Why Were We Born?

This one of the most fundamental questions has both considerably plagued and challenged all human beings from generation to generation. Can we possibly answer this question? Have you ever imagined not being born as a human but an animal like a cow or a pig, and lived a life of an animal, ate animal feeds marred with dirt and filth? Had you been born as an animal, would you have ever been able to enjoy all privileges that human beings are enjoying? Did you ever find yourself being very grateful for the fact that you were born as a human, not an animal? If you did, have you found any meaning in this life? Or is the life just meaningless to end aimlessly through death? Is there any hope in this life? Is there any hope of life after death? And what is that hope? What are you going to do to realize that hope?
The world has drastically been mesmerized and intoxicated by the popular naturalistic theory of evolution that it seems impossible to find any true significance of life on this earth. Those who firmly hold this theory neither find nor have any meaning in their life. Their life is such that is exactly the same with that of an animal. Ironically however, even the animals were created to serve certain purposes. God created them for our benefits. We can ride on horses, and scavengers like birds or pigs can help us do the environmental cleaning. Nevertheless, do the animals have any knowledge of God, salvation or eternal life, and are privileged to ascend to heaven? Far from it. Human beings are God's pinnacle creation formed with capacity to acquire the knowledge of God and are capable of possessing God's image. But can we achieve this without God? Can we live even a single second without depending on God's great mercy and grace? Can we live properly without involving God? Naturalistic evolutionary theory enthusiasts have nothing to do with God and live careless life. Their life has no purpose and hopeless. They just temporarily live on this earth and end up dying without any clear concept of what is taking place after death. That kind of life is such of an animal life.

God's Purposes of Creating Us
Then, why were we born? Why did God place us on this planet earth? Does He have any special purpose of creating us? Why did He not just create plants and animals? What significance does our existence bear as human beings? If we truly believe that the Bible is our mere moral standards of judgment and regard it as the infallible, sacred inspiration from God, then we can easily trace down the answer to where we came from, and why we are here on this earth. The Bible can tell us plainly about the purpose of our existence here.

1. Establish God's family
The Scripture tells us clearly that after God completed creating plants and animals, on the sixth day, He created us.
[So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them] (Gen. 1:27).
His own image or in the image of God simply means that we resemble God not only physically but also with moral aspect quality. We simply partake in His divine nature.
[... that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust] (2 Pet 1:4).
[Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising] (Acts 17:29).
[Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth] (Gen 1:28).
God blessed us and wanted us to be fruitful and multiply. He desires to establish not a mere mortal human family having beast-like character, but an eternal God's family possessing God's image and character instrumental for sharing the blessings of His grace and entrust stewardship to us.

2. Meet God
Another purpose why we were born is to meet our Maker, our heavenly Father. Once an old wise man asked a young university student sitting beside him on a bus while reading a book. The young man is the most brilliant student in his university. He's an agnostic.
"Hi, young man, do you go to university?"
"Yes, I do."
"What are you studying at the university?"
"I'm studying political science."
"What are you gonna be after graduating from university?"
"I'm gonna be a politician, and then be a senator."
"After being a senator, what would you like to be?"
"I'd like to be a president of this country."
"After being a president, what are you gonna do next?"
"Well, I'll just retire and go fishing."
"What are you gonna do after that?"
"Well, I just get old and die."
"So you're spending your precious time and tremendous amount of tuition fee to accomplish your education in this life doing whatever you're pleased to do and then just end up dying?"
The wise man kept on explaining at greater length about the significance of life, and managed to make that young man converted into a Christian.
The wise man here presented, depicts a pious man who lives with sure purpose. He knows why he was born on this earth. We can clearly tell by the questions he probed and the ultimate conclusion he draw during the conversation that made the young brilliant student completely stupefied. The majority of people inhabiting this earth are just like that young university student who live without any clear life objective. They just live wondering around like a ship without a compass tossed away by the waves in the ocean, hanging around like vapor blown by the wind. They just don't have any clear idea why they are here on this earth. Thankfully however, due to the wise man's living testimony, the young man was converted. Who did the young man meet? He met God through the wise man.

