One of the predominant ideas in western society is the perspective we live in a closed, mechanistic universe. This notion argues there is no hope for any intrusion from any outside force or source of power. The universe in general, and life on Earth in particular, operates like a machine.
“The doctrine of providence, one of the most Christian doctrines, has for many reasons become eclipsed and obscured. In earlier generations, Christian were constantly aware of divine providence. They were so immersed in providence that Providence became a name for God,” states Dr. R. c. Sproul.
Consider these three statements by 18th century United States President George Washington.
“The Man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf.” —Washington’s letter to Samuel Langdon, September 28, 1789
“Glorious indeed has been our Contest: glorious, if we consider the Prize for which we have contended, and glorious in its Issue; but in the midst of our Joys, I hope we shall not forget that, to divine Providence is to be ascribed the Glory and the Praise.” —Letter to Reverend John Rodgers, June 11, 1783
“I flatter myself that a superintending Providence is ordering everything for the best, and that, in due time, all will end well.” —Letter to Landon Carter regarding American patriot’s prisoners in the North, October 27, 1777
Compare Washington’s thoughts to those of atheistic astronomer, professor and author Carl Sagan.
“The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us — there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.” ― Cosmos
“Some people think God is an outsized, light-skinned male with a long white beard, sitting on a throne somewhere up there in the sky, busily tallying the fall of every sparrow. Others—for example Baruch Spinoza and Albert Einstein—considered God to be essentially the sum total of the physical laws which describe the universe. I do not know of any compelling evidence for anthropomorphic patriarchs controlling human destiny from some hidden celestial vantage point, but it would be madness to deny the existence of physical laws.” — Broca’s Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science
“An atheist is someone who is certain that God does not exist, someone who has compelling evidence against the existence of God. I know of no such compelling evidence. Because God can be relegated to remote times and places and to ultimate causes, we would have to know a great deal more about the universe than we do now to be sure that no such God exists. To be certain of the existence of God and to be certain of the nonexistence of God seem to me to be the confident extremes in a subject so riddled with doubt and uncertainty as to inspire very little confidence indeed.” – Conversations with Carl Sagan
However, one of the basic tenants from Scripture is God is Creator (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3). He reveals Himself in the world and in His Word (Psalm 19).
Romans 1:18–21 (ESV) says, “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Scripture also teaches what God creates, He sustains and governs. He is not distant. He is near, He is involved and He cares.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV)
To hold together (συνίστημι; synistemi) means to commend or consist. In other words, God established and comes alongside His creation. It is a past completed action with continuing results. The LORD does not forsake what He created.
The writer of Hebrews says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:1–3a (ESV)
To uphold (φέρω; phero) means to presently and actively carry or bear with endurance. God consistently upholds the universe the word of His power.
“Once we understand that God is the all-powerful Creator, it seems reasonable to conclude that He also preserves and governs everything in the universe as well. Though the term providence is not found in Scripture, it has been traditionally used to summarize God’s ongoing relationship to His creation. When we accept the biblical doctrine of providence, we avoid four common errors in thinking about God’s relationship to creation,” explains Dr. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology.
“The biblical doctrine is not deism (which teaches that God created the world and then essentially abandoned it), nor pantheism (which teaches that the creation does not have a real, distinct existence in itself, but is only part of God), but providence which teaches that though God is actively related to and involved in the creation at each moment, creation is distinct from him. Moreover, the biblical doctrine does not teach that events in creation are determined by chance (or randomness), nor are they determined by impersonal fate (or determinism), but by God, who is the personal yet infinitely powerful Creator and Lord.”
“We may define God’s providence as follows: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes,” concludes Dr. Grudem.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 