Out of the Lab Donald S. Robertson, Ph.D. Chairman, Dept, of Science, Biola Bible College
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The Phenomenon o f Time
I n this column we have considered many of the facets of creation. However, there is one aspect of cre ation which we have not discussed before. This is the phenomenon of time. One does not usually think of time as being created. This is prob ably because the term creation is usually reserved for the physical things of this universe—the things we can see and touch. However, if one believes- that the universe had a beginning (was cre ated) then he must, if he stops to think about it, hold that time was created along with the physical uni verse. For before we can have time we must have a clock. It does not necessarily have to be the 12-hour clock with which we are so familiar. There are many other kinds of clocks. The falling of sand in an hourglass, the rotation of the earth, its path around the sun, the disintegration of r ad i o a c t i v e materials—these and many other phenomena can act as clocks. Any phen omena that involve change can be used to demonstrate the passage of time. In fact, the uni verse itself can be considered as just one big clock. For according to the second law of thermodynamics the universe is moving toward greater randomness. The degree of random ness has been used by some to date the creation of the universe, in other words, to tell us what time it is with respect to creation. Now, since if there was no matter (including the matter of oneself) with its associated change there would be no time, it seems reason able to conclude that time was a part of creation. The Scriptures seem to
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agree with this position. For they open with the statement, “ In the beginning . . (in other words, when the clock was first started or when time began) . . God created the heavens and the earth.” If this is true it means that before the physical universe was created time did not exist. Now since God existed before the universe with its associated time phe nomena was created, it would mean that God is not involved in the time process. This is certainly taught by Scripture. The very terms that God uses in talking about Himself are chosen to imply a timelessness to God. Exodus 3:14—“ . . . I AM THAT I AM . . . .” John 5:58— “ . '. . Before Abraham was, I am.” John 17:5— “ And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Hebrews 13:8— “ Je sus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” and Revelation 1:4—•“ . . . and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come . . . .” Thus God is not limited by time. To Him yesterday, today and tomor row are all the same. No wonder He can say that a thousand years are as one day (2 Pet. 3:8). To Him every moment of time is now. This is a concept that our minds which are so bound up in time cannot compre hend. However, there will be a day when those who have put their faith in the “ Lamb slain from the founda tion of the world” (Rev. 13:8) will understand it better. For to them the end of time will be merely the introduction to eternal life. “ . . . so shall we ever be with the Lord.” END.
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Arise, begin this instant, and say, N ow is the time to be doing, now is the time to be striving, now is the time to amend. — Thomas a Kempis
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