zitboy...
I apologize if I was incorrect by inferring from what you wrote that you accepted the idea that God created the universe, the earth, and all that is in it, but used evolution to accomplish His will.
"and i reckon that you'll take that belief (God created all by fiat) to your grave, but the resurrection and beyond will be of great benefit in your new appreciation of the patience of God in how He does business in time and space"
Yes, I will carry that belief until my death (no grave for me, this is just my shell), because that is what Scripture teaches. I am sure I will be surprised by many things, and will be very glad to finally understand much more fully all those things that seem so difficult in this life.
"...i'm not doubting what God CAN do, i'm just recognizing what God DOES do"
I am not as confident as you as to all that God does. All I know is what I see and what we are told in Scripture -- I prefer to not speculate on things we cannot know.
"then logically, why have any time at all in the process.......just create a totally perfected universe, or "heaven on earth" as it's been said.......skip the sin, skip the conflict, skip all the frustration that comes with the human experience, and just create instant peace on earth..."
Scripture teaches that when first created, the universe was perfect -- it was only corrupted by sin, man's refusal to obey God, and that is where all the conflict, frustrations, illness, injustice, and all the other problems of this world arose. I will not question God or His plan, and to use human logic to analyze God's reason for doing what He has done is utterly futile. His plan is perfect. The Bible touches on why God allows sin and all the sorrow it produces, but it would take a book, not a post, to go into the subject.
"not a good analogy, considering that there is not another example of that in human history.......all other humans, including the Son of God, have participated in the embryonic stage of human experience"
The universe and all that is in it was also only created once. I will stick with the analogy.
As you alluded, we will know the truth when we stand before the Lord.
mlsoft
