A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

Being a student generally has an aim: to have a profession to make a living—to have a way to incorporate what is learned into something that can be produced or service that can be rendered. Although a person never really stops learning, there is a shift to producing something, being of use, and having an ability to live independently with an income to support those goals, to have a family, and to teach children to do likewise. The biblical world view can produce a manner of work or an attitude about work that can bring fullness to a person’s workplace that nothing else can do. The origin of work and first statements about our purpose in life were presented in Genesis. They have not changed. Consider this: Adam’s original task was to take care of a garden; their task together was to have dominion over parts of creation. The issue in the fallen world for us remains unchanged: will we seek to do these things with God or not?

Engineering, technology fields, and applied sciences comprise an array of disciplines, jobs, industries, and services. There is room for much to be done; problems on earth are not going away. Many are getting worse. For people who believe God and are willing and able to be good observers, more rigorous training in schools provides the basic tools required to enter these parts of the workforce. If a person is an avid observer, appreciating what the Lord has created and sustained, there is opportunity to put that perspective to work. The same is true for the pure sciences. We have heard numerous creation scientists and specialists say the same thing: ‘There is a great need for people with a biblical creation view of the earth to work in scientific fields of endeavor.’ They can make a difference.

It is one thing to be an average parent or worker with a job to do. Every role involves teaching and setting an example—sometimes bad, sometimes good. What if these roles are empowered by a biblical creation world view and a relationship with Him? Then, setting an example or influencing others stems from the context of the Gospel: how things began, what happened, and how a relationship to the Creator is the way to make things better. The worker under authority with this perspective is settled: he knows where he came from, where he is headed, and how it will end. He knows God watches and evaluates all he does. He can conduct his tasks more effectively because he knows where he stands and whom he serves in an ultimate sense. As his relationship with the Creator—through Jesus Christ—is real and matures, he can speak of that living relationship when there is opportunity.

The power of the book of Job is appropriate to remember. God presumes that Job observed but Job did not fully appreciate what he was seeing or where he stood with God in his circumstances. When God has His dramatic conversation with Job, He questions and questions and questions (examples: Job 38:1-4, 40:2). He does not quickly release Job from His rebuke; He pursues Job with point after point. He uses deliberate sarcasm about Job’s lack of wisdom (Job 38:18-21). He repeatedly reminds Job of things he had seen but failed to fully understand. It is not because God needed to know the answer; it is because Job needed to remember the attributes and qualities of His Creator God, which are easily observed and interpreted from His acts of creation. God says something difficult within the context of Job’s dilemma and suffering: God is above all things and not reproachable. God uses His creation as the central point of the conversation and brings Job to repentance. We can have the same sentiment to observe and discover things about God by seeing what He has made, no matter what circumstances we live in. Like Job, this knowledge can bring us to repentance and a more faithful walk with Him. That has been God’s desire from the beginning.

Romans 1:20 is very similar to Job. 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 mentions that parts of creation have a glory all their own. However, their glory does not compare to the glory of what is coming, which is imperishable (creation is perishable). Even this portion of scripture goes back to the biblical creation view as Genesis is referenced. There is a dynamic conclusion in verse 58, which encourages believers to stand firm in our Creator God, because our work is not in vain. Here is a paraphrased application of verse 58: ‘Therefore, those of you who believe that our Eternal God is the Creator of all things, stand firm. Give yourself fully to living in view of His power and attributes that are able to be at work in you, if you have believed His words.’

In conclusion, there is a place on earth for people to avidly observe what God has created and, then, let that appreciation migrate to their functions as students, teachers, parents and people at home, at school, or on the job. So much of the New Testament is viewed as applicable only to church, but the average believer works, and most of his life is outside of church life. The objective of the exhortations was to change us where we live. Our life at home and work, including the assets we gain, are meant to be touched by the Creator.

Do you remember God’s command to have dominion over creation in Genesis 1:26-28? The command has not been rescinded or cancelled. While the earth and people suffer from the Fall, this command remains. If you study the words ‘subdue’ or ‘have dominion’ (note: not ravage or plunder) from a biblical creation view, it becomes clear that the command was never meant to be separated from God’s intentions toward us. Remember His intentions? What do Proverbs 8:8-31 and Psalm 104 suggest? Do they show a merciless, uninterested god, who wants to subjugate people and things as a tyrant subjugates a nation and its resources? Or, do they show the God of the Bible as the Maker of unique things and people?