What a blessed thing for human beings to meet God who has created them. If we don't meet God while living on this earth, then it would be far better to be born as a chicken whose meat can be eaten by people. Those who neglect God and are indifferent to Him are like animals. Since they don't have God, they live as they please without any purpose committing vicious crimes regardless of age, position, and educational background. They continue to live sinful life until they die without any hope of salvation. On the other hand, those who meet God will know for sure why they were born, they do have hope in their life, and know what to do to realize that hope. They don't consider this life as a mere mortal one to just end aimlessly like what is happening to the animal kingdom. Ours is not a mortal, perishable kingdom but an eternally indestructible family God designed and established for our eternal happiness and joy. In this life, therefore, we must seek to meet God, to know Him, to be acquainted with Him and to become one with Him.
[But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul] (Deut 4:29).
[For the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever] (1 Chr 28:9).
[Blessed are those who ... seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity] (Psa 119:2, 3). [... so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us] (Acts 17:27).

3. Keep God's Commandments
After having met God, we're endowed with new spirit to know Him more, to become friends with Him and be united with Him. If we know God aright, we also know how to please Him. To please Him is to keep His commandments. We know what He wants us to do to please Him and honor and glorify Him. By so doing we will obtain wisdom.
[The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments ... Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments] (Psa 111:10; 112:1).
[The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding] (Pro 9:10).
Keeping God's commandments is the whole duty of mankind toward God who has created us. It's our expression of gratitude for His creative power.
[Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man] (Eccl 12:13 NIV).
We're not keeping God's commandments to receive salvation, because we're all saved by His Son's grace by dying on the cross. We're keeping His commandments simply because we have been saved by His amazing grace. But those who don't keep His commandments are the ones who haven't yet responded to God's invitation of salvation through Jesus' precious sacrificial blood. Those who feel and believe that they have been saved by God's grace will automatically respond to it by obeying His commandments and live forever. That's an obvious evidence that we really love God. [If you love Me, keep My commandments] (John 14:15).
Finally, we can confidently guarantee that our life is worth living as we know where we came from, why we are here on this earth with clear purpose in mind and what we should be doing to achieve that purpose. We will then be guided continuously in our daily path of life to where we should be headed with total dependence on God and absolute submission to His perfect providence. May you, readers, make a wise choice to life worthy life walking together with God as your personal Heavenly Father who is constantly taking meticulous care of us. NM

Where Did We Come From?

Have you ever stopped to ponder this philosophical sounding question, "Where did we come from?" Many scientists, scholars, philosophers, and theologians, I'm sure, have earnestly attempted to delve into such matter throughout the earth's history to find the answer to one of the most crucial questions facing human beings throughout the ages. But have their endeavors yielded satisfactory results?
There have been many heated debates and controversies in the schools of thought of both the ancient and modern scholars as to the real origin of human beings. It stands to reason that all scientists view things in different perspectives from others. Each has his/her own approach and underlying principle to the question under discussion.
In the beginning, in fact, God has given us direction as to how we perceive things in our unique relation to Him. Through nature as His first-hand, actual handicraft, we may be able to understand that things are brought into existence by a perfect design, not by chance as what evolutionists claim they are. Our existence plainly violates the evolutionary premise that all things emerge by random chance. Rather it is through perfect design by the Great Artist, Master Designer of the colossal universe.
I remember attending a Catholic religion subject lesson at my first year of senior high school in Indonesia. The very first topic introduced to us back then was "The Origin of Man." My subject teacher expounded in great detail concerning our origin viewed from two perspectives: science and the Bible. The two approaches tried to answer the question, "Where did human beings come from?" In the final analysis, as we all know well, scientific approach came up with the answer, "Human beings came from apes," while biblical approach rendered the answer, "Human beings came from God." Two paradoxical ideas indeed. What a stark contrast! Ironically however, the so-called scientists admitted the first principle that human beings descended from apes. But in order to bridge the vast gap between the two principles, an absurd conclusion was drawn that the first, unlike the latter, tended to answer the question, "How did human beings go through the evolutionary process from apes to humans?" It never tried to answer the question of man's origin. What a fabrication that fills the low-quality textbooks!
Recently, a great number of studies have been made by many scientists to unearth this mysterious secret of our genealogy. More and more scientists begin to reject evolutionary theory and have begun to perceive new insight of our existence being the God's pinnacle creation. Those so-called scientists who argue that apes are our ancestors are really degrading their own dignity as God's precious created beings (children). They liken themselves with apes. Yes, they are the descendants of apes, and they are apes indeed. "There is no ground for the supposition that man was evolved by slow degrees of development from the lower forms of animal or vegetable life. Such teaching lowers the great work of the Creator to the level of man's narrow, earthly conceptions. Men are so intent upon excluding God from the sovereignty of the universe that they degrade man and defraud him of the dignity of his origin." (E.G. White; Patriarchs and Prophets p. 44). And what is more shocking is that this subject of evolution is still being taught in all educational institutions around the globe.

