What do scientists say about God?
I would like to quote from the books of two well-known scientists who were both famous “Theoretical Physicists” in their day. The first one is Stephen Hawking who died two years ago in March of 2018. Shortly before his death he wrote a book and one of his final conclusions regarding creation and the existence of God was stated in these words: “I think the universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science. If you accept, as I do, that the laws of nature are fixed, then it doesn’t take long to ask: What role is there for God.” Mr. Hawking was undoubtedly a brilliant man, but his “wisdom in science” led him to believe “There is no God.” What does the Bible say about such men? “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1). This is God’s conclusion of Stephen Hawking and his “supposed wisdom” that led to his rejection of God.
Now let’s read a statement made by Isaac Newton who died in March of 1727. Here is his conclusion regarding creation and the existence of God: “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being…This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all…The Supreme God is a Being eternal, infinite, absolutely perfect.” Like Mr. Hawking, Isaac Newton had a brilliant mind. He is the scientist who gave us “The Law of Gravity” in his landmark work the “Principia,” which also featured his three laws of motion. Yet his “wisdom of science” did not prevent him from accepting God as the Supreme Being and Creator of the universe. As we see in his statement above, he attributed every created part of the universe to God and thus “he was no fool!”
What is it that made these two eminent scientists reach such vastly different conclusions? In a word, one rejected the Bible as the infallible and inerrant Word of God and the other embraced it wholeheartedly. Mr. Newton not only believed the Bible was the Word of God, but he studied it intensely and wrote many theological works on it. He saw the Bible was “the wisdom of God” and he saw that “true science” does NOT conflict with God’s truth. Mr. Hawking was an avowed ATHEIST who debated those who believed in the Bible. He boldly said, “There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works. We are each free to believe what we want, and it is my view that the simplest explanation is there is no God. No one created the universe, and no one directs our fate. There is probably no heaven, and no afterlife either. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful.” That one could spend a lifetime admiring and exploring the universe and then conclude such things is tragic beyond belief. Yet Mr. Newton was able to see the “fingerprints of God” throughout the universe and he was able to give all the glory to Him.
Now we must ask, “How can this be true? How can two men with brilliant minds in the same field of science have been so diametrically opposed in their view of the Bible?” The answer is quite simple, one trusted in “the wisdom of God” and the other in “the wisdom of men.” We read of these two kinds of wisdom in 1st Corinthians 1:18-24: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the WISDOM OF THE WISE, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD? For since, in THE WISDOM OF GOD, the WORLD THROUGH WISDOM KNEW NOT GOD, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and THE WISDOM OF GOD.” It is man’s rejection of the wisdom of the WRITTEN WORD (the Bible) and the LIVING WORD (Christ) that leaves them trusting in their own SUPPOSED WISDOM.
Mr. Hawking is but one example of thousands of scientists who have done this very thing, and because they have chosen THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD instead of THE WISDOM OF GOD, their “supposed wisdom” will one day be destroyed; that is, God will expose their wisdom for what it really is, the “foolishness of man’s fertile imagination and sinful reasoning.” But thank God Mr. Newton is an example of thousands of scientists who have humbly bowed before God and accepted His Word as the WISDOM OF GOD. Those who are in that blessed company will enjoy eternal bliss in heaven with God because of their acceptance of Christ and the work He accomplished on the cross for them (see Luke 23:39-43; Philippians 1:21-23; 1st Peter 1:3-4). Those who are in the deplorable company of Mr. Hawking will suffer untold misery in the lake of fire (see Matthew 7:13; 10:28; John 8:24; and Revelation 20:11-15). (418.5) (DO)