THE FORMATION OF MATTER AND
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
Matter came into existence being created out of nothing by God’s power, without shape or form and remained so until God gave it its final forms causing it to blossom into the magnificent universe, which delights our senses and lies spread out before us far beyond our visibility. We learn and continue to learn much about this universe through our senses. We see countless and various types of beings small and great, including the giant sun, the fluffy clouds, bright light and darkness, mountains and valleys, rivers and lakes accompanied by many streams. We see living creatures. insects, birds. elephants, alligators and lions. We hear the sound of other men, animals, and natural resources. Many and various vehicles which make various noises. Animals and birds howl and tweet singing merrily. We detect the smell of many beings, horses, dogs, cats, sheep. pigs, flowers offer various sounds and smells. So we develop our own very small idea of what a portion of our universe consists. But this is only the visible universe which is quite different from the vast spiritual and moral universe, for this universe is invisible and intelligible. We confess this invisible and moral universe in our sacred Orthodox Creed wherein we declare: “I believe in one God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.” There are two worlds the world of matter which surrounds us and the other is invisible world with which we communicate.
In the visible universe we can see an arrangement of beings and different substances, carefully arranged according to reason all having a specific and general design and purpose, and for this reason everything that exists is in perfect order for the designed plan of their creation and function. They do not interfere with each other or destroy one another because their reason for existence is specific not accidental. Orthodox Christianity alone demonstrates the true concept of God, including His unity as one God in three hypostases. Now we see the visible and invisible universe which was created by the same true God and Creator who made heaven and earth and all therein.
This is indeed the truth because the universe could not exist of itself and if it did it would have to be a second eternal being. But two eternal beings of two different natures, or essences cannot coexist. If God is the essential being then the universe is something that cannot come into existence of its own.He who is absolute, perfect, eternal and ever-living can only be one.
There are various thoughts harbored among men and some speculations concerning the origin and source of the universe. The Bible establishes in a few words, clearly and authoritatively, the exact source and cause of the universe: “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth” (Genesis 1:1.) Creation out of nothing and without a Creator is an impossibility for creation is an effect of the uncaused Cause who is God. Brought before Holy Scriptures, the false suppositions go up in smoke and like a rock the truth prevails. The universe has God for its existence and came into existence in time which was created by God. Who can offer proof contradictory to the truth of God?
Ignorance of the true God was and is the cause of the existence of many false religions in the world. Deism accepts the existence of one god, but not a god who is creator of the world, but an unknown god of fate who is also unknowable. Pantheism denies the true God and mixes everything as being divine and thus they mingle God with matter. The error of false gods introduced the worship of matter and nature into the world, the universe being conceived as self existent and eternal, and this false concept wages war against the infallible truths which came down from heaven..
The beginning of the universe and of matter was the “nothing” from which came all matter, for God created matter out of nothing; this action is called the creative act. And that which is made is called creation. Whatever did not have existence, God created and gave the non-existent existence by His by his almighty power. No man could have ever thought up the idea of creation being God’s handiwork which he formed out of nothing. In our times there are some scientists searching for the cause of the existence of the universe including the folly that it created itself. Man makes everything out of pre-existent matter but cannot create matter out of nothing. The Holy Scriptures clearly proclaim God as the one Creator of all who made everything out of nothing: “ . . . by Him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16). Also: “All that the Lord willed, he did in heaven, and on earth, in the sea and in all the depths” (Psalms 134:6).
God, having created the universe, formed man and woman as the beginning of His eternal plan. They were given a simple law of fasting from one tree and eating from the others. They broke the law, having been instigated by the Devil following which they never repented. The Father sent the Son into the world and Jesus Christ became our Master and Savior, our God and our King. Come, let us dedicate our whole lives to Christ our God!
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