“1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord… 9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:1, 9, KJV).
Loved ones, on a family camping trip, as we lay out on the ground and looked up at the stars, we were at once awestruck at the vastness and magnificent beauty of the night-time sky.
One child quickly located the moon. From there, together, we found and identified a few prominent stars and constellations. As we wondered at the greatness of it all, we couldn't help but be impressed with how small we really are in comparison to all that is out there.
We read from Psalm 19:1-3, “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”
We couldn’t help but imagine somebody in a distant land, who had never read that passage, and didn't speak the same language as us, looking up at those same stars, and wondering from whence they came. It doesn't matter who you are, where, or when you live, or what your cultural background, the magnificence of the heavens cannot be denied.
Paul said in Romans 1:19-20, “19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Indeed, such wondrous beauty begs the question of how it got there. Ultimately, there are but two choices: the universe was created by some eternal, powerful being, whose existence is outside the known material universe (God), or its origins are entirely natural and materialistic, emanating from itself.
If the existence of the universe is to be explained through completely natural, material means, then we must conclude that the universe is a closed system, with no possibility for outside influences of any kind. This has consequences that are much more far reaching than one might at first realize.
Let us assume for a moment that nothing exists outside of this material universe, limiting all that is to being nothing more than energy and matter. This assumption has certain implications that are very personal for you and me. If that is the case, then you are simply a mass of cells — matter in motion. You are what you are because of the cold, uncaring forces of your genetic code and your environment.
Everything that you are was either predetermined when your DNA was formed at conception, or else it is the natural interaction of your genetic predispositions to the environment in which you live. Essentially, everything that you ever have done, or ever will do was predetermined by natural forces that were set in motion before you were ever born.
This means that your intellect, your emotions, and your sense of free will are merely illusions, illusions that have been created by your genetic code as a coping mechanism. This has very far reaching implications for every decision you make and everything that you do in life, big or small.
If you decide to become a Christian, to get married, start a new career, or make any major life decision, that choice is an illusion. Those choices must have been predetermined by your genetic code, and what appears to be your decision, is actually the matter that is your brain, reacting instinctively to the environment in which it lives.
The same thing is true when you walk into a restaurant and decide that you want to order a plate of spaghetti instead of an egg roll, or when you choose to tell your spouse that you love her or him. Those feelings, desires, and choices must all be elaborate illusions thrust upon you by your DNA.
You see, to acknowledge that you have free will, and that your thoughts are your own, and your feelings and desires are real, is to acknowledge that something exists other than matter and energy, a thing called mind. This is a truth which we all intuitively recognize.
Even the most ardent atheist, who accepts that free will is an illusion, will then choose what he wants to eat for dinner! Since mind exists, then the universe cannot be strictly materialistic. Since the universe is not strictly materialistic, then a strictly materialistic explanation for its existence is not sufficient. What is left? God!
The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have Bible questions or wish to comment on this post, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.
The churches of Christ are neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jew (Romans 16:16; Matthew 16:18-19). We are the loving suffering ONE body of Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:4-6) – CHRISTIANS: “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16; cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28).
We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35). Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA – 7 April 2026.
