Let there be something

Once before a time, there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. No form. No matter. No something. It was the most nothingness that ever had been. There was only darkness and deep, deep emptiness. 

And yet a voice called into the nothingness, and through it, and for it, and that voice resonated something.

“Let there be light!”

I believe one of the main reasons why feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness prevail in our world is because people don't rightly know where their hope and worth come from. If you suspect you may be one of those people, lean in a little closer and read on. Let me tell you why it all hinges on our beginnings.

How do you tell your origin story? Do you know your Creator, or do you relegate your existence to the chaotic whims of chance? Or are you somewhere in between, not sure yet which camp you will trust with your faith? Let me ask you, which one carries within it the seed of hope? 

And speaking of seeds, science rightly affirms that everyday life cannot come from non-life. Non-living matter cannot produce living matter. And yet many scientists make one large exception to this premise - and that is the origin of life itself. A random explosion. Chaos unhinged to produce form and order. No purpose. No reason why. Just chance.

If we came from chance, then we are tied to chance. And here's the problem with that: chance offers no purpose, reason, or intent for our existence. And yet, don't we all crave purpose? Don't we, as humans, have the ability to reason? Don't we value that which is intentional? How could we have within us these pillars of humanity if we're nothing more than products on the lucky end of probability? Chance is impersonal. We are personal. Chance is unreasonable. We are reasonable. How then could chance create people who are both personal and reasonable?

On the other end of the spectrum is the notion that Someone had a plan, design, and intent to create us in Their image. This is not a mirror image - something you can see and reproduce. No, it's the image of dignity, worth, love and purpose. When we come from this kind of Creator, we are tied to Him, and all that He offers. He offers purpose, reason, and hope because He has revealed Himself to us in these ways through His Word. And since He has revealed Himself to us, we can know Him. And when we know Him, we know our worth in Him and our hope in Him. We were worthy enough to be created and to be given a future and a hope.

This Creator -- let's call Him God -- creates out of empty spaces. He creates light out of darkness. He creates hope from the hollow.  Where there was nothing, He has made something. 

And it is very good.

Emily