What difference does it make in daily life that something exists instead of nothing? Isn’t that just a mind-bending, philosophical question without real meaning?
No.
Here’s why: If everything exists because God willed it, then your life is not an accident drifting through a meaningless universe. You are not just background noise in a cold, accidental existence. You exist because our Creator wanted a creation where relationship, meaning, and purpose were real.
Believing nothing matters is easy and leads to a “who cares?” take on life. Not good.
Believing God created you on purpose and for a purpose—that’s rebellion against darkness and a defiant shout that says, “I matter!”
The Source Matters
When Scripture says,
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.” —Romans 11:36 (KJV)
it’s making a claim about reality itself. Everything starts with God, is held by God, and always points back to God—including you.
So when the question comes up—Why is there something instead of nothing?—the Bible’s answer is simple:
There is something because God chose creation over emptiness.
God is the reason everything exists, and when you look closely, you see Him everywhere. And that’s not nothing.
The Bible teaches that God created people on purpose and for a purpose: to know Him, reflect His image, take care of His creation, live in real relationship, and bring Him glory. Not because He needed us—but because He chose to share His life, love, and purposes with us.
Let’s break this down.
God Made Us for Relationship
Does God enjoy relationships—connection, conversation, presence—like we do? Absolutely. We’re wired that way because we’re made in His image.
God wants people to spend time with Him. That means talking to Him, listening to Him, and bringing Him into everyday life—not just showing up once in awhile, but walking with Him daily.
God Made Us to Reflect Him
Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image.”
1 John 4:8 “God is love.” (And love requires people, not objects.)
Matthew 22:37–39 “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself…”
People were created to reflect who God is and what He’s like in the world. That reflection shows up through our ability to love, reason, create, choose, and care. When we live this out, we act as living mirrors of the Creator.
God Made Us Stewards of Creation
People weren’t created to exploit the world, but to rule responsibly under God’s authority.
Genesis 1:28 “Fill the earth and subdue it… rule over every living creature…”
We take care of God’s creation by protecting it, cultivating it, and adding value—starting with our homes and families, and also moving outward to our communities and the world.
God Made Us for His Glory
Our lives are meant to point beyond ourselves and toward the greatness of God. His glory isn’t about ego—it’s about truth being seen clearly.
Isaiah 43:7 “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether you eat or drink… do all to the glory of God.”
Genesis 1:27–28 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…”
The Before and the After
Here’s the hard truth: there’s a before and an after to God’s design for humanity.
The before shows Adam and Eve living in perfect harmony—with God, with each other, and with creation.
The after shows rebellion. Disobedience. Separation. Everything breaks—and that broken reality is the world we now live in.
So what happens to God’s original purpose? Is it abandoned? Different somehow?
That’s the next question we have to face—and that’s exactly where we’re headed next.
Why did the man in our story build a house? Because he wanted to use his carpentry skills, show his ability at house-building, and—most importantly—create a place to share with his family, a place they could call their own.
He built a home where they could live in and enjoy life together. His children could arrange their own rooms and paint the walls their favorite colors. His wife could plant and care for a garden. They could put up a swing set or play volleyball with friends out in the big backyard.
They could add rooms and other spaces as needed, build a treehouse in the big oak tree out front, plant more trees and shrubs around the property, and watch them grow over time. They could add value to the home that was already built.
The man’s home was a workspace, a playground, and a wonderful place for him and his family to live together.
That is why the man built his house—to be a home.
And that is why God created the universe—to be a home for His family.
What Does God Want?
God desires a family to love—and to love Him in return. The world is the home God built for His family. We are the family with whom our Heavenly Father seeks to share His love, life, and goodness.
Ephesians 1:4–5 (KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will…
There it is again: “the good pleasure of his will.” God created the universe because it pleased Him to build a home for the family He desires.
And that family is us—you and me. We are the objects of the Creator’s endless, limitless love.
So What?
Now we know what God’s purpose in creating everything was—and still is. But what about us? What about you and me?
How do we fit into God’s grand plan and purposes? What is our purpose, and how is it connected to God’s purpose?
We will dig into the answers to those questions—so stay tuned.
There was a man several years ago who moved with his family to an area of the country where he had never lived before. He was a total stranger in the new town.
The man was a skilled carpenter by trade, but no one in the entire county knew that—or anything else about him.
After living in a small rented cottage with his wife and children for a few months, the man set about building a new house in which to live.
He took his time and worked hard and carefully on the house because he wanted the final result to reflect his great skill and workmanship. He used quality woods, such as cedar and fir, because only the very best materials would do for his new home.
