“Physics says you’re an impurity in an otherwise beautiful universe.”
That’s one of the headlines in a fascinating, challenging article, first published on the Slate online news site, that recently popped up in my internet feed.
Written by physics professor David Goldberg, the essay details four reasons why humanity shouldn’t exist in a universe he calls “almost absurdly finely tuned”.
One of the main reasons we shouldn’t exist, Goldberg claims, is “the laws of physics themselves seem to be working against us. Ours isn’t just a randomly hostile universe, it’s an actively hostile universe.”
And yet, we do exist. And while Goldberg makes only one indirect reference to God, I’m going to challenge you by writing that God is the reason I’m here writing this blog and you’re here reading it.
Goldberg believes that even miniscule changes in the makeup of the universe would have made life on earth impossible. “If the universe were only minutely denser than the one we inhabit, it would have collapsed before it began,” he writes.
Ironically, his position is almost identical to the case built by scientists and authors who follow Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God). Their point: this ‘actively hostile’ universe is fine-tuned by God in order to make life, as we know it, possible.
Why go to all that trouble? I believe it’s because our creator wants us here and that’s because He’s all about relationships. And every person on this planet can have that relationship.
You might shrug and wonder why anyone would bother. Briefly, here’s the reason: a relationship with God can make your life better now and when we depart what Shakespeare called “this mortal coil”.
Connecting with God can:
- provide life-changing awareness that you are loved beyond all measure.
- help you understand that all people are valuable, no matter who they are or what they’ve done (or not done).
- strengthen you for the challenges ahead.
- give you clarity on what’s right, what’s wrong – and the shifting tides of public opinion don’t change that.
Sadly, we very imperfect human beings have erected many barriers on the road to this relationship. Lack of faith, the wrongs things we’ve done, the right things we’ve failed to do, our stubborn insistence that we are our own gods — all these things and more build a wall between us and God.
But that hasn’t stopped God from doing all He can, while still maintaining His standards, to make a way for us. His Son Jesus is that way, made possible through His sacrificial death and game-changing resurrection.
Jesus clears away ALL barriers to a relationship with God — starting NOW and lasting for all eternity — for everyone who believes in Him, trusts in Him and follows Him.
If you say yes, with complete sincerity, to Jesus, then He’ll come into your life and start to make you the person God created you to be. That process won’t end until you go to Heaven to spend eternity with Him.
Interested? Yes or now, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
What kind of evil God placed us in an “actively hostile” universe?
Goldberg is wrong. The universe is not hostile, but ambivalent.
I believe, as you do, Frank, that God has put us here because He desires to have a relationship with us. He is the ultimate benefactor, friend, provider, and protector. May all hearts everywhere turn to Him and His saving grace through Christ Jesus.
Blessings!
If this were in fact true, why do you think so many former pastors priests, vicars, etc who were once devoted and devout Christians, are now part of the Clergy Project?
Sadly, even as Jesus clears away barriers, our culture hastily erects new ones in an attempt to push us all toward worshipping the gods of money, power, sex, prestige and possessions. Over time, some people spend more time looking at the barriers than connecting with Jesus. 😦
I wrote about one of these people, a guy named Charles Templeton, here: https://wp.me./p2wzRb-11