What the scientists had to say about evolution and creation

Now, let’s thoroughly examine what the scientists had to say about this long held and taught theory.

Wernher von Braun, NASA director, when asked by California State Board of Education in 1972, responded, “In the world around us, we can behold the obvious manifestations of an ordered, structured plan or design… The better we understand the intricacies of the universe and all it harbors, the more reasons we have found to marvel at the inherent design upon which it is based… To be forced to believe only one conclusion – that everything in the universe happened by chance – would violate the very objectivity of science itself. Certainly there are those who argue that the universe evolved out of the random process, but what random process could produce the brain of a man or the system of the human eye?” (Scott Huse, The Collapse of Evolution, 1997, pp. 159-160).

Even Charles Darwin himself, the originator of evolutionism, was confused with his own idea about evolution and had second thought. In his later years, he reflected on what he has started: “I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything; and to my astonishment the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion of them” (William Federer, America’s God and Country, 1996, p. 199).

“For I am well aware that scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume [Origin of Species] on which facts cannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which I arrived” (Charles Darwin : 1809-1882, British naturalist who popularized the theory of evolution through natural selection).

Which is the myth, God or evolution? Louis Bounoure, director of France’s Strasbourg Zoological Museum and professor of biology at the university of Strasbourg, stated: “Evolution is a fairy tale for grown-ups. This theory has helped nothing in the progress of science. It is useless” (Federer, p. 61). Yes, it is fatally useless, and only useful for those who want to reject the idea of God.

“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Into His tiniest creatures, God has placed extraordinary properties that turn them into agents of destruction of dead matter. A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him” (Louis Pasteur: 1822-1895, French scientist).

“Atheists all over the world have…called upon science as their crown witness against the existence of God. But as they try, with arrogant abuse of scientific reasoning, to render proof there is no God, simple and enlightening truth is that their argument boomerang. For one of the most fundamental laws of natural science is that nothing in the physical world ever happens without a cause” (Dr. Wernher von Braun).

“The theory of evolution is impossible. At base, in spite of appearances, no one any longer believes in it…Evolution is a kind of dogma which the priests no longer believe, but which they maintain for their people” (Paul Lemoine: 1878-1940, director of the Paris natural History Museum).

“To postulate the development and survival of the fittest is entirely a consequence of chance mutations seems to me a hypothesis based on no evidence and irreconcilable with the facts. These classical evolutionary theories are a gross over-simplification of an immensely complex and intricate mass of facts, and it amazes me that they are swallowed so uncritically and readily, and for such a long time, by so many scientists without a murmur of protest” (Sir Ernst Chain; 1906-1979, director of Rome’s International Research Center for Chemical Microbiology).

Bethell concludes: “Darwin’s theory, I believe, is on the verge of collapse. In his famous book, [The Origin of Species], Darwin made a mistake sufficiently serious to undermine his theory. And that mistake has only recently been recognized as such . . . I have not been surprised to read . . . that in some of the latest evolutionary theories ‘natural selection plays no role at all.’ Darwin, I suggest, is in the process of being discarded, but perhaps in deference to the venerable old gentleman, . . . it is being done as discreetly and gently as possible, with a minimum of publicity” (pp. 308, 313-314).

Aggressive proponents of evolutionary theory seem to be narrow-minded, hypocritical and tend to be self-righteous. They are too arrogant to be open-minded to accept the truth and constantly cling to their erroneous belief even though they know precisely that their position is weak and wrong. In his book "The Dogma of Evolution" Professor L.T. More candidly acknowledged, "Our faith in the doctrine of Evolution depends upon our reluctance to accept the antagonistic doctrine of specific creation (by God)" (quoted by Francis Hitching, The Neck of the Giraffe, p. 109).

There must be an explanation for the existence of everything. The number, precision and perfection of natural laws cannot be explained away as a lucky accident. Such reasoning is irrational. It simply doesn't add up. Common sense tells us that the existence of an unimaginably magnificent universe structured on and sustained by innumerable laws of physics requires the existence of a Creator of those laws, a Designer of those structures. A structured design does reveal the Designer.

