpillar…did you know that it has 228 distinct and separate muscles in its head? Your own body is the most complex piece of engineering ever created; even the most advanced robots can’t duplicate everything your body can do or experience.

So, how did this all happen? Was it all just by luck or happenstance? Think about this planet. Why does it rotate at just the right speed and how does gravity work so that we aren’t all flung into space? Our planet spins at 1000 mph! Try staying on a merry-go-round without holding onto something and see how long you last. Why are there seasons? How does a plant defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground into their stems and veins? Why don’t spiders get stuck on their webs???

I could go on and on but here’s the Biblical answer to your question: We know that God is real because He reveals Himself in three ways: in His creation, in His Word, and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:20 puts it this way, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

Look at the history of humans. Every culture or every civilization throughout history has valued certain moral laws and they are surprisingly similar from culture to culture. For example, the idea of love is universally esteemed while the act of lying is universally condemned. How do we explain this morality – this knowledge of what’s right and wrong -across cultures unless we can point to a Supreme Moral Being who gave us such scruples.

Also, if you look at all the different cultures from the most primitive bush-people in the remotest parts of the world to our most advanced countries, we all have cultivated a system of worship. Yes, it may vary, but almost every civilization believes in or has a sense of a “higher power” that is an undeniable part of being human. Those of us who know Christ understand that God created us “in His own image.” (Genesis 1:27)

Next, we have to look at the Bible and see how God revealed Himself to us through His Word. Throughout the Bible, the existence of God is a self-evident fact. Just look at Genesis 1:1 or Exodus 3:14.

Finally, God reveals Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt, even among secular (non-Christian) historians that Jesus Christ existed. Did you know that Jesus fulfilled every single one of the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah? Did you know that Jesus also kept the Old Testament law perfectly? How about all the miracles he performed? Everything Jesus did authenticated, or proved, He was the Son of God. The most important being that three days after he was crucified, Jesus rose from the dead, a fact affirmed by many witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Of course there will be many skeptics and the Bible also addresses those people (Psalm 41:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18). No matter how much evidence is presented, they will choose not to believe.

The bottom line is this: It all comes down to faith. Do we choose to believe in the Bible or do we choose to believe something else? Hebrews 11:6 addresses this perfectly:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

I believe in the God Most High. I believe that He sent His One and Only Son to die for my sins. I believe that through the power of God’s forgiveness of sins, I am saved and that I will have eternal life with God in Heaven when my time here on earth is done. And, I believe that God’s gift of grace and mercy is given to anyone and everyone who will accept it. You don’t have to earn it! God willingly gives it to you; all you have to do is accept it. Are you ready to accept God’s gift to you?

In Genesis it says “He created male and female he created them” but then it tells about Adam and Eve. So were we created at one or two times?

So go grab your Bible and read Genesis 1:27 (this is the verse you are asking about) and then also read the story of Adam and Eve which begins with Genesis 2:4 and goes to the end of chapter 4.

I can see why you asked this question, there is a lot of information and it is a little difficult to put together, isn’t it?

Here’s the deal … Genesis 1:27 is introducing the idea that humans (both male and female) are created in God’s image. God is telling us that we are the crown of His creation! And we are created to have a spiritual relationship with Him, a kind of relationship that no other created being (not dogs, elephants, monkeys, porpoises, or anything else, no matter how smart) can have with Him. That’s cool, and that’s what Genesis 1:27 is all about.

Then in Genesis chapters 2 and 3, the Bible starts telling about Adam and Eve and gives some details of their account (or story).

Finally, check out Genesis 5:1-3, which begins talking about Adam’s descendents.

Now that you have read everything about Adam and Eve, here is a fun fact about how all this information is made into a story and why –
• The word “Genesis” comes from the Greek word “geneseos” which means generation!
• Genesis includes the stories (accounts) of ten different generations – starting with Adam. This is important. While Genesis speaks of Adam’s story a couple of times, all of it together – not just the account of Adam and Eve, but of all the generations (Noah, Shem, Terah, Ishmael, Isaac, etc), show God’s love for mankind and His preparation of Israel as His chosen people!!

I know that it seems like there are different stories, but it really is just one grand story with different important parts. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions!

How does God live?

That is a very awesome question! It’s also a very difficult question to answer because most of us cannot understand who God really is.

The problem is God is not human. Remember, we were created in His image not the other way around. Can we assume that He has a form that looks like us since in Genesis 1:26 God says, “Let us make man in our image; after our likeness.”?? Does that mean He has a head, a body, two arms and two legs? Or does that refer to His character? The answer is …. His character!

We want to be a reflection of God’s character because we are created in His image.

What is that character, you ask? The character of both God the Father and Christ the Son is that of spiritual holiness, righteousness and absolute perfection. God’s character might be summed up in the one word “LOVE.” It is the way of giving, serving, helping, and sharing. God’s nature is the way of peace, of justice, mercy, happiness and joy flowing out to those He has created!

