Russ Miller
The seeker wonders, “How can there be a loving Creator when we live in a world full of death
and suffering?” The scoffer sneers, “The death all around us proves there is no loving God!”
The biblical answers, as well as the foundation for the Gospel message, are provided in the
early chapters of the book of Genesis.
In Genesis 1:31 we learn that our righteous Creator deemed His finished creation to be very
good. Since death is an enemy to God’s creation (1 Cor 15:26) we know death was not a
part of God’s very good creation. So why is the world filled with death, evil and suffering
today? The answer is provided in Genesis 3 where we are told of Adam’s original sin and two
key results of the Fall of Man.
First, Adam’s sin separated us from our loving Creator. This required that we be redeemed
with God. In fact, the first promise of our redeeming Savior is found in Genesis 3:15 where
we’re told the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the serpent. Since the seed comes
from the man, God is telling us that our redeeming Savior would be born of a virgin. Amazing!
Second, Adam’s first sin corrupted God’s creation, allowing death and suffering to enter. This
is the biblical answer to why the world is full of death and suffering today.
As scoffers understand, recently invented (1800-1950) old earth beliefs place death before
Adam, eliminating that an original sin corrupted a perfect world. Frank Zindler, the editor of
American Atheist, correctly noted in 1996 that if there never was an original sin, there is no
need of salvation. Why is that so?
Because, again, the biblical accounts hold that it was Adam’s original sin that brought death
into a perfect creation, separating us from God while requiring our redemption with Him
through Jesus. If there was never an original sin separating mankind from God there is no
need of redemption with Him.
Death-before-Adam beliefs also undermine people’s perception of the authority of God’s
Word and the biblical response to why there is death in God’s creation.
Thus, from a Christian perspective, death cannot precede Adam. Nor did it!
In Genesis 6 we learn man’s sin was great in the earth, so the Lord judged mankind with a
flood that covered all the high hills under heaven (Gen 7:19). This was a lynchpin event!
Death-before-Adam (old-earth) beliefs are based on earth’s rock layers (layers laid down by
water) having formed over long ages of time. God’s worldwide deluge explains the strata’s
rapid formation, eroding death-before-Adam beliefs!
My advice is that we put our faith in the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us
(John 1), our Creator and redeeming Savior, Lord Jesus the Christ.
Love your show and web site. I have learned a lot. Wonder if you will be exploring Neanderthal and Denisovian creatures. I hesitate to call them man since latest DNA research identifies them as a separate species. Bones discovered do not indicate they were Giants so where do they fit? One good thing is the Neanderthal is no longer considered our ancestor on that rediculous chart of evolution. However most Europeans have Neanderthal DNA indicating cross breeding. Would love to see this subject tackled on your show.
Keep up the great work. God bless you.