After a year or so, he finished building the house, with his family name in magnificent carved oak set above the front door as a finishing touch. It was beautiful. In fact, it was the most beautiful house in the entire area. People would stop as they passed by to look at it, and they were amazed at the man’s skill and wisdom in house-building.
Now everyone for miles around in that county knows who the man is, and his name has become famous there.
God Builds a House
So, why did God create the universe and everything in it, including you and me?
To answer that question, we should look at what God Himself says. One of the main ways God speaks to us is through the Bible, so let’s look there.
Psalm 19:1 (KJV) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
God made the whole universe and everything in it to show who He is—to display His glory, power, wisdom, and love. Why? Because it pleased Him to do so.
And because He wanted to share His creation with someone. More on that to come.
“Make sure to seek God’s presence more than His power…”, someone recently said.
I’m a bit befuddled. How do I separate The Creator from His power? He who is almighty, whose power spoke light and the earth into being, who infused man with His spirit, who BY HIS POWER raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, ummmmm WHAT??
It seems silly and futile and a waste of time to entertain such notions that don’t appear in any scripture. Just logically thinking, the power of God in the love of God saved me from a life of darkness and misery. Without His power, what is He?
He would be just one of the many gods, indistinguishable from the gods of the Greeks and Romans. It would in fact be foolish to worship such a god.
When the Prophet Elijah said choose ye this day whom ye worship, and fire rained from heaven on his sacrifice and not on that of Baal, was not the presence of God power?
When Moses was on the mount, when the pillar of fire went before the children of Israel, when the sea parted, was not the presence of God power and did not the people worship?
I seek the presence of my God who is powerful, who raised Christ from the dead and whose Kingdom on earth is yet to come. Whose Son will return in Power and glory and righteousness. And I seek His son, who reflects the Father and who has the power to forgive my sins and heal me.
So when I seek God’s presence, I don’t worry about whether I’m splitting hairs between His presence and His character. How can I be in His presence and not be changed by His Power? Ultimately we seek the Father because He has the power to change us. His presence is perfect Love, who gave His only begotten son and raised him to be the first fruits of those that believe, and that, my friends, is power
I just read a great blog article by Dan Kent from a couple of years ago titled ‘Why Did David Pick Up 5 Stones?’. Good stuff, highly recommended reading, which you can find here.
Kent’s piece is a good meditation on faith and faithfulness as well as a thoughtful discussion on how God does and does not act and respond to His people in this age and broken world.
The last two sentences in the article really hit home for me:
“Don’t stand around waiting for God to act, or for God to win your battles for you: don’t stand around watching for what God might do: rather, show God what you can do. Gain wisdom, gather knowledge, develop skills, give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.” Dan Kent – thatdankent.com
If you’re wondering what your own individual purpose in life might be and what it is that you should be doing day by day, it’s hard to find a better, more succinct admonition than, “…give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.“
As I pointed out in a previous post in this ‘Your Life And What Comes After’ series, God created man not only to reflect His image and add value to His creation, but we are to work together with Him to do so.
We are helping the Creator bring about His grand plan for His creation. That is our purpose. Look for your own individual purpose there and you will be delighted and amazed at what you find.
To monitor current news and events related to faith and culture.
To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.
To present the Biblical truths which reveal God’s nature and purposes and proclaim the lifechanging, world-altering, radical message of Yeshua the Messiah – Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.
At Bible Rebel, this is our one and only creed: Our living God is a loving God and the Bible is His revealed word and will. Our hope and eternal salvation relies entirely on the work of God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
So, expect some controversial viewpoints and uncomfortable ideas in some of the coming content from Bible Rebel.
Coming in October/November
More in our “Your Life and What Comes After” series.
More in-depth content on deeper biblical studies and theological issues.
We’ll also be continuing our regular features, guest articles, and series:
Biblical Literacy: What the Bible does and doesn’t say
They Said It: Poignant quotes on a variety of topics
Guest articles
And more…
Watchdogs
As always, we’ll be keeping a watchdogs eye on all of the latest political, religious, biblical archaeology, and cultural news and events from around the world and bringing to you in bite-size chunks to keep you informed.
Finally, are you interested in contributing content to Bible Rebel?
Bible Rebel is always looking for interesting, compatible content for our biblerebel.com website/blog. We are accepting writing and video submissions for review and possible publication on our platform.
If you have a teaching series, opinion piece, research piece or other content that fits with the Bible Rebel mission we’d like to see it!
If your content fits our mission and creed, included below, then email it to us at in**@********el.com. Written pieces should be no more than 500 words and video content no longer than 7 minutes – either can be submitted as part of a longer series for consideration.
