Where Are We Coming
From?
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1
Let's ask God to guide us:
Our Father,
Today, we would like to open Your Word to know the truth concerning our origins.
Is it true that Man is the fruit of a long evolution which lasted billions of years?
We want to open our mind to Your valuable teaching. In Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these
things?
Proverbs 30:4
Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is
His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?
Men have always asked these questions:
- «Where do we come from?»
- «What are our origins?»
- «How did the Universe begin?»...
A lot of theories try to answer those questions. But what does the Bible teach?
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Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the
earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
From the very first verse of the Scriptures, the question is settled once and
for all: God is the Creator of the Universe.
Maybe you doubt this statement. Nevertheless let's go on with this lesson: we're convinced
that it has a few surprises in store...
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Psalm 33:6,9
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all
the host of them by the breath of His mouth. (...)
For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God.
God created the Universe by the power of His word.
He imagined the Universe, then transformed the product of His imagination into a reality.
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Genesis 1:26
Then God said, «Let Us make man in Our image.»
Hebrews 1:2
[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,
whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
By the words: «Let Us make...», God indicates that He did not act alone in
the Creation of the Universe.
Indeed the second verse teaches us that God created all things through the Son.
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Colossians 1:16
For by [Jesus Christ] all things were created that are in
heaven and that are on earth.
John 1:1-3,14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (...)
And the Word became flesh.
These additional passages confirm that from the beginning, the Word, who is
Jesus Christ, was actively involved with His Father in the Creation.
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Genesis 1:2
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on
the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
The Holy Spirit also accompanied the Father and the Son in the Creation of the
Universe.
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Psalm 14:1
The fool has said in his heart, «There is no God.»
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
In 1859, Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution.
According to this theory, man is not the work of God's creation.
He is rather the result of slow transformations which occurred at random during billions
of years, giving birth to one form of life after another, to finally bring forth man, as
we know him today.
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Some opinions of scientists about the theory of evolution:
«Until this day, we have to recognize that paleontology has not yet
provided us with a link between man and animals.» (Albert Gaudry)
«The hypothesis of a creation without God is inconceivable.» (Wernher von
Braun)
«The scientist cannot probe the secrets of the creation without perceiving the finger
of God.» (Robert Boyle)
«Science asserts positively the existence of a creative power that pushes us to
accept it as an article of faith.» (Lord Kelvin)
«The ultimate explanation of all existing beings is God.» (Arnold Lunn)
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Still other opinions of scientists about the theory of evolution:
«The evolutionist theories (...) asserting the animal origin of man have
never been, since their emergence, doubted as seriously as today, and scientific circles
that refuse to believe it have never had so many arguments.» (Roger du Pasquier)
«We doubt as well that natural selection has been able, even with the immense
duration of evolution, to create organs as complex as the brain, the eye, the ear of
higher vertebrates.» (Jean Rostand)
«When I think about the eye, it gives me fever!» (Charles Darwin himself!)
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Proverbs 20:12
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made
both of them.
As Charles Darwin and Jean Rostand noted it, the complexity of the eye alone
suffices to destroy the theory of evolution.
An organ so complex and delicate could not be the result of transformations occurring at
random during billions of years. (Look at the top of the picture. Do you see the
«pulley» through which the superior oblique muscle passes? It is inconceivable that
accident could have produced this «pulley»...)
Could it be possible that our computers resulted from pieces having merged at random?
Isn't the human brain much more complex than a computer?
The Bible offers by far the best explanation: God is the Creator of all these wonders.
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Genesis 1:26,27
Then God said,
«Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and
over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.»
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female
He created them.
Job 20:4
Man was placed on earth.
Man has been created by God, and placed on earth.
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Job 26:7
He stretches the north over empty space; He hangs the
earth on nothing.
Let's take note: the Bible is often accused of opposing scientific discoveries,
and thus of delaying progress by its claim to be the source of truth.
