By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3 NIV)
How did the universe come to be? This can be a contentious topic. On one side are those who believe it was produced as an intentional act of an omniscient and omnipotent being. On the other side are those who hold that it came into being via purely naturalistic mechanisms. And the same divide holds concerning the presence of life on this planet. Was it an act of a creator or nature? And even among those who understand both of these to be the act of a creator, the debate can be contentious concerning the creator’s identity and how he created and formed the universe and the life in it.
As believers, we may be tempted to try and prove that God, as described in the Bible, created the universe and brought life into existence. And there are indeed reasons to believe it. But, ultimately, it is a matter of faith. It is by faith that we believe the universe was formed at God’s command.
But this faith is more than just something we hold to be true. Throughout this chapter on faith, we find faith coupled with action. Biblical faith is more than an intellectual activity. Faith always produces some action on the part of the person who has faith. And I believe that is true with this verse as well. God is the creator of the universe. And that makes him my creator as well. And that faith should result in a life that acknowledges his authority in my life as my creator—resulting in a life of submission to his sovereign lordship.
