The author of Hebrews writes, “Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him” (Hebrews 11:6). What causes people to believe in God? Parents play a great role in many people’s lives that come to believe in God (see Ephesians 6:1-2). Sometimes preachers, friends, family members, or a spouse help us come to faith (2 Timothy 2:2). What caused you to believe that God is? Our Bibles reveal that creation is the central cause of man’s faith. Creation establishes faith, the authority of God, revelation, and our responsibility to be obedient. Creation ought to be the beginning point of study with unbelievers.
Genesis chapters 1 and 2 give the account of creation. God, over six days of twenty four hours periods of time, created the world (Exodus 20:11). The Lord took rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-2). After creation man was expected to look upon what God had powerfully formed and determine that he is the Lord. The Psalmist wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament shows his handiwork” (Psalms 19:1). God simply spoke and by his authoritative voice the world was formed (Psalms 33:6-9).
Man is awestruck by the power of the Lord’s creative abilities (Psalms 33:8). The prophets of old condemned the unbelieving due to creation (see Jeremiah 5:22-24; Isaiah 40:18-28). The apostle Paul said that no man will be excused for unbelief due to God’s creation (Romans 1:18-20). Today, we too have God’s creation to examine. We see the moon, sun, stars, and this beautiful planet we live on. We see the aged trees with their twisted branches and canopy that reaches into the heavens. We see vast oceans with waves that powerfully crash upon the sea shore. We see the mountains with their waterfalls and jagged peaks. We look our our marvelous human bodies and we conclude that God is.
God’s Creation Establishes Man’s Faith
The author of Hebrews defines faith by saying, “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Breaking down the meanings of the original Greek words we may paraphrase the verse as follows. “Now faith is a mental conclusion that God’s promise of salvation is true… Faith is evidence that I believe in the things not seen (i.e., God, eternity, heaven, hell, Hades). But what brings one to these mental conclusions? The author of Hebrews writes, “By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of the things which appear” (Hebrews 11:3). The “world” (Greek aion) is the “material universe (i.e., the stars, planets, moon, sun, etc)” (Moulton’s Analytical Greek Lexicon page 11). Creation brings man to faith in God.
God’s Creation Establishes the Authority of Christ
The Psalmist speaks of God’s creative powers and then concludes, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne: lovingkindness and truth go before thy face” (Psalms 89:11-14). The standard of righteousness and justice are the components of Christ’s authority over man (see Isaiah 28:17; Romans 1:16-17). Seeing that the Lord created man he has the sovereign right to rule over us as he pleases (see Acts 17:24-28). No man has the right to question God’s predetermined mold of righteousness and justice because he made us (see Romans 9:6-24). No matter who or where one lives we all are subject to Christ’s authority. Christ’s authoritative laws reach the individual in the home, at work, in the church, in government, and even at play. The preeminence of Jesus Christ over all creation exists because he is creator (see Colossians 1:16-18). All are subject to his divine will (Jeremiah 32:27).
God’s Creation Establishes Revelation
Righteousness and justice are the foundation blocks of the throne of God. These foundations blocks are confirmed as truth by the creation (again, see Psalms 89:11-14). The Apostle Paul and Isaiah reveal the equivalences between righteousness, justice, and the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 28:16-17; 52:7; Romans 10:11-17). The gospel, confirmed as truth by creation, was presented to the world by revelation through the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:1-7). The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, moved men to speak divine revelation (see 2 Peter 1:21). Gospel truths were also confirmed as divine revelation through miracles in the early church days (Mark 16:20). When revelation was complete miracles ceased to exist (1 Corinthians 13:1ff). The creation; however, continues to testify to the truths of the gospel.
God’s Creation Establishes Man’s Responsibility to Obey
The Apostle Paul writes, “Faith comes of hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Creation and preaching the gospel produce faith. Faith alone is not the Lord’s final objective for mankind. Creation confirms the reality of God and his divine revelation. The confirmed scriptures teach us that faith without works is dead (see James 2:14-17). Faith and obedience are actually equivalent. Abraham is a principal example. The scriptures teach us that Abraham was justified by faith in God. Genesis 15:6 reads, “And Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.” James explains the equivalence between obedience and faith by telling us that Abraham was justified by faith when he obeyed God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac. James concludes, “Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of god. Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith” (James 2:22-24). The author of Hebrews explains that man’s faith is manifest by his obedience (Hebrews 11:1ff).
Conclusion
Faith, throughout history, has been produced in man by creation (Romans 1:18-20), revelation (Psalms 89:11-14), miracles (Mark 16:20), and eye witness accounts of events God said would happen that did (Isaiah 46:9-10; John 20:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). All eye witnesses have passed from this life. Miracles have ceased to exist. We are left with creation and revelation to establish our faith. The next time you have a study with an unbeliever begin at the creation.