We could cite the case of Galileo who was ridiculed though he was right: however if
religious authorities had known the Scriptures better, they would not have rejected his
statements.
In fact, the Bible already taught that the earth floats in the void, a phenomenon which
was denied for many centuries by the scientific world itself...
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Isaiah 40:21,22
Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been
told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth.
For thousands of years, the Bible has asserted that the earth is round:
nevertheless, the scientific world believed otherwise for a long time!
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Genesis 1:25
God made the beast of the earth according to its kind,
cattle according to its kind, everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind.
The account of the Creation often uses the expression «according to its
kind».
If it is true that through the ages, many modifications might have given birth to new
races and varieties, there is no proof that a new kind has ever been created from a
totally different kind (for example, a dog begetting a cat).
This stability among species, from one generation to another, was already described in the
Bible.
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Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament
shows His handiwork.
A friend of the famous astronomer Copernicus said that the solar system was
formed by accident.
Copernicus then constructed a pretty small-scale model reproducing our solar system.
Amazed by the beauty of the model, the friend asked him who had made it:
«An accident,» replied Copernicus.
Seeing his friend's incredulity, he added:
«You cannot believe that this model was built by chance, but you believe so for the real
solar system!»
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Job 12:7-9
But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the
birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
The amazing instinct of animals, the birds' graceful flight, the perfection of
the bee's work while building its hive: the more we study Nature, the more we see a
Creator's handwork.
Roger Bacon wrote: «A little bit of science keeps away from God; but a lot of science
brings back to Him.»
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Psalm 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
The complexity of the human being amazes scientists as they go from one
discovery to another.
How could chance have created a being able to reason, to think, to explore, to love?
It has been said that it takes more faith to believe in the theory of evolution than in
the simple account of the Creation!
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2 Peter 3:3,5
Scoffers will come in the last days (...). For this they
willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing
out of water and in the water.
2000 years ago, Peter prophesied that at the end of time,
- the account of Creation would be ridiculed;
- millions of people would prefer to believe that man is an «advanced» animal rather
than the masterpiece of God's creation;
- it would be taught that the Universe has been formed by chance, and not by the will of
an Omnipotent God.
Amazing, isn't it?
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Romans 1:18,19
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because
what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
The Bible gives a warning to those who refuse to recognize the Creator, God, in
spite of how obvious His work is.
Let's take a look at the verses immediately following this passage of the Scripture...
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Romans 1:20-22
For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew
God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools.
It would be difficult to describe our time any better...
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Acts 14:15-17
[We] preach to you that you should turn from these vain
things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are
in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness.
God has never ceased to provide evidence of His existence: but the most
beautiful testimony He has given us comes from the mouth of His Son Jesus Christ.
What did Jesus teach about the origins of the Universe?
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John 17:17
[Jesus said,] «Your word is truth.»
Mark 10:6
[Jesus said,] «But from the beginning of the creation,
God made them male and female.»
Stronger than any argument are the words of Jesus Himself.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus set His seal on the authenticity of the account of Creation
as reported in the book of Genesis.
The question, then, is quite simple: «Who will we believe: Jesus or evolutionists?»
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Job 38:4
The Lord said, «Where were you when I laid the
foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.»
Job 42:3
Job answered, «Therefore I have uttered what I did not
understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.»
God invites us to humbly search for the origins of the Universe.
May we imitate Job, and also adopt a humble attitude, recognizing our limits and the
majesty of the Almighty God.
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Revelation 14:6,7
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people - saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him
who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.»
As we go through the last days, it is high time to give up human theories, and
to return to the one and only Creator, God.
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Let's thank God for His help through this lesson:
Our Lord, our God,
Our small planet is in bad shape. But, when we learn that You are our Creator, willing to
save us, hope fills our hearts.
It is a hope that we cannot find elsewhere here on earth, a hope which does not exist for
those who believe that the Universe has been made by accident.
