The First Order

Strong and Courageous

 So what does the first order mean? For many of us, the idea that comes to mind is that the first order is the evil empire from the Star Wars movies. While that is entertaining, it is not where I would like to go today. The first order that I am describing is looking at the idea of big questions. A first order question is one that establishes a firm foundation of thought processes. In essence, it helps to form a certain world-view.

Today I would like to look at the first order question of how did the universe come into existence?  A very big question in deed! The answer to this question is of primary importance to how you look at the world, in essence your world-view. Either there is a God who created the universe or somehow by random chance the cosmos created itself. Those are the two main possibilities.

With either choice that you make, there are challenges and difficulties of how you build your house on that foundation. However, it is the foundation that provides the underlying support for that building. Everything that you build rests upon the base, therefore it is extremely important, primarily of the first order of importance.

For example, one may hold the view that evolution proves that God does not exist. However, if the evidence points to the source of the origin of the universe as requiring a universe maker, then evolution would be a secondary question since if would have to occur later in time. The reasoning for establishing a primary or first order question, helps to prioritize what makes the most rational sense.

So, if you believe that there is no creator of our universe in the beginning, your foundation is in serious trouble, no matter how sophisticated your house is constructed. The reason your foundation is crumbling is the that probability that the universe created itself without design is 1x10 to exponentially large  numbers far too big for you to count! 

That is why the Bible says, “The fool says (in his heart) there is no God.”  A person may be very intelligent (which many atheists are), however you can be both smart and still be foolish concerning this big first order question. This atheistic worldview is akin to the story of the Emperor’s new clothes. You know the story of the Emperor being duped by the tailors into thinking he was wearing a glorious garment, when in fact he was wearing nothing at all.

This content of belief in a Grand designer being the cause of our universe will not take a person all the way to Christianity; however, it will provide a solid starting point of discovery. A phenomenal journey awaits you if you are willing to go where the evidence leads you.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
 and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
 Day to day pours out speech,
 and night to night reveals knowledge.
 There is no speech, nor are there words,
 whose voice is not heard.
 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
 and their words to the end of the world.

(Psalms 19:1-4 esv)