Genesis Lecture 38 (Fourth day of the Creation 3)
Bible passage: Genesis 1:14-19
“14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
This is the 38th Lecture on Genesis. I'll continue to explain the 4th day of the Creation from the last lecture. God created the sun, the moon, and stars on the 4th day.
I said that it means God created our galaxy to which the earth and the Solar system belong. The stars other than the stars in our galaxy had already existed in the original space, and God created the earth before the 6 Days of Creation. When God created the sun, the moon, and stars, the standard of their location and size was this earth. It is a fact that the earth revolves around the sun, but it was not the sun but the earth that was created first. God created the sun, the moon, and stars in appropriate sizes, and then placed them in the appropriate locations from the earth. By the way, our galaxy is 100,000 light years in diameter. In other words, to travel from this end of our galaxy to the other end, it takes 100,000 years at the speed of light.
Our Solar System is located at a distance of 30,000 light years from the center of this galaxy. Therefore, (if you look at the screen) from the Solar System to the left end of our galaxy is 20,000 lights years, and to the right end is 80,000 light years. The Milky Way that you see in the night sky is a part of our galaxy. It looks long since we on the earth are looking at the direction of the center of our galaxy which has the shape of a Frisbee. God created all these stars of our galaxy on the 4th day. Now, could these newly created stars be seen from the earth right away, or not? Those who understand the speed of light may think these stars could not have been seen right away.
The speed of light is 300,000 kilometers per second, which means it can circle the earth 7 and half times in a second. It takes about 8 minute and 19 seconds for the actual sunlight that you receive everyday to reach the earth. Therefore, the sun that you see from the earth is actually the sunlight which was emitted 8 minutes 19 seconds ago. Within this limit of knowledge, you may come to a conclusion that the stars which were created on the 4th day couldn't be observed from the earth. Theoretically, after the stars were created on the 4th day, you could have seen only the moon and a couple of planets of the Solar System that shine by reflecting the sunlight. In astronomical terms, a celestial body that shines by itself is called a star, and it is said that the nearest star from the earth except the sun is 4.22 light years away.
Therefore, even if all the stars of our galaxy were created on the 4th day, it would have taken at least 4 years to be able to spot a self luminous star in the night sky. Now, I said early that the one end of our galaxy is 80,000 light years away from the earth, and the other end is 20,000 light years away. Therefore, to be able to see the whole Milky Way as you can now, it should have taken 80,000 years from the 4th day of the creation. Within the limits of scientific knowledge of the world, you cannot but think in this way. By the way, some the creationist scientists who believe in creation by God misunderstand the Bible, and insist on "Young Earth Theory," that is "the earth is only 6,000 years old." They began counting the years of the earth's age with the Six Day Creation.
In addition, they believe that all the stars in the first heaven were created on the 4th day. They believe that not only the stars in our galaxy, but also all the stars in the entire universe were created on the 4th day. This "Young Earth Theory" itself has become the source of arguments among the creationist scientists. Now, we have the answer that can clearly solve and explain closeness of the creationism scientists and also the suspicion of other scientists of the world. First of all, I said that the stars outside of our galaxy have existed even before the beginning, from the day of the original space. The ages before the beginning are such long long years that go beyond your imagination. Therefore, it has been observed until today that the farthest star from the earth is 13.1 billion light years away, and it is surely possible to explain it. The age of the earth is not 6,000 years. The earth was already created even before the 6 Days of Creation, and even after the 6 Days of Creation, much more than 6,000 years have passed.
The age of 6,000 years is the age from the moment when Adam and Eve were driven out to the earth from the Garden of Eden. Even though Adam and Eve were created on the earth, they belonged to the Garden of Eden which is in the second heaven and lived there for many long years. We don't know how long it was, but it was surely a very long time. And during such long years, the earth kept on getting older. Therefore, the earth is much older than 6,000 years. However, it doesn't mean that it took countless years for the light of many stars to reach the earth. In fact, the stars of our galaxy which were create on the 4th day could be seen from the earth on that very day.
How could it be possible? It was possible because the creation work of God took place in the spiritual space which was surrounded by the original light. In the spiritual space, the speed of light is much faster than in the fleshly space. The distance that the light should travel for 100,000 years in the fleshly space can be traveled in a moment in the spiritual space. Therefore, the light of the star which is 80,000 light years away from the earth could reach the earth instantly at the moment it was created. There is another important fact. The light of other previously existing stars which belong to other galaxies could also reach the earth after our galaxy was created on the 4th day. Let me tell you an example to help you understand it better.
There are many different kinds of light that travel from the sun to the earth. They are visible ray, ultraviolet ray, and infrared ray. The light which can be seen by a man's bare eyes is called a 'visible ray.' Man can see these visible rays. But man cannot see ultraviolet rays and infrared rays. These lights could be seen only through special devices. Just as there are lights which are invisible to your eyes, any light of stars could be seen until the 3rd day of the creation, but they could be seen from the 4th day. But all the lights were not seen at once, but they were seen gradually. The light from the sun was seen first, and then, the light from the stars of our galaxy, and lastly the light from the stars outside of our galaxy. What if I describe it from the earth's point of view?
