God in the Mix

Within us and around us, creation shouts that God exists and that Jesus is alive; the testimony is given in Psalm 8, which includes these words:
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet...

When we consider the existence of God and how heaven and earth originated, there are deep questions that we must answer.  If we believe that humanity has evolved over time, we have to consider how we got here in the first place?  Are we simply the outcome of random processes?  Or does the beauty around us in the skies, the stars, and here on the earth, as well as the intricacies of our own minds and bodies reflect a creative hand?

I believe the Bible - God created the heavens and earth.  And, I believe He did it in six literal days.  I believe that the so-called "fossil record" came not as the product of evolution over millions and billions of years, but as the result of an upheaval created by a worldwide flood.  You may disagree with that, and a recent survey shows that while people may have that point of disagreement, that God was involved in the process.

Lifeway Research reported on its website about a Gallup survey, which "finds 37% of Americans believe God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so. Additionally, 34% say human beings developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life but God guided this process."  If you combine these two distinct categories, that means a total of 71% believe that God was somehow involved in the development of human beings. Almost one-quarter believe He did not - that's the highest level recorded for that category. And the 37% in the "creation" category was lower than the previous low of 38% back in 2017.

Back in 2015, Lifeway Research polled views of origins and found that "79% of Americans, including 43% of nonreligious adults, said the fact that humans exist means someone created us. Additionally, 72% of Americans, including 46% of nonreligious adults, said the universe’s organization points to a creator who designed it."  The Lifeway article notes that:

Creation, including humanity, can present apologetic and evangelistic opportunities for observant Christians to listen to those around them and be ready to start a conversation.

While it can be heartening to recognize that almost three-quarters of Americans believe that God had some role in our origin story, we also have to consider the truth of the Scriptures.  When you consider the incredible beauty of creation, the order by which the earth rotates and its placement at just the right distance from the sun, and the intricacies of the human body, mind, and spirit, we know that there is a greater power at work.  So, while many recognize that someone did it, the Bible teaches us who did it and how he did it. And, the reliability of the Scriptures is related to the truth in the book of Genesis. 

And, as Lifeway Research pointed out, those who are open to consider that there was a higher power, even God, at work, can perhaps be persuaded, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, to consider the identity of that Creator.  Jesus, One with God the Father and the Spirit, was involved in the creation process.  Generally, it's important that people move from merely paying lip-service to God and His existence and surrender their lives in obedience to Him, beginning with accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and then walking in obedience to His ways.