
Chapter
8.1
Created in God's image for Eternity
....we're "eternal" beings living a human experience "in time"

There's a lot to discuss here ....about "Why?" God created us as He did. We need to know "What?" we believe about our eternal relationship with God.
SUMMARY QUESTION: Why are we created as "eternal" spirit beings ....living a human experience "in time"?
Answering this question addresses the following three questions.


How did we get here? — questions about origin.

Why are we here? — questions dealing with life's meaning.

Where are we going? — questions addressing the future and afterlife.

Only faith in Jesus Christ answers these questions....

Let's talk about it....

From a "literal" Biblical worldview perspective....
....you are here ....because God created you for a PURPOSE and a DESTINY! ....The personal experience of knowing God's presence in our lives, gives us TRUTH-based faith in our Creator. God makes Himself known in Scripture (Genesis 17:1 NCV), where we learn.... Job 38:4-7; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 8:3-4, 33:6-9; Acts 17:24; Romans 1:20.
In the beginning, God created....

God did not need long periods of time for all of creation in Genesis 1:1-31, ....certainly not millions or more years to complete His creative work. Six days would be enough for God to do whatever He wants to do.
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).

If pondering questions about "Creation" versus "Evolution",....
Consider the "Law of Cause and Effect"
The Law of Cause and Effect (or Principle of Causality) is like a rule of the universe that says every EFFECT that happens is the result of a specific CAUSE. It emphasizes that nothing happens randomly; instead, our actions and choices (CAUSE) directly influence the outcomes (EFFECT or EVENT) we experience in life.

Imagine you have a row of dominoes and you knock the first one over (CAUSE), the rest will fall down in sequence (EVENT). The premise is that an EVENT — whether as ordinary as falling dominoes or extraordinary as the origin of the universe — cannot occur without an adequate preceding or preexistent CAUSE. This is foundational to human reasoning, helping figure out why things happen and what could happen next.
The Law of Cause and Effect was not conjured up by Creationist Christians to prove God exists, ....although it does that quite well. The evidence is sufficient to show that this "material" Universe needs a "non-material" CAUSE to exist — because from nothing comes nothing! ....That non-material CAUSE is God.

Think about this. If natural forces of evolution created the Universe and all living things, then "morality in humans" never could be explained.

"Morality" DEFINITION: conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct; moral quality of character.

"Morality" SYNONYMS: decency, integrity, honor, justice, morals, principle, purity, righteousness, virtue, godliness.

So, ....what was the CAUSE for the EFFECT of "morality in humans"?



Yes, there are details about the "How?" of creation we do not know, but....
We know the "Why?" of creation
....An abundance of scripture declares:

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

Christ's involvement in LIVING WITH His creation (John 1:12-14).
Because....
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
....and....
We also know....

On Day 6 of creation, God created us "in His own image" as "eternal spirit beings" (see Genesis 1:27, 2:7), ....which we call a "SOUL" — the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

Synonyms for SOUL include: mind, will and emotions, ....spirit, character, essence, intellect, resolve, temperament, personality, ....conscience, morale, love, ....as we humans try to describe who and what we are.

God has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also PLANTED ETERNITY [a sense of divine purpose]
IN THE HUMAN HEART [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God] — yet man cannot find
out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.
— Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMP
....therefore....
We understand....

God's counterintuitive plan is His PREMEDITATED REASON ....for creating this "organic" world in the first place on Days 1-5. God gives each eternal SOUL ....a human body to live-in for a period of time here on planet earth. Why?, ....so each SOUL would have "time" to choose to have a loving relationship with Creator God, ....living with Him NOW and for the rest of ETERNITY.


....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. He added 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 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 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.

Here's a YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS! ....An online search for the phrase: "probability of DNA formation through evolution", ....returned this search results....

"The probability of DNA forming through random processes is extremely low, with estimates suggesting that the odds of creating a functional protein from random amino acid sequences are about 1 in 10^74. This indicates that the chance of DNA or complex biological structures arising purely through evolution without any guiding factors is highly improbable."

Then ....from this online search ....add the question....
"What implications does low DNA formation probability have for evolutionary theory?" The answer....

"Low DNA formation probability challenges the idea that complex life could arise through random mutations and natural selection alone, suggesting that the processes behind DNA formation may be more intricate than previously thought. This could lead to a reevaluation of evolutionary theory, potentially supporting alternative explanations like intelligent design."

To summarize ALL of the above....
from a "literal" Biblical worldview perspective....
....CREATION NEEDED AN INTELIGENT DESIGNER,
....meaning >>> GOD DID IT! ....He created your DNA .......and the Universe.

ALL OF CREATION IS ....INCREDIBLY MIRACULOUS,
....WONDERFULLY COMPLEX,
....SO CREATIVELY GOD!
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
— Genesis 2:7 World English Bible
....Simply said....



Said another way....
By God's design, we are "eternal" spirit beings living a human experience "in time".
Why? ....God is giving us time on earth ....to choose to live with Him NOW ....and therein, we choose to live with Him FOR THE REST OF 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 age, race, talents, skills, finances, intellect, personality, etc., etc. Everyone is equal before God. Simply believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, ....expressing your faith and trust in Him. See Rom 10:9; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-6.


"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, SET YOUR SIGHTS ON THE REALITIES OF HEAVEN, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real (ETERNAL) life is hidden with Christ in God. ....Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you LEARN TO KNOW YOUR CREATOR AND BECOME LIKE HIM."
— Colossians 3:1-3,10 NLT
....and Eternity starts here....

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.....
*Credits: creation image from lacasadecristo / earth tilt image by timeanddate / DNA information from Institute for Creation Research / Jesus photo from The Chosen / domino effect image from freepik / Daniel Floyd quote from Living The Dream, page 155 / online search for "probability of DNA formation through evolution" conducted using DuckDuckGo browser AI Search Assist