In the beginning, God created....

God did not need long periods of time for ALL of creation in Genesis 1:1, ....certainly not thousands to millions of years to complete His creative work.  Regardless of what we humans try to figure out about knowing the "How?" and "When?" of creation, ....the Bible simply says, "God spoke, ....creation happened, ....and He saw that it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).  Beyond that, NOBODY KNOWS FOR CERTAIN the "HOW?" or "WHEN?" of creation.  ....See Psalm 33:6-9 and Job 38:4-7

However, we do know the "Why?"

....An abundance of scripture declares:  

Christ's involvement in creation (John 1:1-4), and

Christ's involvement in the lives of ALL who believe in Him (John 1:14).

This we know....

EVEN BEFORE HE MADE THE WORLD, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to ADOPT US into his own family by BRINGING US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (John 3:16). This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
    — Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT

....THEREFORE....

We also know....

On Day 6 of creation, God created us "in His own image" (Genesis 1:27-28) as "eternal spirit beings", ....which we call a "SOUL" (the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part).  Why?, ....so each SOUL could choose to have a loving relationship with Creator God, ....living with Him NOW and for ETERNITY.  

Synonyms for SOUL include: spirit, thought, feeling, ....conscience, intellect, individuality, personality, ego.... (as we try to describe who and what we are).

....And so each of us has TIME TO CHOOSE HIM, God gave each SOUL an "organic" body, so we could live as human beings for a period of time here on earth.  ....We must COMPREHEND creating a SOUL with an "organic" body was NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT on Day 6, but ....God's PREMEDITATED REASON for creating this "organic" world (planet earth) in the first place ....on Days 1-5.  ....It was all part of His counterintuitive plan.

....Consider the details!  

God created the earth at the correct distance from the sun (for a temperature range we can live in), ....with an axial tilt and atmosphere to support "organic" life, ....adding a moon in perfect rotation around this earth to cause "organic" life supporting ocean tides, ....all as an "organic" environment in which we humans can live and thrive.  

And the list of God's creative miracles continues ....with plants bearing seeds to reproduce more plants, ....fish and animals reproducing their "kind".  ....And finally, each eternal SOUL — that spiritual part of us — was given a human organic body "in time", ....so we could choose to have an "eternal", personal, intimate, loving relationship with our Creator God, ....Himself.  ....Psalm 139:1-2, 5-6, 16-17.

....and how about the details of your DNA?

For life to exist, an information system is needed to produce and regulate life functions.  This information system must also be able to accurately copy (reproduce) itself for the next generation.  DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is THE information system for life.

....Information is a product of intelligence, indicating that DNA came from an intelligent source — our Creator God.  

There are several layers of information in DNA.  ....It has genetic code, or code of life, to spell out proteins, but the code is also arranged to minimize errors in protein sequence and structure, regulate the amount of protein produced in the cell, and assist proteins in folding into the correct shape.

....And here's the REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL!  The odds of DNA forming by random chance through evolution are extremely low, with estimates suggesting PROBABILITIES AS IMPROBABLE as 1 in 10^400,000 for a strand of DNA to arrange "itself" correctly to create life.  This highlights the complexity and improbability of spontaneous life formation without an intelligent designer.  ....Which simply means, .......GOD DID IT!

ALL OF CREATION IS ....INCREDIBLY MIRACULOUS, ....WONDERFULLY COMPLEX, ....AND SO CREATIVELY GOD!  HE IS AMAZING!

....Simply said....

Said another way....  ‍

By God's design, we are "eternal" spirit beings living a human experience "in time".

‍Why?  ....Because God is giving us time on earth ....to choose to live with Him NOW, ....and therein we choose to live with Him throughout ETERNITY in Heaven.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES in him will not perish but HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
    — John 3:16 NLT

....Why is it that simple ....to just believe in Jesus Christ?

So that EVERYONE comes equally before God.  It does not matter your cultural status, ....your age, race, physical abilities, financial position, etc., etc.  Everyone is equal before God.  ....Simply believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Physical Birth....

Each SOUL's "Eternity" starts at the beginning of their "in time" human experience here on earth.  .....WE ARE LIVING IN ETERNITY NOW!  ....And during our earthly journey, ....God gives us opportunities to choose ....where we want to spend THE REST OF ETERNITY, ....when this "in time" journey part is over....

IN HEAVEN with God, if we believe in Jesus Christ here and now, ....OR....

"ELSEWHERE" without God, if we do not chose Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  See John 3:36; Matt 13:49-50; 2 Thess 1:8-9; Rev 21:8.

Jesus said, "The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me" (John 16:9).

....which brings us to....

Spiritual Birth....

Each SOUL's "spiritual birth" (BORN AGAIN) starts when they ask Jesus to forgive their sins, come into their life, and receive salvation through Him as Savior and Lord....  

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
‍
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one (Soul) can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’"
    — John 3:3-7 NLT

‍WE RECEIVE BEING BORN AGAIN and live "Eternally" WITH OUR LORD in Heaven ....by responding during our "in time" journey here on earth to Christ's offer of eternal salvation ....by simply trusting and obeying.‍

So, ....what does that look like in our lives?

Assures us of "Whose we are" in our eternal relationship with God.

Helps us build our Biblical worldview by reading and applying His Word.

Gives us peace in our hearts and resolve for each day's challenges.

....and....

Only God can give us Eternal Life with Himself....

That is why Jesus said...

"The Spirit alone gives eternal life.  Human effort accomplishes nothing.  And THE VERY WORDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE."
    — John 6:63 NLT

....because....

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.  The one who believes in me will live (spiritually), even though they die (physically); and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?"
    — John 11:25-26 NIV

Yes, LORD, I believe!

Select NEXT arrow for our second summary question.....

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^{*Credits: creation image from lacasadecristo / earth tilt image by timeanddate / DNA information from Institute for Creation Research}‍