Something exists now. Something must have always existed, because something cannot come
from nothing. What has always existed? What is the first cause of the universe?
If you asked your friend how long the candle in his room had been burning, and he answered,
"Forever." Would you believe him? Certainly not. Now consider that the cosmos, the
energy-material universe is like a burning candle.
The Energy-Material Universe
Since the first atomic bomb explosion, we have known that material is a form of energy.
Material is a part of the energy universe. Elements such as iron, sulphur, and hydrogen are just
different arrangements of energy. So then, we live in an energy universe in which material is a
form of energy.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
The energy level of the universe is known to be running down. Energy goes from higher levels
to lower levels, from higher temperatures to lower temperatures, from usable forms to unusable
forms, and never in the opposite direction. Material can be changed to another form of energy,
such as in an atomic explosion. Such changes are always downward in level. This is called the
second law of thermodynamics in physics, chemistry and engineering. The universe is going
toward its heat death.
A Beginning
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy-material is neither being created nor
destroyed now, but only changing form and level. Every change in the energy-material universe
is toward a lower level, which is the second law of thermodynamics. The universe is running
down. If the energy-material universe had always existed, it would have already run down to the
heat death of the universe. Since it has not done this, we know that the energy-material universe
has not always existed. The energy-material universe had a beginning.
The Sun
For an example that is easy to understand, look at the sun which gives energy to our earth.
The sun is "burning up." If the sun had existed forever, it would have already burned out. You can
understand that the material universe had a beginning.
Radioactive Elements
Radioactive elements are also running down in energy level. Material is changed into radiated
energy. If the energy-material universe had always existed, the radioactive elements would have
already run down.
The Eternal First Cause
The energy-material universe has not always existed. There was a beginning to the
energy-material universe. Materialism is clearly unscientific. Materialism is a false philosophy of
the last century, a myth.
What is the origin of the energy-material universe? It has not always been here. There must
be a first cause of the energy-material universe, or it would not be here today. There must be a
first cause that has existed forever, or there would be nothing in existence now. You cannot get
something from nothing. There must then be a self-existent eternal first cause. The Bible declares:
In the Bible, God claims to be the eternal, self-existent First Cause of the universe.
A person might ask, "Where did God come from?" That person has missed the fact that there
must be an eternal, self-existent first cause. Something must have always existed. It is not the
energy-material universe. The eternal, self-existent First Cause calls Himself Jehovah, which
means, "I AM." Exodus 3:14, 15.
There is a Creator of the energy-material universe.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
Do you believe in God?
Germaine Lockwood
Copyright ©1996 by Germaine Charles Lockwood. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Scripture quotations in this work, unless otherwise indicated, are from
The New American Standard Bible, Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963,
1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations from The New King James Bible (NKJB), Copyright
©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN. Used by permission.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:1.
It is He who made the earth by His power,
Who established the world by His wisdom;
And by His understanding He has
stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah 10:12.
And by the breath of His mouth all their host. Psalm 33:6.
was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1.
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