According to news reports, Stephen Hawking, the supposedly greatest physicist and scientist since Albert Einstein has died at the age of 76 years. Mr Hawking suffered from “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” a neuromuscular wasting disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease for the last 50 years of his life. Despite his illness, he continued to work and write books and was highly regarded by his peers for his work studying the origin of time and “Black Holes”. In 1988 he wrote a book titled, “A brief history of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes.” This book alone sold more than 10 million copies.
Unfortunately, Mr Hawking, as the title of his book seems to indicate, was an atheist, a person who did not believe in a Creator God. He made the following comment: “Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation…” In other words, according to Mr Hawking, science trumps belief in a Creator God.
Well, I am not a physicist, nor a scientist and certainly not an atheist and I firmly believe that God is the Creator of all things, both visible and invisible. And because He is Creator, He is also the reason behind all disciplines, including science. In fact, whatever area of study we are involved in we should always be asking, “What is God teaching us about himself, His Creation, His sovereignty, His care and love and His will for us today?” If we begin with God, it will only enhance our appreciation of who God is and especially what He has done for us in Christ.
I find it sad when someone like Stephen Hawking, who was a respected physicist and scientist never took the time to seriously consider God as Creator while spending most of his adult life trying to work out the origin of time and study ‘Black Holes.’ The Apostle Paul was right when he said that man is without excuse, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen from what has been made, including ‘Black Holes’” (Romans 1:20 emphasis added).
Sadly, Mr Hawking believed that there was no God and no heaven or afterlife. Oh, the danger and wickedness of unbelief. He believed that when the components in his brain failed, time and life would end for him, similar to a computer. Well, Mr Hawking is going to be in for a surprise and what’s more, he is now no longer an atheist. And unless he had a death-bed conversion, it is all a bit too late for Mr Hawking. As the saying goes, “There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see.”
Alternatively, there are none so blessed as those whom God has called by His Holy Spirit to a saving faith in His Son as revealed in His Holy Word. What a wonderful gift to us! And one day, for all whom God has called to faith in His Son, time, as we know it now will have no end and they will enjoy an eternity in time, sharing the glory with their blessed Saviour God. JZ.