Say, the earth has eyes, and these eyes were closed until the 3rd day, and thus it couldn't see anything. And the eyes were finally opened on the 4th day. The eyes became brighter and it could see things much farther away. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. When God created the sun, the moon, and stars on the 4th day, the space of the 1st heaven began operating by itself according to natural law. According to the physical law of the 1st heaven, new stars were created, and some stars disappeared at the end of their lifespan. Rotating or revolving, all the celestial bodies began operating according to the given rules. When did I say these rules of the universe were established? I explained to you that when God said "Let there be light" on the 1st day of the creation, all the orders and the natural Law of the fleshly world were established.
The sun, the moon, and stars which were created on the 4th Day started to operate according to the rules. As the sun, the moon, and stars were operating according to the given rules, many 'signs' appeared on earth. And 'seasons and days and years' were made up. First of all, what were signs? There were two kinds; first, are the atmospheric phenomena. As the sun was created and its light reached the surface of the earth, seawaters became water vapor which rose into the sky to form clouds. It's known that the heat of the sun evaporates billions of water per second on the entire earth. After the sun was created, a difference in temperatures resulted from the places where the sun shined its light and the places where the sun's light didn't shine. Even if the sun shines equally, the amount of the heat of the sun was different between places on the earth such as between Polar Regions and lower latitudes. Then, as temperature changed on the surface, the atmospheric pressure also became different according to regions, and it made the winds to blow. It is because the heated air rises and the cooler air descends.
Due to the work of clouds and winds to carry them, it rained or snowed in different places of the earth. Then, rivers and lakes were formed on the lands, and plants were provided with necessary water. These atmospheric phenomena that began taking place due to the sunlight were the first 'signs.' The second 'sign' refer to all the phenomena which take place due to geological movement. As the sun, the moon, and stars were created, crustal movements took place on earth. Until the 2nd day of the Creation, waters were covering the entire flat surface of the earth. On the 3rd day, North Pole area was dug and waters gathered there to form a sea, and South Pole area became dry land. On the 4th day of the creation, however, as the sun, the moon, and stars were created, crustal movements started to take place. The dry land which was originally one was split and divided.
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions took place, and as results, uplifts and sinks happened on the surface of the land. Uplift is a geological process most often caused by plate tectonics which increases elevation The opposite of uplift is subsidence (or dip), which results in a decrease in elevation. Now, why did these phenomena begin taking place as the sun, the moon, and stars were created? To help you understand it, let me take one example. Suppose a father is holding his child. This child is not stepping on the ground with his feet. However, since he was being held by his father, he doesn't feel difficulty or discomfort. Before the sun, the moon, and stars were created, the earth was being held in the power of God just like the child held by his father. However, after the sun, the moon, and stars were created, the earth maintained its position thanks to the gravitation between the sun, the moon, and stars. This is a bit awkward to describe, but think of the child once again who was held by his father.
If the arms and legs of this child are tied and pulled from all 4 directions, this child will be suspended in the air. Even though this child is suspended in the air, he will feel uncomfortable and very hard. Moreover, imagine that you spin this child in the air. He would feel much difficulty and dizziness wouldn't he! He is in the completely different situation from when he was held in the arms of his father. You may find rides in an amusement park thrilling. Some rides spin 3 different ways. Just as a top itself spins, it also moves in any lateral direction, when you ride on a carnival tea-pot like ride, it spins like a top, and at the same time it moves laterally making big circles. And the base where these tea-pots are fixed also spins. You may take this ride for a few moments, but what if you take it for days? Now, the earth has been doing this work of spinning for a long period of time.
The earth rotates on its axis, and it revolves, circling around the sun. Also, all the celestial bodies of our galaxy including the earth and the sun are circling around the center of the galaxy. Therefore, the earth is actually making a 3-way spin. In addition, the speed of the spins is too fast to imagine. First of all, the speed of the earth's rotation is the speed of the earth completing a full rotation once a day. Near the equator area, the speed is 1,570 kilometers per hour. If you are riding in a car which is driving at 200 kilometers per hour, you may feel it is so fast. But, the earth is spinning much much faster. This earth is revolving around the sun at the speed of 108,000 kilometers per hour. Also, the speed of the Solar System's revolving around the center of the galaxy is about 900,000 kilometers per hour. The moon also rotates and revolves around the earth. The sun also rotates.
But why don't you sense it even though the speed of the earth's rotating and revolving is so fast like this? Compared to the size of the earth, a man is too small. It may be a reason, but there is another important reason. For example, the flight speed of an airplane is so fast, but if it flies at a constant speed, the passengers in the plane don't feel the speed. However, if the airplane changes its altitude or speed, the passengers can feel the difference. God created the earth to circle around the sun in the same orbit as it rotates at a constant speed. Even though its rotating and revolving speed is so fast, it always maintains a constant speed. And it's rotating orbit and revolving orbit doesn't change. If the speed changes, or goes out of orbit even a little but, you will feel the aftermath right away. Including we human beings, the things in the earth may bounce off out into space. God the Father knew all this, and thus He planned things in great detail, and crated with great precision. In such a space, the earth began receiving comprehensive action of tremendous force from the 4th day.