In the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament, when Moses asks God what God’s name is, God replies, “I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) That means He’s always been here and always will be here!

So, to sum it all up, I think the best way to answer how God lives is by saying He just is. And the amazing thing is that He lives through us when we reflect His character! Wow!

If Jesus was born, who gave birth to God?

Okay, so this is one of those questions where the answer is so confusing it sometimes even makes me scratch my head and say, “Huh???” But, here is the answer in the simplest way that I can describe it:

God is infinite, which means He has always existed and he will always exist. He is eternal. He, therefore, doesn’t have an age or a birthday.

Let me try and explain it like this, time is a measurement of physical change. But, time has only existed since the creation of the universe. Let’s look at Genesis 1:1, the very first book and chapter of the Bible. It says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” So, we can say that time started with this creation, right? We can start a timeline based on this sentence, couldn’t we?

But, we also know from this sentence that God was BEFORE the creation of the heavens and the earth. That means that God is timeless. And, because He is timeless, He is not physical and is not confined to physical change. Say what?!?!?

Also, try and imagine this…God is perfect, which means he can’t get any better or any worse. He NEVER changes. God has always been absolutely perfect.

So, if we take that statement to its conclusion, whatever God says is right is right and whatever God says is wrong is wrong. True right and wrong is, therefore, timeless!!!

Ouch, my brain hurts.

Why did God choose to have the dinosaurs blasted into extinction?

That is a very awesome question! And I love this question because it allows the scientist in me to come out! In order to answer this, we have to look at the concept of micro-evolution. Micro-evolution is different from macro-evolution.

Macro-evolution is part of Darwin’s theory that says we evolved from common ancestors with apes, which is scientifically inaccurate. The Bible clearly states, in Genesis 1, that God created the heaven and the earth and all life on earth, including us and apes.

Micro-evolution, though, is different. That is where small changes occur within a species through either changes caused by humans or by natural selection. For example, a long time ago, someone said, “Hmmm…I wonder what will happen if I cross-breed a poodle and a cocker spaniel?” So, they tried it and today we have a very common breed called a cockapoo. Scientists have also cross-pollinated plants and created new types of plants and flowers.

Now, let’s get back to your question about dinosaurs. I think that dinosaurs were a victim of micro-evolution and became extinct due to natural selection or some natural catastrophe. I think that some of them didn’t survive the great flood, some may not have been able to adapt to the changes in climate or were unable to forage for food after the great flood and slowly died off.

I’ve been told by some of my scientist friends that this is not uncommon. There are many other species of animals that are extinct now too, for whatever reasons. Ever heard of the Quagga? It was half-horse and half-zebra and became extinct in 1883. How about the Thylacine? It’s been called the Tasmanian Tiger and became extinct in 1936. How about the Irish Deer, the largest deer that ever lived? It became extinct about 7,700 years ago.

So, why did God choose to make them extinct? That is a question I do not have the answer to but I can tell you this much: God has an unstoppable plan and the extinction of a species of animal is part of that plan and only He know the reasons for it.

If God took nothing, how do things appear? Do they appear from his voice or does it come from his nothing?

We know that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, but you ask a very interesting question when you ask if it came from nothing.

Let’s look at the Book of Genesis, the very first book of the Old Testament, and look at Chapter 1. In Genesis 1:2 it clearly shows that the earth was formless and empty. This shows us that everything on earth and in the heavens came from nothing.

Next, if we read the rest of the verses very carefully, we will see that in all of the instances of creation, it says, “And God said…” Then, after God said it, it came into being. So, basically, God spoke everything into existence. Not only did He speak everything into existence, He named what He created too! He called the light, day and the darkness, night. He called the great expanse, the sky! He did that for the creation of the seas, the land, the plants, the animals and, of course, human beings.

Wow…I know that sounds so unbelievable but our God is all-powerful and capable of doing what we think would be impossible. It’s not like He had some super computer and some helpers and a machine that built stuff based on data He input. God created everything by just thinking it and speaking it.

Did God make the Big Bang? Are both of them on the same page?

In the Book of Genesis, the very first book of the Old Testament, in Chapter 1, verse 1, it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Despite our best scientific theories, the Bible just does not mention a “Big Bang.” For better or worse, the Bible is not a book of "how" everything came into being. It is a book on "why" everything came into being!

Genesis tells us that God was very deliberate in His creation of the earth in that He spoke it into existence. He knew exactly what He wanted and He created it perfectly.

Did you know that the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun is perfect in that if we were any closer we would burn up and if we were any farther we’d freeze? Did you know that the Earth is tilted on its axis just perfectly? Do you think that just happened by chance?

