God is the great communicator. The very first chapter of Genesis records no fewer than ten times that "God said…," revealing the Creator's heart to the world and its inhabitants. In Genesis 1:22-30, we read of God's love and care for what He made:
- God pronounced abundant blessings upon His creation.
- God decreed satisfying purposes for His creation.
- God established faithful provisions for His creation.
Throughout the Bible we see myriad instances where God communicates to individuals, to animals, and even to the inanimate objects of the world He made. The Bible itself is a written account of God's communication to man, revealing His plan for man's life, redemption, and eternal destiny. Often in the Scriptures, God uses the wonders of creation to demonstrate His power or protection or provision, and to reveal His awesome character. Think of the Flood. The parting of the Red Sea. The manna from heaven. The innumerable stars in the night sky. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1).
Exemplifying Passionate Communication
During the past 50 years, many have stated that ICR's founder, Dr. Henry Morris, was a superb communicator and a gifted teacher. His knowledgeable and articulate manner of expressing truth touched millions around the world with the message of creation. And though now departed, he still speaks.
What made Henry Morris so effective in communication? His intellect? Certainly this contributed to his ability to understand and convey the facts of science and the Bible. His gift of teaching? There is no doubt that he possessed a God-given gift of instruction.
But there was something else that made Dr. Morris a gifted teacher: his unashamed passion for extolling the Creator, for communicating the wonders of God's creation. Henry Morris loved God, and when he first became convinced of the veracity of Scripture, even in the matters of science, he could no longer remain silent.
From his earliest teaching on creation and the flood of Noah, culminating in the seminal work The Genesis Flood in 1961, his commitment to lift high the Creator consumed his soul, his life, and his work.
Rather than shrinking in the face of criticism and ridicule from his fellow scientists, who would have preferred he hold his tongue regarding "creation" science, Henry Morris moved forward with compelling evidence and persuasive teaching through books and lectures. When others hid in the shadows, not willing to jeopardize their names and reputations in academia, Henry Morris went public all the more.
And when he founded the Institute for Creation Research in 1970, he intended the research, education, and communication missions of the organization to remain biblically-founded. That legacy and commitment remain true today.
What does it mean to communicate the wonders of God's creation? Read what Dr. Henry Morris and others at ICR have said about the privilege of sharing the message of the Creator with the world.
Dr. Henry M. Morris, Founder and President Emeritus
We have been urging people to get back to Genesis as the foundation of their Christian faith and life ever since we started... ICR way back in 1970.
In fact, long before that! My first book, written almost fifty years ago, stressed the wonderful truth of creation and the harmful fallacy of evolution in much the same way that ICR speakers and writers are doing today. This is a timeless message, needed increasingly as time goes on.
...Many writers have attributed the beginnings of the modern revival of scientific Biblical creationism to the catalytic effects of our book, The Genesis Flood, published in 1961. If this is true, I believe the reason for the book's effectiveness was our frank acceptance of the Genesis record…as absolutely and literally true, showing that Genesis also provided a better basis for understanding the scientific data concerning primeval history than any evolutionary model could ever do.1
Dr. Duane Gish, Sr. Vice President Emeritus
In Romans 1:20 we read, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Thus as I lectured throughout the United States and many other countries, often debating leading evolutionists, I knew that I was communicating the magnificent wonders of God's creation to those who had ears to hear. The rest--those who refused to believe--are simply left "without excuse."
Dr. Henry M. Morris III, Chief Executive Officer
The everlasting gospel itself is focused to "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Revelation 14:7). Therefore, it is not possible to separate the doctrine of creation from the doctrine of salvation. Only the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator could accomplish the work of redemption on Calvary, executed in created time and space, implementing an eternal reconciliation of all things to the immutable will and purpose of the Creator-Redeemer.
The written Word reveals that the creation provides evidence for the nature of the Creator (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:18-20). Therefore, it necessarily follows that the inextricably-bound attributes of the Father, Son, and Spirit cannot be in conflict with the message of the created things. Nor can the message of the Gospel be conflicted with or by the message in the creation.
We then who have been given the high privilege of being "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20) must surely be careful that our teachings about the Creation, the Dominion Mandate, the Fall of Man, and the Plan of Redemption be as accurate as our human minds can portray, guided by and submitted to the revealed words of our Creator.
Dr. John D. Morris, President
As a trained scientist, I love to study and teach about the world around us. It contains so many extraordinary things, it is a joy to teach and instill in others the same sense of awe and wonder. But as a Christian and creationist, there is so much more to be realized. Only through the lens of Scripture can we fully appreciate what we see. Recognizing that God has displayed His creative handiwork in creation, especially in living things, we can better grasp biological truth and interact with His majesty. Likewise, when we come to grips with the fact that God has judged the world for its rebellion, we can finally understand geology, and see the impact of the great Flood of Noah's day.
As a Christian trained in science, it gives me the greatest joy to demonstrate how the truth of God's Word is evident in His creation. I love to champion His Word and lead others to the certain knowledge that His message to us is fully trustworthy. A different but equal joy is seeing God overcome obstacles to salvation in the heart of an honest seeker through the teaching of creation, and seeing their doubts melt away.
This month, as you consider the wonders of God's creation, take time to ask yourself: How can God use me to communicate this message to those around me? Communication takes many forms, but all start with a passionate commitment to extol God our Creator. Make that your prayer and your service.
In upcoming issues of Acts & Facts, look for specific information on how you can become a Creation Advocate, a doer of the Word and not just a hearer. Becoming an advocate for the Creator is a personal ministry of service and worship on behalf of God. Perhaps you can teach a class at church on Genesis 1 or a group of homeschoolers about the awesome evidence of God's power as seen in the flood of Noah. Why not check out your child's biology textbook? Does it teach that evolution is an indisputable fact? Can you supply your child's teacher with appropriate creation science literature?
In this issue of Acts & Facts, we are providing our Spring Resource Guide. Feel free to pull that out and use it to aid you in your own quest to study, teach, and communicate the wonders of God's creation.
Reference
1. Morris, H. 1994. Beginning at Genesis. Acts & Facts. 23 (2).
* Mr. Ford is Executive Editor.
Cite this article: Ford, L. 2008. Communicating the Wonders of God's Creation. Acts & Facts. 37 (5): 4.