As its result, various geological actions took place on the earth. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions took place, and the dry land was divided into many pieces and started to move. These kinds of geological movements began to take place from the 4th day of the Creation. By the way, God knew in advance how the earth would transform as time passed by while receiving comprehensive actions of these forces. He knew what kind of signs would be there at it would be close to the end of time when the human cultivation comes to an end. And so, He let us know through the prophets, and our Jesus also talked about it. In Luke 21:22, for example, the Lord said, "and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." He said there would be great earthquakes, that there would be famines due to natural disasters such as drought, flood, and windstorms. Just as written in the Bible, there are many signs of the end time in the world these days.
Scientists utilize computers to predict the changes in the earth's environment. Many of them insist that global warming of the earth should greatly affect the future earth environment. Global Warming is the process by which the average temperature of the earth surface increases. Since the late 19th century, the annual average temperature of the earth has increased by 0.6 degree in Celsius. Scientists expect that global warming will process much faster, and that it will result in many environmental changes. They have scientific data such as how much the sea level will rise, how stronger the intensity of natural disasters like windstorms or drought will become; with this data, they predict the future. As knowledge develops and men become wise, they can predict the near future even a little. Then, what is it that God doesn't know who created all things? God the Creator knew how the earth would transform as it is gradually affected in the space. God also knew how human beings would destroy the natural environment out of their selfish greed, and how they would break the laws of nature. God knew how all these things would act in concert and what signs would takes; and then He had these things recorded in the Bible.
As human beings see such signs, God wanted them to realize the Judgment is very close. Considering all these things, God set the beginning and end time of the human cultivation, and He has been accomplishing it without the slightest error. Dear brothers and sisters. After the sun, the moon, and stars were created, the earth came to have seasons, days, and years. The expression "to have seasons", means that seasons started to appear. The reason the earth has seasons is that the earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees while revolving around the sun. Even in the Polar Regions and lower altitudes, there are seasons. The length of summer or winter is either longer or shorter than spring or fall in any place of the earth, and so there are seasons. Now, "days" and "years" refer to the days and the years of the earth, As the earth began rotating and revolving from the 4th day, the concept of 'a day' and 'a year' came to an existence. The time that it takes for the earth to rotate once is 'a day,' and that it takes to revolve around the sun once is 'a year.'
In addition, the time that it takes for the moon to circle around the earth once becomes 'a month.' It takes about 29.53 days for the moon to revolve the earth. That's why there are 29 and 30 days by turns in lunar calendar. The moon is revolving almost at the same speed of it rotating speed, the earth can see always the same side of the moon. The sun also rotates on a cycle of 27 days. Through the long years of observation, people discovered the cycles of the sun, the moon, and stars, and they made calendars based on them. The calendar which is widely used today was finally made in 1582. Therefore, even though people counted years for a long time, since their calendars had different standard from current calendars, the years which have been counted so far may be different from the actual ones. Even though you say it is 2010, it may not be exactly 2010 years yet.
However, God the Father is precisely counting the years of human cultivation. Just as He began the human cultivation at the best time, He will finish at the best time. Dear brothers and sisters. I told you earlier that, even though Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden for a long time, you don't know how long it was. It means it was a very very long time; however, this implies another fact. Days and years came to exist on the earth because the lights were created. However, the Garden of Eden doesn't have the concept of days and years since they don't have nights, but days. The period of time when Adam and Even lived in the Garden of Eden was such long years in a concept of time of the earth. However, it is senseless to count the years in the Garden of Eden. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I explained the creation works of the 4th day in 3 lectures. Once the 4th day creation work was finished, the Bible again says, "God saw that it was good." God the Father felt good in His heart as He saw the environment for the human cultivation being beautifully prepared. Even He created the sun, the moon, and stars, God put His divine nature in them, and endowed them with special meanings. Particularly in the last lecture, I explained the spiritual meanings contained in the moon and stars.
Just as there are shining stars and the moon in the pitch of darkness, I told you to remember that God is with you even when you confront a hopeless and depressing moment. Now, what is the spiritual meaning that is contained in the sun then? The sun is the source of all the energy that is necessary for every living thing on earth. Also, days and years could be made up of the sun, and it's become the standard of life for human beings. Now, Psalm 84:11 says, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Spiritually speaking, it is God the Creator who plays the role of the sun for human beings. Just as men cannot live without the sun, a man who doesn't meet God cannot survive spiritually.
You should realize that the word of God who is the light itself becomes the perfect standard of all things. What God considers goodness becomes the goodness, and what God considers evil becomes evil. God gives grace and glory to the one who adjusts one's heart to the will of God and lives by it. God the Father doesn't withhold anything good from him, but He gives. May you receive and enjoy such abundant grace and glory, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray! [Amen!]
