We now have a robust theory (the Big Bang) for the origin of the universe. And we also have a scientific model for how it has progressed since. But no matter how deep we drill down into our science world, we are missing the answer to one giant question: Why? Why is the universe here? Why are you and I here? Why did things develop this way?
It is interesting to me that while science may not know the why, scientists do know that something very special is happening here. Let’s start by looking at one of the forces that was created and active in that first billionth of a second of the universe’s existence; the force of gravity.
Dr. Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist and popular figure in science news. You may recognize Dr. Kaku and his flowing white hair from appearances on CBS This Morning, the website Curiosity Stream, or those Turbo Tax commercials. In a documentary titled, How the Universe Works: Expanded Edition, Dr. Kaku says this about the origin of the universe, “We think that the original universe was a state of perfection; a single unifying force that existed at the instant of the big bang.”
Soon after the “instant of the big bang”, the force of gravity broke off from the unifying force with just the right properties to carry our universe through the ages to life as we know it today. Again, here is Dr. Kaku, “If gravity were a little bit stronger perhaps we would have had a big bang which would stop and then it would re-collapse immediately into a big crunch. Life would be impossible. If gravity were a little weaker, then we would have a big bang that just keeps on going and the universe would freeze to death.”
Do you get the picture? Gravity sprung forth from the unifying superforce at exactly the right strength to create galaxies, stars, and life itself. I believe this “fine-tuned for life” points to a Creator. I believe it points to God. The universe is not a random accident. And this uniqueness is recognized and understood by much of the science community.
Dr. Kaku, not a professing Christian to my knowledge, sees the same thing. He concludes in the show, “So our universe in some sense is fine-tuned. We are just right to have a universe that expands slowly making it possible to create DNA and life as we know it.” Yes, just right to create life as we know it.
I believe that “life as we know it” is the “why”. It is the why the universe is here. It is the why you and I are here. It is the why it developed this way. God is the Creator behind the why. God is the “perfection” that existed at the instant of the big bang. And He created the universe, He created the earth, He created you and me to experience life as we know it.