Allow me to apologize in advance for my relative lack of scientific knowledge. Though I’m not the most knowledgeable scientist around, I do have some thoughts on the subject of time. I would submit, that on one level, time does exist, but in the larger scope of things, it does not.
Consider first of all, how we measure time. A year is measured by one orbit of the earth around the sun. We even have leap-years in order to avoid adding an extra six hours to every New Year’s Eve. A month was initially measured by the orbit of the moon around the earth. Later on, the length of our months was altered to accommodate 12 months in a solar year. A day is measured by one revolution of our earth upon its own axis. Hours, minutes, and seconds are subdivisions of that “day”. In other words, we measure time according to the movement of objects in relation to one another.
Now let us consider the universe. The further we explore into space, the larger the universe becomes. Much the same can be said for exploration into sub-atomic particles. We haven’t yet found a limit, at either end. I submit that the universe is actually infinite. Now of course, I can’t prove that any more than it can be proved not to be infinite.
Consider now the concept of infinity. A friend of mine used to say, ” Every point in an infinity is the centre”. He probably read that somewhere. But the point is, you can’t really measure anything without a point of reference. How far is it to New York? That depends on where you start. Move the moon and alter the length of a month. Change the speed(also measured by time and space) and change the length of a day. Measurement requires known points of reference. Infinity has no such points of reference; no “beginning, middle, and end”.
Now let us consider eternity. Is eternity defined as time without end? If so, then is it not also time without beginning? Or is it simply, the absence of time? If time is measured in relation to matter that we see in the universe around us, then how would we measure time in an infinity? There’s no question that time exists for us as a way of measuring our existence in the physical world around us. But if we consider the bigger picture(one which seemingly has no borders), time becomes somewhat meaningless.
Would a year still be a year on Pluto? How would we measure months on Jupiter? Or days, for that matter? Can we still use our standard measures of time in places far removed from the point of reference for those measures? If you found yourself somehow floating in space,could you measure distance without parameters? If you didn’t have a watch, could you measure time? For that matter, put yourself in total darkness and try to measure a day, much less a year, without sun and moon.
I happen to believe in the concepts of infinity and eternity. I also happen to believe that our universe is no accident. From a logical standpoint, there’s just too many patterns and balances, as well as seemingly infinite variety, in the universe for me to imagine it could have been created by chance.
Let us suppose that there is a Creator. Let us further suppose that this Creator exists in eternity, therefore outside of time; and in infinity, outside of space and matter. What if this Creator is able to invade time and space, having created both? What if He loves us humans enough to invade time and space on our behalf? What if He were give us an opportunity to live in eternity with Him?
Now of course, that’s just one theory,the way Big Bang is just a theory. I can’t prove Creation scientifically any more than Big Bang can be proved scientifically. I would submit that the possibility of human beings fully understanding the universe ,from within time and space, is unlikely. We need to exist outside of time and space in order to fully understand it. From within, we are limited.
I happen to believe that we can exist in eternity, with God, through faith in Jesus Christ( God in human form, invading time and space). It’s just a hypothesis; one that can’t be proved this side of eternity. But it’s a hypothesis worth believing.