Mafundisho ya Mwanzo 38 | Siku ya Nne ya Uumbaji 3
Andiko la Biblia: Mwanzo 1:14–19
“14. Mungu akasema, Na iwe mianga katika anga la mbingu ili itenge kati ya mchana na usiku; nayo iwe ndiyo dalili na majira na siku na miaka; 15. tena iwe ndiyo mianga katika anga la mbingu itie nuru juu ya nchi; ikawa hivyo. 16. Mungu akafanya mianga miwili mikubwa, ule mkubwa utawale mchana, na ule mdogo utawale usiku; akafanya na nyota pia. 17. Mungu akaiweka katika anga la mbingu, itie nuru juu ya nchi, 18. na kuutawala mchana na usiku na kutenga nuru na giza; Mungu akaona ya kuwa ni vyema. 19. Ikawa jioni ikawa asubuhi, siku ya nne.”
Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo.
Haya ni Mafundisho ya 38 ya Mwanzo. Nitaendelea kueleza kazi za uumbaji za siku ya nne kutoka katika somo lililopita. Mungu aliumba jua, mwezi na nyota siku ya nne.
Nilisema kwamba hili linamaanisha Mungu aliumba galaksi yetu, ambayo dunia na mfumo wa jua ni sehemu zake. Nyota zilizo nje ya galaksi yetu zilikuwa tayari zimekuwepo katika nafasi ya asili, na Mungu aliumba dunia kabla ya siku sita za uumbaji. Mungu alipoumba jua, mwezi na nyota, dunia ndiyo iliyokuwa kipimo cha mahali zilipowekwa na ukubwa wake. Ni kweli kwamba dunia huzunguka jua, lakini dunia iliumbwa kwanza, si jua. Mungu aliumba jua, mwezi na nyota zikiwa na ukubwa unaofaa, kisha akaziweka mahali panapofaa kuhusiana na dunia. Kwa upande mwingine, galaksi yetu ina kipenyo cha miaka nuru 100,000. Kwa maneno mengine, kusafiri kutoka upande mmoja wa galaksi yetu hadi mwingine kwa kasi ya nuru kungechukua miaka 100,000.
Mfumo wetu wa Jua uko umbali wa miaka nuru 30,000 kutoka katikati ya galaksi hii. Kwa hiyo, kama mnavyoona kwenye skrini, kutoka Mfumo wa Jua hadi ukingo wa kushoto wa galaksi yetu ni miaka nuru 20,000, na hadi ukingo wa kulia ni miaka nuru 80,000. Njia ya maziwa mliyoinayoona angani usiku ni sehemu ya galaksi yetu. Huonekana ndefu kwa sababu sisi tulioko duniani tunatazama kuelekea katikati ya galaksi yetu, ambayo ina umbo la diski. Mungu aliumba nyota zote hizi za galaksi yetu siku ya nne. Basi, je, nyota hizi mpya zingeweza kuonekana duniani mara moja au la? Wanaouelewa mwendo wa nuru huenda wakafikiri kwamba nyota hizo zisingeweza kuonekana mara moja.
Kasi ya nuru ni kilomita 300,000 kwa sekunde; kwa kasi hiyo, nuru inaweza kulizunguka dunia mara saba na nusu kwa sekunde moja. Nuru ya jua unayoipokea kila siku huchukua takriban dakika nane na sekunde 19 kufika duniani. Kwa hiyo, jua unaloliona kutoka duniani ni nuru iliyotoka dakika nane na sekunde 19 zilizopita. Kwa kutegemea maarifa haya tu, unaweza kuhitimisha kwamba nyota zilizoumbwa siku ya nne hazingeweza kuonekana kutoka duniani. Kinadharia, baada ya nyota kuumbwa siku hiyo, ungeweza kuona mwezi tu na sayari chache za Mfumo wa Jua zinazong’aa kwa kuakisi nuru ya jua. Katika elimu ya nyota, kitu cha angani kinachotoa nuru chenyewe huitwa nyota, na inasemekana kwamba nyota iliyo karibu zaidi na dunia baada ya jua iko umbali wa miaka nuru 4.22.
Kwa hiyo, hata kama nyota zote za galaksi yetu zingeumbwa siku ya nne, ingechukua angalau miaka minne kabla ya nyota inayotoa nuru yenyewe kuonekana angani usiku. Nilisema awali kwamba upande mmoja wa galaksi yetu uko umbali wa miaka nuru 80,000 kutoka duniani, na upande mwingine uko umbali wa miaka nuru 20,000. Kwa hiyo, ingechukua miaka 80,000 tangu siku ya nne ya uumbaji kuweza kuona Njia ya Maziwa yote kama tunavyoiona sasa. Kwa kutegemea maarifa ya kisayansi ya dunia, mtu hawezi ila kufikiri hivyo. Kwa upande mwingine, baadhi ya wanasayansi wanaounga mkono uumbaji wa Mungu hawaielewi Biblia na kusisitiza “Nadharia ya Dunia Changa,” yaani kwamba dunia ina umri wa miaka 6,000 tu. Walianza kuhesabu umri wa dunia tangu uumbaji wa siku sita.