This century is marked by grievous problems that are deeply entrenched. The problems range from bad water, dangerous pollutants, energy difficulties, harmful agricultural practices, bad resource management, and bad governing to the effects of famine, poverty disease and conflict. The effects of natural disasters are being magnified by higher population densities, with people living in unsafe structures or areas that are wrongfully approved by corrupt or ignorant officials. Fallen man is the cause of or contributor to so many problems. There is opportunity for godly people to make a difference, but they have to be willing to let a biblical creation view affect their lives so they are cognizant of God’s view of our ways. They have to be willing to be available to be part of solutions. They have to be willing to get training if training can be obtained. They have to choose professions and skills with God’s ‘opinion’ in mind; they have to seek Him for wisdom (James 1:5). Omitting God from the equation omits the most important part of the solution.

The biblical creation view is direct about the state of man. As we have mentioned many times, it has not changed. Many serious admonitions are given in the Bible that speak of the choices we have in the middle of a world that generally refuses God. This will not change. That is why the clash of world views will continue. Ungodly people will continue to make noise and have effects. This does not change even at the point where the present universe will be ended (Revelation 9:20-21, 16:8-11).

Hebrews 12:1-3, James 3:13-18 and 1 Peter 4:1-10 (among other references) make it abundantly clear: we have choices about how we live. The choices need to be made in situations that we often do not choose or want. Sometimes our own desires are still contrary to God’s revealed direction and commands in scripture, so the battle is quite often inside us. Nothing is hidden from God, and He is aware of the battle. You see it in Genesis 4:6-7, Job 42:3-6, Galatians 5:16-26, 2 Peter 1:8-9, and dozens of other places. Our life is a walk; not a single decision. The admonition of the scripture is clear: if you sin, make it right (1 John 1:8-9); if you have a problem, repent or turn in another direction (toward Him). Above all, walk knowing Him.

Just as the God of Creation persisted with people in Genesis, He persists with us. He continues to challenge motives and actions all the time—just like He did at the beginning. He wants us to be fruitful in our endeavors. He understands that we are not in a world of peace since the Fall of man. Having the Gospel in the heart does not decrease our awareness of these things, it increases it. He continues to involve Himself in the affairs of men. If the walk of life does not develop along this line, a commitment to God is shallow and often dies like a seed in shallow soil. As soon as the sun hits it, it withers.

John 3:16 is often quoted at the end of Bible studies and books. It is a core scripture in a biblical world view because it speaks a lot with very few words. However, the remaining portion of the quote (John 3:17-21) is important because it provides a summary of the two directions life can take – one that has the benefit of knowing the Creator and results in eternal life; the other that has no relationship with the Creator. God watches both paths and judges accordingly. One path saves a person from sin; the other path means that the person remains separated from God. The conversation is concluded in verse 21 with God’s key point: if you live by the truth, you keep coming to the Light, your walk becomes more transparent, and this process and attitude affects your deeds, or how you conduct life—in real-world—all the time.

In this age, then, there is room for a future for any believer in the God of the Bible, who is the Creator. If you understand the strength of the biblical creation world view and have turned to God with that view in mind, you have a future. You can make a difference because God can make a difference in you. The consequence of a biblical creation view is that we are encouraged to walk forward with Him in mind and heart. If you walk this way, the Creator will walk in your life wherever it takes you.

If students are taking an exam and not participating in a teamed project, the pointers are provided at the end of this page. This is a self-study review for the exam.

D. Assignment

Project work by the teams.

E. Learning Activity

Project work by the teams.

F. Concluding Assessment

🦕 CT? Divide into the project teams already assigned. Each team has five minutes to present the three major points, based on the lesson above:

Explain the differences in history of the universe, the origin of elements, the origin of life/man with respect to a biblical world view and a naturalistic world view.

Explain how social studies of man’s behavior are interpreted differently between the two world views.

Explain the standards of behavior of man from a biblical world view compared to an evolutionary view.

Explain the origin of life and where it is headed for each world view.

Explain the differences in ages for the two views.

Explain how a biblical world view can make a difference in how we work and live. Is there any guidance for living and working in an evolutionary view? What is the basis of authority for each answer?