Help us to always cling to this hope. In Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: In: «Photo Gallery 5,000 volume 1» by Media
Graphics International, 087_155.JPG. Screen 2: Photo by Hale
Observatories. In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (March 1994), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, p.6. Screen 3: DORÉ, Gustave. In: «La Bible de Gustave
Doré», Lausanne, Edita, 1994, p.5. Screen 4: In: «The Bible in
Pictures for Little Eyes» (TAYLOR, Kenneth N.), Moody Press, Chicago, 1956, p.7.
Screen 5: In: «The Bible for Children - Retold by Bridget Hadaway & Jean
Atcheson», London, Octopus Books Limited, 1973, p.11. Table of Screen 5: «Theater
of the Universe». In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (September 1996), Pacific Press
Publishing Association, p.8. Screen 6: Used by permission. Copyright ©
1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1976 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All
Rights Reserved. In: «Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, volume 3» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
p.151. Screen 7: Used by permission. Copyright © 1990 by Review and
Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. MOLAN, Chris. In: «Forever
Stories, volume 1» (BYERS, Carolyn), Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1990,
p.13. Screen 8: In: «Egermeier's Bible Story Book» (EGERMEIER, Elsie
E.), The Warner Press, 1963, p.10. Screen 9: Picture from the Web site:
http://www.oaktree.net/vanwild/wild0001.html Screen 10: «Lacroix PNMD»
advertisement. In: «Prix Galien 1997», p.31. Screen 11: In: «Awake»
magazine (June 22, 1998), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.1. Screen 12: LYNCH,
P. Picture from the Web site: http://194.80.193.185/yale/graphics/graphics/eye_anatomy.jpg
Screen 13: Used by permission. Copyright © 1953, 1981 by Review and Herald®
Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. NYE, Vernon. In: «The Bible Story,
volume 1» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.38. Screen 14: JUSTINEN, Lars. In:
«Questionnaire Adulte de l'Ecole du Sabbat», Pacific Press Publishing Association, Third
Quarter, 1999, front cover. Screen 15: BEILFUSS, Kevin. In: «Signs of
the Times» magazine (March 1995), Pacific Press Publishing Association, front cover.
Screen 16: TINTORETTO, Jacopo. «The Creation of the Animals» (1550-1553).
Galleria dell' Accademia, Venice. In: «The Bible in Art» (WRIGHT, Susan), Todtri
Productions Limited, New York, 1996, p.16. Screen 17: Picture from the
Web site: http://unix.utb.edu/~paullgj/geol1404/Solar_System_Origins.html Screen
18: The Image Bank. In: «La Pure Vérité» magazine (October 1994), Worldwide
Church of God, p.18. Screen 19: In: «Questionnaire Adulte de l'Ecole du
Sabbat», Pacific Press Publishing Association, Second Quarter, 1999, front cover.
Screen 20: In: «Awake» magazine (January 22, 1990), Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society, p.1. Screen 21: Used by permission. Copyright © 1959, 1987 by
Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. ANDERSON, Harry. In:
«Votre Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.104,105. Screen 22: In:
«The Watchtower» magazine (September 1, 1994), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.3.
Screen 23: STEEL, John. In: «God Cares, volume 2» (MAXWELL, C.Mervyn), Pacific
Press Publishing Association, 1985, p.539. Screen 24: In: «Egermeier's
Bible Story Book» (EGERMEIER, Elsie E.), The Warner Press, 1963, p.426. Screen
25: Used by permission. Copyright © 1955, 1983 by Review and Herald® Publishing
Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. COLLINS, Fred. In: «The Bible Story, volume 6»
(MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.175. Screen 26: PADGETT, Jim. In: «God Cares,
volume 2» (MAXWELL, C.Mervyn), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1985, p.350.
Screen 27: «View of the Earth from space, captured by the crew of Apollo 17.»
In: «Deluxe Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton's Home
Library, 1997.
Any copyrighted images not bearing a statement of permission, are used
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The test of Lesson 3 is waiting for you!