Week Two - Day Four: End of Day

This morning we talked about “our finely tuned universe” as a clue that pointed toward the existence of God. The philosopher Alvin Plantinga offers this illustration of just how remarkable the “coincidence” of our existence is given the infinite possibilities for what a cosmic “accident” like the Big Bang could have created.

Plantinga imagines a poker player who deals himself a hand of four aces twenty straight times in a row. The odds of that happening, according to Plantinga, do not come anywhere near the odds of a random universe ending up with exactly the kind of physical properties that ours has. Here’s how Keller summarizes Plantinga’s illustration:

“As his companions reach for their six shooters the poker player says, ‘I know it looks suspicious! But what if there is an infinite succession of universes, so that for any possible distribution of poker hands, there is one universe in which this possibility is realized? We just happen to find ourselves in one where I always deal myself four aces without cheating!’ This argument will have no effect on the other poker players. It is technically possible that the man just happened to deal himself twenty straight hands of four aces. Though you could not prove he had cheated, it would be unreasonable to conclude that he hadn’t.”¹

By the way, you read that correctly. The way theoretical physicists explain the extraordinary set of circumstances in which we happen to find ourselves is to say that given an infinite number of universes, one like this one would necessarily emerge. We “happen” to be living in that one. I repeat, they posit the existence of an infinite number of universes as explanation for why ours should be so extraordinarily calibrated. This may be true, but it cannot be proven. In other words, they have offered an article of faith!

Pause for effect.

Our leading physicists have offered up their belief in an infinite number of universes as explanation for our remarkable universe. If you remember everything we said last week … well, I think you get my point. They call this science (and it is), but at the very bottom of it, it seems to rest on Belief B. They have rejected Belief A in support of equally unprovable Belief B.

Theologian William Lane Craig put it this way:

“In recent years, the scientific community has been stunned by its discovery of how complex and sensitive a nexus of conditions must be given in order for the universe to permit the origin and evolution of intelligent life on Earth. The universe appears, in fact, to have been incredibly fine-tuned from the moment of its inception for the production of intelligent life on Earth at this point in cosmic history.”

Enough with the quotes. I’ll just add, looking at our universe adds new meaning to the phrase “timing is everything”. It really seems like everything was perfectly calibrated and timed to conspire together just right for our arrival. Little wonder that Jesus seemed to be so focused on timing. For example, in response to his mother’s request that he perform a miracle in John 2:4 he says “my time has not yet come.” Then at the end of his life when he was clearly aware of the timing and what was about to happen, while eating his last meal with his disciples, he said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16) Can you think of other indicators of Jesus’ sensitivity to cosmic timing?

1. Look at Ephesians 1:9-10.

   (9) And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, (10) to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

   1. God’s finely-tuned universe is moving toward an already decided end. What is that end?
   2. What do you suppose that means?
2. Let’s end our day by saying the Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13 if you need a cheat sheet.) You know, when you pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,” part of what you are praying is Ephesians 1:10.
3. Lights out!