The question for everyone who grapples with the idea of a “Big Bang” is: what was there before the Big Bang? If that is the start of creation, what created the “Big Bang”? Hmmm…

The Bible is not like a food bar at a cafeteria ....we can’t choose to believe part of the Bible and then not believe another part. All of it is God's Word. This is where faith comes in. Since God and His Word don't contradict, if there is something which appears to be a contradiction (like the Big Bang vs. God speaking creation into existence) then there is a problem with our understanding of science or our understanding of the meaning of Scripture (or both!), but God's Word doesn't contradict itself. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that someday science will have the ability to agree with much more of the Bible than it does now!

How do we know God is in existence?

That is a great question! And, a pretty deep question … it’s not whether or not God created the world but whether or not there is a God, right? So, let me give you six reasons why I believe there is a God:

(1) The sheer complexity of our planet … it’s size, shape, the way it rotates, its gravity, its temperature, the right mixture of oxygen and nitrogen so that we can breathe… shows that there had to be a deliberate designer. It just couldn’t have happened by chance.

(2) For many, many years scientists have believed that the universe began with one big explosion of gas and light, which many people call the “Big Bang” theory. They believed this was the singular start of everything as we know it. That means at one time, it didn’t exist. It had a start somewhere…so what caused that? Guess what? Scientists can’t answer that question. We know, from Genesis 1:1 that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

(3) How do we explain how nature works? There are certain things that are “for sure things” in our world…they are called universal laws. For example, why does gravity remain consistent? Why does the speed of light not change? Why does a hot cup of cocoa left on a table become cold? Basically, why are things so reliable?!?! I’ll tell you why: we have a God in Heaven that made it that way. He was deliberate in the way things are.

(4) How does DNA work? Do you know that each one of us has our own unique DNA? There are no two human beings that have the same DNA. No two human beings have the same fingerprint…not even twins! Computer programs are very complex, would you agree? But a person’s DNA…their genetic code...has three billion numbers and letters telling a cell to act in a certain way. How is that possible? Because you are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Father in Heaven and He created your inmost being. (Psalm 139:13-15)

(5) We know God exists because He pursues us. He is constantly inviting us to come to Him. The fact that you wonder about Him is great! That means He is on your mind. He wants us to ask questions about Him and He wants you to know Him. God loves you more than anyone ever has or anyone ever will. He loves you so much, He gave His one and only Son for you so that you would never perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16)

(6) Finally, unlike any other religion or revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us. No one else in the history of religions has claimed to be God. Jesus did. No one else has ever died and rose again. Jesus did. Jesus said that God exists and that you’re looking at Him! Jesus did things that only God can do. He performed miracles and caused blind people to see and deaf people to hear. He made the lame walk again and even raised the dead!

So, does God exist? If you look at the six facts that I have listed, could you say He does?

How old is God?

God is infinite, which means He has always existed and he will always exist. He is eternal. He, therefore, doesn’t have an age or a birthday.

Let me try and explain it like this ... time is a measurement of physical change. But, time has only existed since the creation of the universe. Let’s look at Genesis 1:1, the very first book and chapter of the Bible. It says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” So, we can say that time started with this creation, right?

But, we also know from this sentence that God was BEFORE the creation of the heavens and the earth. That means that God is timeless. And, because He is timeless, He is not physical and is not confined to physical change. God has no age. He is ageless.

Who made God? If God has no beginning, how can he exist?

This is an incredibly good question!

Here is the history that the Bible gives us about God: Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." That’s all we know! When you read the whole Bible and put all the pieces together, basically it looks like God has always been and always will be. I know that’s difficult to understand especially because we think of everything in terms of time. The earth revolves, and we call it a day. The earth goes around the sun, and we call it a year.

But God is different: In the beginning God created everything. When the Bible says “heavens and the earth”, that was a way of saying “everything”, and everything includes … time! God even created time!

The Bible says that God does not have a beginning and an end. He is a spirit. No mom and pop. Just God. Revelation 22:13 says I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Wow!

So if God had no beginning, how can he exist? Your question is very good. The answer is not simple, but the answer the Bible gives us is that God does exists, and that he always did, and that he always will.

Did God make bad things or did the devil?

This is a complicated question - good one! Genesis chapter 1 tells us that God created the heavens, the earth and everything in it, and everything God created “was good” (See Genesis Chapter 1 verses 10,12,18,21, 25 & 31).

If everything God created was good then why are there bad things? Well, here's what happeened ... somewhere between the time of creaion and the time of Adam and Eve one of God’s most special angels, Lucifer, decided he wanted to be like God and began to disobey God (sin). As a result God threw Lucifer (who is the devil/Satan) out of heaven. Since that time Satan has been working against God anyway possible; by deceiving, destroying, betraying and disturbing all that he can in his fight against God (Isaiah 12:12-14, Ezekiel 28:12-17). It is originally through Satan that sin entered the world, and then Satan deceived Eve and Adam. From that point on the world that God created - that “was good” - was disturbed (Genesis 3). Ultimately, it is because of Satan and sin that there are bad things.