I was a scientifically oriented, self-proclaimed intellectual for most of my life. One thing I had to my credit was enough intellectual integrity to realize that, if prevailing scientific opinion regarding origins was true, then the Bible was a dubious and ignoble work of fancy. By no means could it be considered a divine oracle by which to determine the course of one’s destiny. Because I believed its foundation to be a whimsical illusion, I rejected the entire structure of the Christian faith.
The course of my life took an entirely unexpected turn a few years ago. As the result of the concerted efforts of a very dear friend, I was coerced into attending my first “Back to Genesis“1 seminar in Castro Valley, California. I cannot describe the thoughts and feelings that rushed throughout my entire soul as truths that seem now obvious to me were unfolded. All I can say is that at one point I began to wonder if anyone noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks. It was not the dry data which stirred me to such a display, but their implications.
My rejection of God had been predicated on the fallacy of Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”). If it were possible that the creation account were true, then God was real and I was in trouble! Strangely enough, however, my most intense emotion at that moment was not the fear of imminent Divine retaliation, but a deep sense of agony at having for so long spat in the face of the loving God who created me. A few weeks later, I dedicated my life to the Lord.
1 Genesis is the first book of the Bible and describes how God created the earth.
From Institute for Creation Research, June 1994 newsletter, ©1994. Used with permission.
