Can we find God through life?

CHARLES DARWIN'S On the Origin of Species was first published 150 years ago next Tuesday (24 November). This significant anniversary falls in the same year as the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and is leading to a renewed interest in the scientist and his theories.

Television documentaries, books and a feature film have been released, adding more vigour to the debate between evolution and creationism. People have been challenged to think about how life began.

In May telegraph.co.uk carried a report, headlined: ‘Mystery of how life on Earth began solved by British scientists'. According to the article, scientists at Manchester University solved the mystery by studying the molecule that is thought to have existed when the planet was devoid of life billions of years ago.

The scientists claim to have discovered the mechanism that led to the first living, breathing creatures - ‘a process attributed by generations of evolutionary theorists, such as Charles Darwin, to an unexplained primordial soup,' says the article.

While the arguments about how life began are likely to continue, the more important question is not about the origin of life but its purpose.

The writers of the Book of Psalms searched for the purpose of life as well as its origins. Their writings recognise that the secrets of life are far beyond our limited understanding: ‘Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain' (Psalm 139:6 New International Version).

The closest we get to understanding life and finding God in it is to realise how he is active in every sphere of human existence. ‘My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be' (139:15, 16).

If we want to look for the purpose and meaning of life the best place to start is with the Creator. God created all life - including us - with a plan in mind. Life's meaning comes when we discover what God has in mind for us.

TSA UK War Cry 21 November 2009