Creation Spotlight
The Heavens Declare God's Glory
The following is an excerpt by Dr. Danny Faulkner from the book on the seventh day.
This book is by 40 scientists and academics that explain why they
believe in God. Dr. Faulkner earned a M.S. in physics from Clemson
University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in astronomy from Indiana University.
He is currently professor of astronomy and physics at the University of
South Carolina, Lancaster.
I became a Christian at the age of six when I understood that I was a
sinner and needed salvation through repentance and faith in the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In my early teen years I came under
the influence of some Christian writers who believed most of what
modern science claims about the origin and history of the world. Seeing
that science contradicted the traditional view of Genesis, these
writers tended to re-interpret Genesis in light of what science says.
As a result, my opinions began to move in this direction as well.
However, in high school I encountered the writings of scientists who
took the Bible very seriously. They took the opposite approach of
interpreting science in light of the Bible. I very quickly saw the
wisdom of this. I believe we should submit all areas of human endeavor
to biblical scrutiny, not the other way around.
So why do I believe in biblical creation? First, because this is what
the Bible teaches. The Genesis account of creation gives us some detail
of the manner in which God made our world and us. Creation is a
foundational doctrine in that the first few chapters not only tell us
how we came to be, but also lay the basis for other important facts,
such as our accountability to our Creator, our sinful nature, and our
need for salvation.
The second reason that I believe biblical creation is that I believe
that it is a reasonable inference from science. Astronomy is singled
out in Psalm 19 as something that should stir a realization within us
that there is a Creator. This sentiment is echoed in the first chapter
of Romans. I think that one of the things that attracted me to
astronomy is the tremendous beauty and fantastic sizes of things that
we see in the sky. Modern instruments such as telescopes have enabled
us to appreciate this even more. It is difficult for me to contemplate
the universe without the conclusion that there must be a God. In my
lifetime the space program has flourished. Space probes have unleashed
a flood of images and data unimagined in early times. All of this
amplifies the fact that the heavens do declare God’s glory.
In recent years many planets orbiting other stars have been found. What
is often lost in the excitement of these discoveries is that none of
these planets is earth-like. Furthermore, they are foreign to
everything we know about planets. Their sizes and orbits defy
explanation. Just as the planets in our solar system demonstrated the
uniqueness of the earth, perhaps these extra-solar planets may reveal
the uniqueness of our solar system.
It is unlikely that there are many, if any, earth-like planets in the
universe. I know enough of other sciences to understand that the
possibility of the development of life through natural means is so
remote as to be virtually impossible. And that is why I believe in the
supernatural God of the Bible.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Psalm 19, 1-4