The writers of the Bible recognized in the creation much evidence of a great, allwise Creator. They understood that the wonders we see around us shout the same message: Such astonishing design demands a Master Designer! Whether we are moved by the power of the sea, the grandeur of a mountain range, the delicate beauty of the first spring flowers or the birth of a child, as we look at the world around us we naturally conclude: This is the handiwork of a great Designer. We may behold it in the everlasting hills, in the lofty trees, in the starry night sky. All speak to us of God.

The Effects of Accepting Evolution

One of the reasons why evolutionary theory was widely accepted and has been extensively taught in all educational institutions nowadays is that 19th century during which the theory was introduced was the era of social and religious unrest. Science was riding a crest of popularity. Impressive discoveries and inventions appeared constantly. This climate was conducive to people embracing revolutionary concepts. Furthermore, Darwin himself had an impeccable reputation as a dedicated naturalist. However, what are the underlying principles of this once-favored theory which defies Creator God and what effects has it exerted in human's life as we have seen in our prevailing life's condition?

Supporters of evolution like to point out that acceptance of the idea of a divine Creator requires faith in someone or something we cannot see. Yet they are far from comfortable admitting that all who believe that life evolved from inert matter also have faith in a theory that cannot be proven—and is founded on far more fragile evidence than that which supports the faith of believers in a Creator.

The momentum grew in the 20th century until many Protestants and Catholics turned to theistic evolution. This is the belief that God occasionally intervenes in a largely evolutionary process through such steps as creating the first cell and then permitting the whole process of evolution to take place or by simply waiting for the first man to appear from the gradual chain of life and then providing him with a soul.
“Darwinian evolution to them,” says Dr. Hayward, “is merely the method by which God, keeping discreetly in the background, created every living thing . . . The majority of theistic evolutionists have a somewhat liberal view of the Bible, and often regard the early chapters of Genesis as a collection of Hebrew myths”.

The implications for the trustworthiness of the Bible are enormous. Is it the inspired and infallible Word of God, or are parts of it merely well-intentioned myths? Are sections of it simply inaccurate and unreliable? Were Jesus Christ and the apostles wrong when they affirmed that Adam and Eve were the first man and woman, created directly by God (Matthew 19:4; 1 Corinthians 15:45)?
Was Christ mistaken, and did He mislead others? Is 2 Timothy 3:16 true in stating that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching] . . .”? Clearly, the implications for Christian faith and teaching are profound ).
Perhaps the effects of his theory on Darwin’s own faith can illustrate the damage it can do to religious convictions. Darwin started as a theology student and a staunch respecter of the Bible. But as he formulated his theories, he lost faith in the Old Testament. Later he could no longer believe in the miracles of the New Testament.
There is great danger in following in Darwin’s footsteps. We should remember the old saying: If you teach a child that he is only an animal, don’t complain when he behaves like one. Can we not lay part of the blame for rampant immorality and crime on society’s prevalent values and beliefs—derived to a great extent from evolutionary theory?

Without the belief in a just God who will judge the actions of men, isn’t it easier for people to do as they please? Aldous Huxley, a fervent advocate of evolution, admitted why many quickly embraced evolution with such fervor: “I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning . . . The liberation we desired was . . . from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom” (Ends and Means, 1946, p. 70).

Could this kind of thinking have something to do with the immorality rampant in so many schools and universities where God is banned from the classroom and evolutionary theory is taught as fact? It’s time to gain some proper perspective. Is the Bible a reliable guide for understanding?

By accepting the revolutionary theory, people are prone to do away with religion. It results in holding the principle of atheism, arguing that there is no God. Everything happened by random chance and our existence is through lucky accidents.

In relation to natural selection, for instance, a lion which runs the fastest has greatest possibility and opportunity to survive longer, yet this does not change the species, but rather the number. It only preserves existing genetic information (DNA); it doesn't change genetic material that would allow an animal to sprout a new organ, limb or some other anatomical feature. By adopting this principle and put into practice, people are led to lead a selfish and greedy life trying to destroy other people for their own gain. It's completely contrary to the biblical principle of love which seeks to live for others' sake instead of their selfish ambition. [Love ... does not seek its own] (1 Co 13:4, 5).

"Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone. " (Leo Tolstoy: 1828-1910).

