In a recent news release, Professor Stephen Hawking, the celebrated UK physicist, who has motor neurone disease, will complete his last day as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Cambridge University, on 30 September. He will take on a new role as director of research.The Lucasian Professorship was established in 1663 and previous holders have included Isaac Newton.
In his 1988 bestseller, “A Brief History of Time”, Prof Hawking appeared to accept the role of God in the creation of the Universe.
"If we discover a complete theory, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we should know the mind of God," he said.
He had previously argued that belief in a creator was not incompatible with science but in a new book, he concludes the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics.
“The Grand Design”, part serialised in the Times, says there is no need to invoke God to set the Universe going.
“The Universe can create itself from nothing”, says Prof Hawking. “There is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe and spontaneous creation is the reason there is something," he concluded.
Britain's most famous physicist sets out to contest Sir Isaac Newton's belief that the universe must have been designed by God as it could not have sprung out of
chaos.Citing the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, Prof Hawking said: "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions - the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass - far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings."
He adds: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. It is not necessary to invoke
God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."This change of view about God’s act of creation by a prominent scientist is regrettable. But again each of us has to decide for himself or herself what to believe.
For me, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."………You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning — though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and
withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom……May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands. [Ps 90:1-17 NIV]Although we are sinners who deserve death in the hell of fire, God has shown us His mercy and His grace. “Come now, let us reason together, "says the LORD."Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her — but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.” [Isa 1:18-28 NIV]. Let us take note of God’s warning and rebuke.
Do not remain stubborn. The Lord’s wedding banquet is being prepared. Let us accept the invitation gladly without delay. Yes, “…..the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' "But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests………."For many are invited, but few are chosen." [Matt 22:1-14 NIV]
Be sure to know that “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways……For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it. [Prov 2:11-22 NIV]
Amen & amen.
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