Zaidi ya hayo, wanaamini kwamba nyota zote za mbingu ya kwanza ziliumbwa siku ya nne. Wanaamini kwamba si nyota za galaksi yetu tu bali nyota zote za ulimwengu mzima ziliumbwa siku hiyo. “Nadharia ya Dunia Changa” yenyewe imekuwa chanzo cha mabishano miongoni mwa wanasayansi wanaounga mkono uumbaji. Sasa, tuna jibu linaloweza kutatua na kueleza wazi utatanishi huo miongoni mwa wanasayansi wanaounga mkono uumbaji na mashaka ya wanasayansi wengine duniani. Kwanza nilisema kwamba nyota zilizo nje ya galaksi yetu zilikuwepo kabla ya mwanzo, tangu siku za nafasi ya asili. Miaka iliyokuwepo kabla ya mwanzo ilikuwa mingi sana, zaidi ya mawazo yenu. Kwa hiyo, hadi leo nyota iliyo mbali zaidi na dunia inayoweza kuonekana iko umbali wa miaka nuru bilioni 13.1, jambo linaloweza kuelezwa. Dunia haina umri wa miaka 6,000 tu. Iliumbwa tayari kabla ya siku sita za uumbaji, na hata baada ya siku hizo sita zaidi ya miaka 6,000 imepita.
Umri wa miaka 6,000 ni kipindi tangu Adamu na Hawa walipofukuzwa kutoka Bustani ya Edeni hadi duniani. Ingawa Adamu na Hawa waliumbwa duniani, walikuwa wa Bustani ya Edeni iliyo katika mbingu ya pili na waliishi huko kwa miaka mingi sana. Hatujui ilikuwa muda gani, lakini hakika ulikuwa muda mrefu sana. Katika miaka hiyo yote, dunia iliendelea kuzeeka. Kwa hiyo, dunia ina umri mkubwa zaidi ya miaka 6,000. Hata hivyo, hii haimaanishi kwamba ilichukua miaka mingi isiyohesabika kwa nuru ya nyota nyingi kuifikia dunia. Kwa kweli, nyota za galaksi yetu zilizoumbwa siku ya nne zingeweza kuonekana kutoka duniani siku hiyohiyo.
Jambo hilo lingewezekanaje? Liliwezekana kwa sababu kazi ya uumbaji ya Mungu ilifanyika katika nafasi ya rohoni iliyozungukwa na nuru ya asili. Katika nafasi ya rohoni, kasi ya nuru ni kubwa zaidi kuliko katika nafasi ya kimwili. Umbali ambao nuru ingesafiri kwa miaka 100,000 katika nafasi ya kimwili unaweza kusafiriwa papo hapo katika nafasi ya rohoni. Kwa hiyo, nuru kutoka kwa nyota iliyo umbali wa miaka nuru 80,000 kutoka duniani ingeweza kuifikia dunia mara moja ilipoumbwa. Kuna jambo jingine muhimu. Nuru ya nyota nyingine zilizokuwepo awali katika galaksi nyingine ingeweza pia kuifikia dunia baada ya galaksi yetu kuumbwa siku ya nne. Ngoja nitoe mfano utakaowasaidia kuelewa vizuri zaidi.
Kuna aina mbalimbali za nuru zinazosafiri kutoka jua hadi duniani. Hizo ni nuru inayoonekana, miale ya urujuanimno na miale ya infrared. Nuru ambayo mwanadamu anaweza kuiona kwa macho matupu huitwa “nuru inayoonekana.” Mwanadamu anaweza kuiona. Lakini hawezi kuona miale ya urujuanimno wala ya infrared; inaweza kuonekana kwa kutumia vifaa maalumu tu. Kama vile kuna nuru isiyoonekana kwa macho yenu, nuru yote ya nyota ingeweza kuwepo hadi siku ya tatu ya uumbaji, lakini ikaonekana kuanzia siku ya nne. Hata hivyo, nuru zote hazikuonekana mara moja bali hatua kwa hatua. Nuru ya jua ilionekana kwanza, kisha nuru ya nyota za galaksi yetu, na hatimaye nuru ya nyota zilizo nje ya galaksi yetu. Nikieleza kwa mtazamo wa dunia, hali ilikuwa kama hivi.
Tuseme dunia ina macho, na macho hayo yalifungwa hadi siku ya tatu, hivyo hayakuweza kuona chochote. Siku ya nne, macho yalifunguliwa. Kisha yakazidi kuwa angavu na kuweza kuona vitu vilivyo mbali zaidi. Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, Mungu alipoumba jua, mwezi na nyota siku ya nne, nafasi ya mbingu ya kwanza ilianza kufanya kazi yenyewe kulingana na sheria za asili. Kwa mujibu wa sheria za kimwili za mbingu ya kwanza, nyota mpya ziliumbwa na baadhi ya nyota zikatoweka maisha yao yalipofika mwisho. Miili yote ya angani ilianza kufanya kazi kwa kufuata kanuni iliyopewa, ikizunguka kwenye mhimili wake au kuizunguka miili mingine. Nilisema sheria hizi za ulimwengu ziliwekwa lini? Nilieleza kwamba Mungu aliposema “Nuru iwe” siku ya kwanza ya uumbaji, mipangilio yote na sheria za asili za ulimwengu wa kimwili ziliwekwa.
