It can be said that life is all about asking questions and surely the most fundamental question of all is “where did life come from?” What was it that brought our universe, our world and our existence into being? It is a question that many have debated and attempted to answer through both science and philosophy, and down through the centuries there have been numerous theories and explanations offered regarding the origins of life. However, the answer can be only one of two possibilities: either it was deliberately created or it arose by chance. Either the universe was made for a reason or it is the result a cosmic accident and, therefore, apart from survival, life has no real meaning at all. The Bible sets out very clearly for us where life came from: it doesn’t present us with billions of years of chance but rather six days of purpose when ‘in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth’ (Genesis 1:1). When we consider the vastness of the universe, the variety of life on earth and the conditions just right to sustain it, and the way in which the sun rises and sets each day and the seasons come and go each year with such consistency we have to conclude that there is a Mind behind it all; the Mind of the One that possesses infinite power. He spoke and the world came into being. Psalm 33:6 tells us that ‘by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth’. Psalm 33 then goes on to encourage ‘all the inhabitants of the world to stand in awe of Him’ because of His great power. However, some might ask the question that if God is all-powerful then why is there so much death and destruction in our world? If He is behind it all then why at times does everything seem so out of control? It wasn’t always like this. When God had finished His creation the Bible says that He ‘saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31). God’s creation was perfect and there was no disease, no death, and no disaster. He ‘created man in His own image’ (Genesis 1:27) to have a relationship with Him and for a time the first man and woman lived in complete harmony with Him. He gave them one rule and free will to choose to obey that rule but they chose not to. Instead they chose to go their course and disobeyed Him, resulting in that perfect relationship being destroyed and the world that we live in today with all its suffering and pain is the legacy of their disobedience. When they rebelled they became sinners and that sin has infected every person born into the world since, including you. The Bible tells us that ‘through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 6:12). We all die because we are all sinners; we all do wrong and God’s judgement is what we face. However, the amazing message of the Bible is that God has provided a way by which our sins can be forgiven and that relationship with God that we were created to have can be restored. The truth that the Bible presents to us is that the Creator became like one of His creatures to take the punishment due for sin. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom ‘all things were created that are in heaven and on earth’ (Colossians 1:16), became a sinless Man for the purpose of dying for the sin of the world. He was crucified and on the cross He took the punishment that we deserve so that if we trust in Him our sins will be forgiven. He died but He rose again three days later having defeated the power of death and so we can have absolute confidence in His power to save us from the penalty of our sins. He said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (John 14:6). The all-powerful Creator is also the completely trustworthy Saviour for all that believe in Him and what He has done. No wonder the apostle Paul said that he was ‘not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes’ (Romans 1:16). It is the most inclusive message in the world: for everyone who believes. You can know the transforming power of God in your life today through trusting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.

FInding the Way – a series of events at Maryhill Gospel Hall starts today and runs all week.