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Cynthia Clayton The title for Cynthia's Corner

THE WEBB TELESCOPE AND GOD

I am not a scientist; far from it! But since marrying John, I have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how he makes science understandable and practical for all ages, intellects, and interests. His ministry about science and faith not only being compatible but mutually beneficial has helped people of all ages and backgrounds come to a better understanding of who and what God is.

So what does the Webb Telescope tell us about creation and God? John tells me the Webb Telescope can see back in time some 13 billion years because of how long it takes light to travel from the farthest stars to us. That is mind-blowing to me! But it is also evidence of God's existence. Why? Because the Webb Telescope can see the beginning of the cosmos, the beginning of time. That means the creation had a beginning. Science has proven what the Bible states in Genesis 1:1. We also know the beginning was caused, since any beginning must have a cause. Since life requires too many properties to happen by chance, that cause must have wisdom and design ability. It is easy to see the absurdity of chance being the cause. The universe, our planet, and life are all too complex to have happened by chance!

All a non-science person has to know is that this powerful telescope lets us see farther into space than ever before. We are witnessing the processes God has used to produce stars, galaxies, and other planets. We are coming to understand the cosmic forces involved in creation. These discoveries add more weight to the fact that there was a beginning to the cosmos. The Bible also tells us what the source of that beginning was. Science is about discovering what God has done to create “the heavens and the earth” and understanding how he did it.

Proverbs 8:22 tells us that God possessed wisdom in all he did in the creation. We do not need to understand God's processes to look through our telescopes and microscopes and be amazed by the very big and the very small. Truly, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” (Psalm 19:1–2).

— Cynthia Clayton

Picture credit:
© Julie Marcussen

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.