Jua, mwezi na nyota zilizoumbwa siku ya nne zilianza kufanya kazi kulingana na sheria hizo. Zilipoanza kufuata mpangilio wake, “ishara” nyingi zikatokea duniani, na “majira na siku na miaka” vikawepo. Kwanza, ishara zilikuwa nini? Kulikuwa na aina mbili; ya kwanza ilikuwa hali za anga. Jua lilipoumbwa na nuru yake kufika juu ya dunia, maji ya bahari yalibadilika kuwa mvuke, yakapanda angani na kutengeneza mawingu. Inajulikana kwamba joto la jua huvukiza mabilioni ya kiasi cha maji kila sekunde duniani kote. Jua lilipoumbwa, tofauti ya halijoto ikatokea kati ya sehemu zilizopigwa na nuru yake na zile ambazo hazikupigwa. Hata kama jua lingeangaza kwa usawa, kiasi cha joto lake kingetofautiana kati ya maeneo ya dunia kama vile ncha za dunia na latitudo za chini. Halijoto ilipobadilika juu ya uso wa dunia, shinikizo la angahewa nalo likawa tofauti kati ya maeneo na kusababisha upepo kuvuma. Hii ni kwa sababu hewa yenye joto hupanda na hewa baridi hushuka.
Kwa sababu ya mawingu na upepo ulioyasafirisha, mvua au theluji ilinyesha sehemu mbalimbali za dunia. Kisha mito na maziwa yakatokea kwenye nchi kavu, na mimea ikapata maji iliyohitaji. Hali hizi za anga zilizoanza kutokana na nuru ya jua zilikuwa “ishara” za kwanza. “Ishara” ya pili inamaanisha matukio yote yaliyotokea kutokana na mabadiliko ya kijiolojia. Jua, mwezi na nyota zilipoumbwa, mabadiliko ya ganda la dunia yakaanza. Hadi siku ya pili ya uumbaji, maji yalifunika uso wote tambarare wa dunia. Siku ya tatu, eneo la Ncha ya Kaskazini lilichimbika na maji yakakusanyika huko na kutengeneza bahari, huku eneo la Ncha ya Kusini likiwa nchi kavu. Hata hivyo, jua, mwezi na nyota zilipoumbwa siku ya nne, mabadiliko ya ganda la dunia yakaanza. Nchi kavu iliyokuwa moja hapo awali ikapasuka na kugawanyika.
Matetemeko ya ardhi na milipuko ya volkano ikatokea; matokeo yake baadhi ya sehemu za ardhi zikainuka na nyingine zikazama. Kuinuka ni mchakato wa kijiolojia, ambao mara nyingi husababishwa na mienendo ya mabamba ya dunia, unaoongeza mwinuko. Kinyume chake ni kuzama, ambako hupunguza mwinuko. Basi, kwa nini matukio haya yalianza jua, mwezi na nyota zilipoumbwa? Ngoja nitoe mfano ili muelewe. Tuseme baba amembeba mtoto wake. Mtoto huyo hagusi ardhi kwa miguu yake, lakini kwa kuwa amebebwa na baba yake, hahisi shida wala usumbufu. Kabla ya kuumbwa kwa jua, mwezi na nyota, dunia ilikuwa imeshikiliwa na nguvu za Mungu kama mtoto aliyebebwa na baba yake. Hata hivyo, baada ya jua, mwezi na nyota kuumbwa, dunia ilidumisha mahali pake kwa sababu ya kani za uvutano kati ya jua, mwezi na nyota. Hili ni gumu kidogo kulieleza, lakini fikirieni tena kuhusu mtoto aliyebebwa na baba yake.
Tuseme mikono na miguu ya mtoto huyo imefungwa na kuvutwa kuelekea pande zote nne; mtoto huyo atasimamishwa hewani. Hata kama amesimamishwa hewani, atajisikia vibaya na kuteseka sana. Zaidi ya hayo, wazia kwamba unamzungusha mtoto huyo hewani. Angehisi shida na kizunguzungu sana, sivyo? Hiyo ni hali tofauti kabisa na alipokuwa amebebwa mikononi mwa baba yake. Huenda mnafurahia michezo ya kusisimua katika bustani za burudani. Baadhi ya michezo huzunguka pande tatu. Kama vile pia pia hujizungusha yenyewe, husogea upande wowote. Mnapopanda mchezo unaofanana na kikombe cha chai, huzunguka kwenye mhimili wake na wakati huohuo husogea pembeni katika duara kubwa. Pia msingi ambamo vikombe hivyo vimefungwa huzunguka. Mnaweza kuupanda mchezo huo kwa dakika chache, lakini ingekuwaje kama mngeukaa humo kwa siku nyingi? Sasa, dunia imekuwa ikifanya kazi hii ya kuzunguka kwa muda mrefu sana.
