Did God create the universe?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible teaches that God created the universe by His power, word, and will, and that creation reflects His glory and nature. Everything, seen and unseen, was made through and for Him. Yet, many people seek explanations that leave God out, often avoiding the idea of being accountable to Him. Romans 1:20–23 reminds us that God's invisible attributes have been clearly seen in creation, leaving humanity without excuse, yet some fail to honor or acknowledge Him. Observing the beauty, order, and majesty of the universe should lead us to recognize God’s existence and worship Him as Creator.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Bible tells us that God created the universe and all that is in it: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day... “(Genesis 1).
• Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
• God declares Himself as the Creator of the universe: “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host” (Isaiah 45:12).
• God’s people recognize Him as the Creator of the universe: “Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
• Colossians 1:16 confirms that God created the universe and everything in it: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
• John 1:3 says, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Everything was made by God and everything is under His dominion because of this.
• God’s character can be seen in the creation He made: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20).
• God is worthy to be praised and worshiped because He created and sustains all things. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
• Second Peter 3:5 confirms that God created all things by the power of His word: “For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God.”

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The quest to find and understand the elegant design of the universe in the language of math and science is a noble one, but it should be executed humbly with the desire to discover truth and to allow that truth to shape us. That truth points us to a divine Creator of the universe. The order and beauty of the universe reveals that it was not created by chance or without purpose. This same God who created the universe invites us to awaken to His presence and handiwork in creation and to recognize His creation of us as well. This Almighty God, who is sovereign over all things and spoke all things into existence also loves us and desires a relationship with us. He gave Himself and died for our sins so we could live. This God invites us to recognize Him as Creator and Sustainer of not just the universe, but our lives. God created a cosmos filled with order and wonder, and it's our privilege to delve into the finer details and discover Him through it.

UNDERSTAND

• God created everything in existence by His word and will.
• The order and beauty of the universe reveal God to us.
• God invites us to respond to who He is even by what He has revealed in nature.

REFLECT

• How does seeing God as the Creator of the universe impact the way you view your life and purpose?
• How do you see God’s character revealed in creation around you, and how do you respond to it?
• When you consider the beauty and order of the universe, how does it shape your understanding of God’s character?

ENGAGE

• How can we respond to people who seek to explain the universe without acknowledging God as Creator?
• What specific aspects of creation inspire our awe and deepen our appreciation for God’s power and creativity?
• How does recognizing God as Creator shape our approach to science, knowledge, and our desire to explore the natural world?