God Has Put Eternity In Our Hearts

Yesterday I opened up—again—the question of parallel universes by suggesting that the term heaven or the heavens may be a reference to that concept. I did suggest that we who believe in the authority of Holy Scriptures as our Creator's revelation of Himself and His plans for His creation must approach these discussions with caution, especially since scientists are not always objective. Like the rest of us, they bring with them assumptions not supported by objective studies and mathematics.

In yesterday's blog I made the following statement: 

Scientific studies during the past century have radically broadened our concepts of the universe or universes. So much, so very, very much remains unknown. We have only to read books like The Hidden Reality—Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene to realize how little we know and how vast creation may be.

I referred to Greene, because I've only now begun to read his book (listen to the audio version). Early in his book he acknowledges that some attempt to explain life as arising from some soul, spirit, etc. outside creation, but he personally doubts it. Then he proceeds to outline one theory that our universe is but one of an infinite number of universes stretching on forever!  In that scenario, our universe, our world and each one of us is repeated endlessly in an infinite number of other universes! 

Whoa horses! Greene has suddenly reduced everything to . . . a meaningless infinity! There is no beginning, even as there is no ending. And there is no room in that model (at least as presented in the first two chapters of his book) for a Creator. You and I are not unique creations. We are simply an assemblage of matter, repeated endlessly in an endless array of worlds in an infinite number of parallel universes. Life is a matter of chance and it has no meaning and no purpose. It is nothing but a cold assembly of matter and energy. That's all you are. That's all I am, along with the infinite other me's in those infinite other universes. 

And all along I thought only GOD was infinite and without beginning or ending! That's what I read in His revelation. 

• In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. - Gen 1:1 ESV
• Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. - Pro 8:23 ESV
• He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. - Ecc 3:11 ESV
• He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, - Mat 19:4 ESV
• But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' - Mar 10:6 ESV
• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. - Jhn 1:1-2 ESV

The Hebrew word for beginning, Re'shiyth, is used elsewhere to speak about the firstborn, the first fruits in the harvest, the first fruits offered in the temple (i.e. Gen. 49:3; Exod. 23:19, etc.). 

The Proverbs passage refers to R'osh, often translated as head. As in Genesis, it implies a beginning. 

In Ecclesiastes Solomon tells us that God has put eternity into our hearts. Eternity or 'Owlam points to undefined time with an unknown beginning or ending. We know about time and learn here the wonder that everything is beautiful in its time. And beyond time we are intrigued by eternity. What is it? What does it mean? However, there is a darkness about 'Owlam. We will never be able to plumb the depths of it. Ed Welch puts it this way:

While God has created all the “times” of life (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8), each appropriate in its time (v.10), He has obscured humanity’s knowledge, placing darkness in their hearts, so that they cannot discover His divine program (v.11). But why? Because God wants humanity to enjoy the work He has given them (vv.12-13), to trust in His sovereignty and fear Him (v.14). (Gault p.57)

Focus on your task at hand; trust God for the future. That would be the message of the verse, and it fits the message of the larger book. It is simple and wise advice.

In the Gospels we read about the Lord Jesus referring to the beginning of creation. The Greek word there is archē, a word that absolutely speaks about the beginning of all things, again emphasizing that only God is eternal. Jesus, who is God, was in the beginning. Again, only God is eternal. Everything else has its source in Him. Without Him nothing exists. The very idea of an infinite and endless number of universes fights against that revelation. 

Without faith brilliant scientists are ready to posit an infinite number of universes, visible or invisible, yet theoretically available to math, research and science. In faith we turn to the God who called us and our earth and the heavens (whatever that implies) into being. In faith we acknowledge that it all has its beginning in Him. So the Hebrews letter states, 

By faith we understand that the worlds (aions) were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. - Hebr 11:3 NKJV

How To Deal With Today's Anxiety

I have this habit of scratching when I'm nervous or afraid. Often I don't even realize that I'm doing it until I notice some blotches on my skin. Others I know start to stutter or blink their eyes rapidly or twitch their mouth. We all manifest anxiety or fear one way or another. In the most extreme situations people become hypochondriacs.

For hypochondriacs everyday functions become obsessions. They misinterpret normal bodily functions. A rapid heart rate is probably a heart attack. Sweating must mean kidney failure. Hunger pangs and fatigue obviously mean the onset of some form of cancer. Surely I must quickly get to the emergency room or at least obtain another doctor's appointment today, tomorrow at the very latest.

Sometimes I wonder if Psalm writer David was not a bit of a hypochondriac. Take Psalm 39:1-13 for instance. He starts out by talking to himself. He is absolutely going to restrain himself before those total idiots he has to work with. He suspects they're out to get him one way or another. He gets so troubled by this that he starts burning up inside. This is bad, really bad.

But then he shifts and I realize these are not the words of a hypochondriac. These are the words of a devout man troubled not merely by what men say or think, but about the brevity of life. I can relate directly to that. He is aware that he can measure his days with a few handbreadths. Life is but a mere breath, a shadow. Why is that? Why do we all die? Why do we even concern ourselves about this?

Many years ago I distinctly recall stumbling across a passage from King Solomon's disturbing writings. He wrote, "God has made everything beautiful in its time." That, I thought, is true. We can sing about that. But then he went on, "Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

How easy it would be for David, Solomon and me if we were like dogs. Mine in particular is quite incapable of worrying about the brevity of his life. He has a problem with seizures every couple months. The vet says he can do little about that problem other than to dumb him down with some drugs. Neither my pet nor I want that, so when a seizure comes I hold him tight and we tremble through it together. After its over, he bounces up in about an hour and is ready to move on the same as always. He is not capable of all the fretting and fussing the two kings and I go through.

But we're not dogs. We are the cap of God's creation, bearing His very image within, made by Him for eternity. We can do nothing other than to beg our Creator, "look away from me" (Psalm 39:13). Please, God, do not look me in the eye and tell me again how I have messed up, failed and deserve to be utterly forsaken by You—forever! Help me before I depart and am no more.

And then I hear another cry from a direct descendant of King David. I see Him hanging on a Roman cross, crying out in Syro-Chaldaic, his native tongue, the words of another of David's psalms (Psalm 22:1), "Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?" Matthew interprets the strange words, "That is, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

As I hear those words my hypochondria begins to dissipate like morning fog. I realize again that He hung there so I can begin this day with a smile on my face. I am forgiven. My God is my heavenly Father who, for Christ's sake, has forgiven me. And when I depart, I will not cease to be, but I will dwell in the Father's house and among His children forever.