Dunia huzunguka kwenye mhimili wake na pia huzunguka jua. Zaidi ya hayo, miili yote ya angani ya galaksi yetu, kutia ndani dunia na jua, huzunguka katikati ya galaksi. Kwa hiyo, kwa kweli dunia inazunguka kwa njia tatu. Kasi ya mizunguko hiyo ni kubwa mno kuwazia. Kwanza, kasi ya mzunguko wa dunia kwenye mhimili wake ni kasi ya kukamilisha mzunguko mmoja kila siku. Karibu na ikweta, kasi yake ni kilomita 1,570 kwa saa. Ukiwa ndani ya gari linalokwenda kilomita 200 kwa saa, unaweza kuhisi kwamba linaenda haraka. Lakini dunia huzunguka kwa kasi kubwa zaidi. Dunia hii hulizunguka jua kwa kasi ya kilomita 108,000 kwa saa. Pia kasi ya Mfumo wa Jua kulizunguka katikati ya galaksi ni takriban kilomita 900,000 kwa saa. Mwezi nao huzunguka kwenye mhimili wake na kuizunguka dunia. Jua pia huzunguka kwenye mhimili wake.
Hata hivyo, kwa nini hamhisi mizunguko hii ingawa kasi ya dunia ni kubwa sana? Sababu moja inaweza kuwa kwamba mwanadamu ni mdogo sana akilinganishwa na ukubwa wa dunia. Lakini kuna sababu nyingine muhimu. Kwa mfano, ndege husafiri kwa kasi sana, lakini ikiruka kwa kasi isiyobadilika, abiria hawahisi mwendo huo. Hata hivyo, ndege ikibadilisha kimo au kasi yake, abiria wanaweza kuhisi tofauti. Mungu aliumba dunia izunguke jua katika njia ileile na kwenye mhimili wake kwa kasi isiyobadilika. Ingawa kasi ya mzunguko wake ni kubwa sana, hudumisha kasi isiyobadilika daima, na njia ya mzunguko wake haibadiliki. Kasi ikibadilika au dunia ikitoka hata kidogo kwenye njia yake, mtahisi matokeo yake mara moja. Vitu vilivyomo duniani, kutia ndani wanadamu, vinaweza kurushwa nje na kwenda angani. Mungu Baba alijua yote haya; kwa hiyo, alipanga mambo kwa kina sana na kuumba kwa usahihi mkubwa. Katika nafasi hiyo, kuanzia siku ya nne, dunia ilianza kupokea kwa pamoja nguvu kubwa sana kutoka pande mbalimbali.
Matokeo yake, vitendo mbalimbali vya kijiolojia vikafanyika duniani. Matetemeko ya ardhi na milipuko ya volkano ikatokea, nchi kavu ikagawanyika vipande vingi na kuanza kusogea. Mienendo hii ya kijiolojia ilianza siku ya nne ya uumbaji. Kwa upande mwingine, Mungu alijua mapema jinsi dunia ingebadilika kadiri muda ulivyopita huku ikiathiriwa na nguvu hizi kutoka pande mbalimbali. Alijua ishara ambazo zingetokea wakati mwisho wa ukuzaji wa mwanadamu unapokaribia. Kwa hiyo, alitujulisha kupitia manabii, na Yesu wetu pia alizungumzia jambo hilo. Kwa mfano, katika Luka 21:11 Bwana alisema: “Kutakuwa na matetemeko makubwa ya nchi, na njaa na tauni mahali mahali; na matukio ya kutisha na ishara kubwa kutoka mbinguni.” Alisema kungekuwa na matetemeko makubwa ya ardhi na njaa kwa sababu ya majanga ya asili kama ukame, mafuriko na dhoruba. Kama ilivyoandikwa katika Biblia, siku hizi kuna ishara nyingi za nyakati za mwisho duniani.
Wanasayansi hutumia kompyuta kutabiri mabadiliko ya mazingira ya dunia. Wengi wao husisitiza kwamba ongezeko la joto duniani litaathiri sana mazingira ya dunia ya baadaye. Ongezeko la joto duniani ni mchakato wa kupanda kwa wastani wa halijoto ya uso wa dunia. Tangu mwishoni mwa karne ya 19, wastani wa halijoto ya kila mwaka duniani umepanda kwa nyuzi joto 0.6. Wanasayansi wanatarajia ongezeko la joto duniani litaendelea kwa kasi zaidi na kusababisha mabadiliko mengi ya mazingira. Wana data za kisayansi, kama vile kiwango ambacho bahari itapanda na jinsi nguvu ya majanga ya asili kama dhoruba au ukame itakavyoongezeka; kwa data hiyo hutabiri yajayo. Maarifa yanapoendelea na wanadamu wanapokuwa na hekima zaidi, wanaweza kutabiri hata kidogo mambo ya karibu ya wakati ujao. Basi, Mungu aliyeumba vitu vyote hajui nini? Mungu Muumba alijua jinsi dunia ingebadilika hatua kwa hatua ilipoathiriwa na nafasi. Mungu alijua pia jinsi wanadamu wangeharibu mazingira ya asili kwa tamaa yao ya ubinafsi na kuvunja sheria za asili. Alijua jinsi mambo haya yote yangechanganyika na ishara gani zingetokea; kisha akayaandika katika Biblia.
