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A True God, A True Word: Believe It, or Not?
The one who has accepted his testimony has
certified that God is true.
John 3.33
The truth in regard to the beginning of life rests upon a testimony. Whenever and however we want to refer to “the beginning,” regardless if we attribute it to evolution or to a supreme intelligence, both possibilities must be accepted by faith. The reason this is so is because no one was present “in the beginning” except God.
The Creation record in the Bible was written by Moses, whose own birth occurred several generations after the Creation, according to the Bible. Moses’ record must therefore be accepted by faith.
In regard to the creation of life, our decision will be a matter of faith, regardless of the object of our faith. There are two possibilities as to the source of life’s existence and its continuance. Either it is by the process of evolution or by an intelligent, self-existent, eternal Creator. Creation teems with evidenced of a wisdom that supersedes human capability. Design implies a designer. The precision with which the elements function also implies intelligence.
Yet, with all the magnitude of Creation, one thing is absent apart from a testimony. The creation itself does not provide the answer as to why life came into existence. That is the reason for a testimony. Producing something from nothing is as incredible as raising life from death. But in seeking an answer as to why life was created, we must place our faith a testimony. In view of the two possibilities mentioned above, which of the two offers a testimony as to why life came into existence?
Does evolution have a record as to why life happened? If so, where is it? On the other hand, the Bible record speaks of a purposes from eternity by an eternal being, God. God had reason to declare why he created, and only man was intended to know of that reason. Accordingly, God made man capable of understanding not only how he came into existence, but why. Herein, he finds the significance of the statement that God was “mindful of” him (Psalm 8.4; Hebrews 2.6). Since all that we know of God’s eternal purpose is from what God himself has declared, let us consider whether or not his record is credible.
A true God does neither speaks what is not true nor fails to keep his word. God’s word is true and God is true to his word. What is said of God is also true of God’s word. God is unchanging (Malachi 3.6) and with him there is no variation (James 1.17). As this relates to his word, God has declared two immutable things about himself: His promises and his oaths (Hebrews 6.18). God must be true to these, else he incriminates himself. Immutable means “fixed; unalterable.” Herein is our evidence of his trustworthiness. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he proves to be one who rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11.6).
Has God proved himself credible in this regard? What evidence to we have? Is it not from what is said of those listed in Hebrews 11? Was God credible? How did they respond? With each person(s), the inspired record says, “by faith” he or she obeyed. Take note of that! Whatever God’s word directed them to do, they did! This obedience is elsewhere described by a word that has come to be viewed as taboo: “Works.” James 2.14-26 defined the obedience of Abraham and Rahab as “works.” Hebrews 11.6 states, “…The one who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he proves to be one who rewards those who seek him.” Genuine faith “seeks” him, else it is dead.
To seek him is to obey him, not venture in uncertainty. Obedience is the only fruit produced by a credible faith. We know that the majority of the nation of Israel died in the wilderness because their faith was not credible, but dead (1 Corinthians 10.5-10; Hebrews 3.16-19; Jude 1.5). Israel did not obey God. Credible belief in God obeys God.
God’s word is clear as to credible belief. God says belief is necessary (Hebrews 11.6). But God also says belief is a work (John 6.27-29). This simply means that belief must be active rather than passive (reread Hebrews 11.5 and John 6.27-29). God’s word does not cleanse without applying it any more than soap would cleanse of faith alone (John 15.1-11; Ephesians 5.26). Believing that God’s word cleanses without washing yourself with it is not credible faith.
God’s word (truth) also calls upon us to accept what his word has said about ourselves. God’s word has said that we have all sinned (Romans 3.23). For this reason, God’s word also calls upon us to repent of our sins. Is God’s word credible? Do we believe God? Is our belief passive or active? Will repentance occur?
Man must adapt to truth; order is important. The psalmist wrote, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Psalm 145.18). This means to call upon him according to the way truth instructs (2 Timothy 3.16-17). God’s word makes an appeal to our mind. It speaks to our inward being, which is spirit and in God’s image, rather than by an emotional appeal to our flesh. Any change of mind must first be based upon God’s word rather than human emotion. While there will be an emotional effect, it must not precede but follow our understanding of God’s truth. Salvation is based upon faith rather than feelings. Faith must in God’s word (Romans 10.17). We will know whether we have been saved because of truth versus relying on an emotional feeling.