Furthermore, evolution proponents introduced the unlimited liberalism wanting to do whatever they like to do at the expense of sacrificing other people. It displays animal propensities in their life by practicing immorality, committing various kinds of vicious crimes which do harms and damages to others. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that [love does not behave rudely,... thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth] (1 Co 13: 5, 6). Therefore, evolutionary theory avails nothing but only does evil to global life. It has considerably triggered nations to rise against each other, wage numerous wars that a series of peace talks have never done any good. This is partly a logical consequence of accepting the useless theory of evolution. This is a sure fruit born by this theory.

And another thing that must not be forgotten is Darwin's concept of the "survival of the fittest." It really has had terrible impact on social and political life in real history. This "survival of the fittest outlook has been used considerably to justify genocide against ethnic groups considered inferior. During world war II the Nazis brutally exterminated more than two million people whom Hitler considered to be inferior. Can we not anticipate that genocide will gain scientific justification as long as evolution is accepted and believed? Such genocidal events could possibly happen again when so many people in this world have adopted a belief in moral relativism and survival of the fittest perspective.

Our Real Genealogy

It has been argued that evolutionary approach has failed to answer one of the most fundamental questions of where we came from. All the assertions made by ardent advocates of the evolutionary theory can never be adduced, groundless, deceptive sophistry, and fatally flawed. They can never defend their weak position at the fact that as far as natural laws are concerned, all events have preceding causes. There is no smoke without fire. All effects have causes. Even if they are plainly wrong, they stubbornly insist on their erroneous belief in the abiogenesis, a fatally flawed hypothesis that life can come into being from nonliving materials. They want to say that they were born without their physical parents. They mean to say that they were born of some lifeless stones.

Then, if evolution cannot help us find out the real answer to our real genealogy, what source do we have to turn to in order to find the answer? I have said previously that the Bible held in the hands of millions of Christians all over the world is the only authoritative source, infallible, divine inspiration given directly by God for our true guide. Nothing else. Only on Bible can we rely and upon it alone can we depend. Any science that conflicts the biblical principle is the false science. True science must be based on and in accordance with the Bible as the underlying principle of truth, the moral standards of truth.

Well, let's now come directly to the true science to learn much more about our real genealogy, in order to prove that we human beings are not the descendants of apes, but rather the descendants of God.

First I have to clarify that our universe and all that it harbors is the perfect product of the Great Designer, the Creator God. Therefore, the very first verse of the first chapter of the first book in the Old Testament of the Bible plainly reveals that God created all things. [In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth] (Gen 1:1). It's very clear and an indisputable fact that even little children can easily understand. For six days God performed His wonderful work of creation, and He rested on the seventh day, Sabbath day. Again, David the Psalmist was inspired to proclaim, [By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth; ... You (God) who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever] (Ps 33:6; 104:5).

On the sixth day, as His pinnacle creative work, He made us into being. [Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; ... So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them] (Gen 1:26, 27). ["Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising] (Act 17:29). It clearly says here that we are the offspring of God, not of apes.

In order to prove further, let's look at Jesus' genealogy. [Now Jesus Himself ... being the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son fo Matthat, ... the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God] (Luke 3:23-38). Whose son is Jesus, God's son. Just as Jesus, our eternal paragon, is God's son, we also are God's children, God's sons and daughters.

If we paraphrase the above verses, it goes like this: [Jesus' father is Joseph, whose father is Heli, whose father is Matthat, ... whose father is Seth, whose father is Adam, whose father is God]. Yes, it's clearer here that God is Jesus' father. He is our Father, Heavenly Father. God and human beings share a unique father-son relationship.

Beloved readers, which case do you find more grateful for; the indisputable, candid, plain testimony from the inspired biblical account directly given by God, our Heavenly Parent, that says, we are the offspring of God, or the groundless sophistry, irrational myth, unsupported fairy tale of the theory of evolution devised by imperfect human beings, that says we are the descendants of apes?

Which one do you believe? Which side will you take? Does it really matter what you believe? The choice is yours. It goes without saying that what we believe will undoubtedly shape our behavior; it plays a significant role in molding our character, whether good or evil. Those who believe that they are dogs will automatically act like dogs, but those who believe in the word of God that they are God's children will automatically act like God's children having the quality of love, because God's life is love. It is to the Bible that we should turn for our moral standards, to unearth our only true source of salvation and eternal life. There is none like the Bible. NM.