Mungu alitaka wanadamu waone ishara hizo na kutambua kwamba Hukumu iko karibu sana. Akizingatia mambo haya yote, Mungu aliweka mwanzo na mwisho wa ukuzaji wa mwanadamu, naye anautimiza bila kosa lolote. Ndugu wapendwa, baada ya jua, mwezi na nyota kuumbwa, dunia ikawa na majira, siku na miaka. Usemi “majira yakawa” unamaanisha kwamba majira yalianza kuonekana. Sababu ya dunia kuwa na majira ni kwamba imeinama kwa nyuzi 23.5 inapolizunguka jua. Kuna majira hata katika ncha za dunia na latitudo za chini. Katika sehemu yoyote duniani, majira ya kiangazi au ya baridi ni marefu au mafupi kuliko majira ya kuchipua au ya vuli; ndiyo maana kuna majira. “Siku” na “miaka” humaanisha siku na miaka ya dunia. Dunia ilipoanza kuzunguka kwenye mhimili wake na kulizunguka jua kuanzia siku ya nne, dhana ya “siku” na “mwaka” ikatokea. Muda ambao dunia huchukua kuzunguka kwenye mhimili wake mara moja ndio “siku,” na muda wa kulizunguka jua mara moja ndio “mwaka.”
Zaidi ya hayo, muda ambao mwezi huchukua kulizunguka dunia mara moja ndio “mwezi.” Mwezi huchukua takriban siku 29.53 kulizunguka dunia. Ndiyo sababu kalenda ya mwezi huwa na siku 29 na 30 kwa zamu. Mwezi huzunguka kwenye mhimili wake karibu kwa kasi ileile inayolizunguka dunia, hivyo dunia huona upande uleule wa mwezi daima. Jua pia huzunguka katika mzunguko wa siku 27. Baada ya kuchunguza kwa miaka mingi, watu waligundua mizunguko ya jua, mwezi na nyota na kutengeneza kalenda kwa kutegemea mizunguko hiyo. Kalenda inayotumiwa sana leo hatimaye ilitengenezwa mwaka 1582. Kwa hiyo, ingawa watu wamekuwa wakihesabu miaka kwa muda mrefu, kwa kuwa kalenda zao zilitumia vipimo tofauti na kalenda za sasa, miaka iliyohesabiwa huenda ikawa tofauti na ile halisi. Hata tukisema ni mwaka 2010, huenda isiwe miaka 2010 kamili bado.
Hata hivyo, Mungu Baba anahesabu kwa usahihi miaka ya ukuzaji wa mwanadamu. Kama alivyoanza ukuzaji wa mwanadamu kwa wakati bora kabisa, atamaliza kwa wakati bora kabisa. Ndugu wapendwa, niliwaambia awali kwamba ingawa Adamu na Hawa waliishi Bustani ya Edeni kwa muda mrefu, hatujui muda huo ulikuwa miaka mingapi. Hii ina maana kwamba ulikuwa muda mrefu sana; hata hivyo, jambo hili linadokeza ukweli mwingine. Siku na miaka zilianza kuwepo baada ya mianga kuumbwa. Lakini Bustani ya Edeni haina dhana ya siku na miaka, kwa kuwa haina usiku bali mchana tu. Kipindi ambacho Adamu na Hawa waliishi Bustani ya Edeni kilikuwa miaka mingi sana kulingana na dhana ya wakati wa dunia. Hata hivyo, haina maana kuhesabu miaka ya Bustani ya Edeni. Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, nimeeleza kazi za uumbaji za siku ya nne katika mafundisho matatu. Kazi za siku ya nne zilipokamilika, Biblia inasema tena, “Mungu akaona ya kuwa ni vyema.” Mungu Baba alifurahi moyoni mwake alipoona mazingira ya ukuzaji wa mwanadamu yakiandaliwa kwa uzuri. Hata alipoumba jua, mwezi na nyota, Mungu aliweka asili yake ya uungu ndani yao na kuzipa maana maalumu. Hasa katika somo lililopita, nilieleza maana za kiroho zilizomo katika mwezi na nyota.
Kama vile kuna nyota zinazong’aa na mwezi gizani nene, niliwaambia mkumbuke kwamba Mungu yupo pamoja nanyi hata mnapokabili wakati usio na tumaini na wa kukatisha tamaa. Basi, jua lina maana gani ya kiroho? Jua ni chanzo cha nguvu zote zinazohitajika kwa kila kiumbe hai duniani. Pia, siku na miaka hutegemea jua, nalo limekuwa kipimo cha maisha ya wanadamu. Zaburi 84:11 inasema: “Kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu ni jua na ngao; Bwana atatoa neema na utukufu; hatawanyima jambo jema wale waendao kwa ukamilifu.” Kiroho, ni Mungu Muumba anayetimiza wajibu wa jua kwa wanadamu. Kama vile watu hawawezi kuishi bila jua, mtu asiyekutana na Mungu hawezi kuishi kiroho.
Mnapaswa kutambua kwamba Neno la Mungu, ambaye mwenyewe ni nuru, ndilo kipimo kamili cha mambo yote. Kile ambacho Mungu hukiona kuwa chema ndicho chema, na kile anachokiona kuwa kiovu ndicho kiovu. Mungu huwapa neema na utukufu wale wanaolingana mioyo yao na mapenzi yake na kuishi kulingana nayo. Mungu Baba hawanyimi jambo lolote jema, bali huwapa. Ninaomba mpokee na kufurahia neema na utukufu wake tele, katika jina la Bwana Yesu Kristo! [Amina!]
