Our previous posting began to address the insightful and frequently undervalued questions of our toddlers. In the context of a respectful recognition of an Intelligent Designer we can truly understand the many ‘whys’ of life. We noted the sad diversionary tactics of society in answering ‘why’ questions with ‘how’ answers… like misdirecting magicians or politicians. A ‘why’ question probes motivation not procedure. However, those who refuse to recognize the overwhelming logical evidence of intelligent design are emotionally compelled to answer a why question with a how answer. Otherwise their conscience would demand a humbling behavioral submission to a glory that challenges their own.
One of my daughters particularly didn’t like to go to bed. The darkness and isolation of her own bedroom upset her as a young child. My wife or I had to sit outside her door as she drifted to sleep. She would infrequently call out to make sure we were still there, just outside her door as her guardians. Before long we knew exactly where every squeaky floorboard lurked under the hallway rug near her bedroom door. She frequently wanted to know why it was she had to go to bed.
That question bothered me for years. Why is it that creation’s Intelligent Designer requires this energy renewing, deep unconscious rest. The Designer of gravity, matter, space and time, with the power to maintain these interdependent features could certainly have designed animal life without the need for sleep. He can shape a planet like a potter’s vessel on a shaping wheel. He can create light out of darkness. Certainly He could have effortlessly created us without the need for sleep. He doesn’t sleep. There is also this interesting relationship between sleep and darkness. It is quite challenging to change that rotation by sleeping during the day and working at night. This is why second and third shifts offer payment incentives. Night sleep is natural to the construction of the human body. Sleeping during the day is unnatural.
The answer is found in the eyewitness testimony of creation’s author. The Bible constantly identifies death as sleep.
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David (1 Kings 2:10).. David died
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father (1 Kings 11:43)… Solomon died.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers (Deuteronomy 31:16)… Moses died
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep (John 11:11-13).
The Intelligent Designer intended for us to see the obvious connection between death and unconscious sleep. This parallel extends right to the only hope the faithful have: resurrection (awakening from the grave). The Apostle Paul makes it clear there is absolutely no divine reward or eternal participation in the Creator’s plan without the resurrection… without waking up from our death-sleep.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. What advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:16-19, 32).
Resurrection from the dead (waking up from our death sleep) is the exclusive avenue of hope for the faithful suffering under the curse of sin and death ever since our ejection from the Garden of Eden. Awakening is exactly the creation metaphor the Bible uses to project the promise of the resurrection.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:2-3).
This is why sleep is necessary. The very Intelligent Designer built the laws and features of creation around His principles, thereby projecting His truths. However, this glory will only be visible to the small group of people Jesus defines as having “seeing eyes” and “hearing ears” (Matthew 13:14-16). Every single new day, every new rotation of darkness and light paces us through this natural divine ritual of hope. We awaken to the dawn of a new day, just as Christ will raise the dead when he gloriously returns to the earth to initiate a new paradigm for creation. Blending this daily lesson with the last posting we see that after we awaken from our death-like sleep to reflect the promise of the resurrection from the dead we then get dressed. We cover our nakedness, unlike every other animal, bird fish or insect on earth. Shameful nakedness was the direct result of the first sin. The covering of that nakedness is what the principle and promise of atonement is all about, as previously reviewed.
Every single day the whole world naturally projects the divine promise and plan for resurrection and salvation. This is why the Apostle Paul writes:
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:19-20).
Our very Intelligent Designer carefully crafted every feature of creation to project Himself, His principles and His promises. However, only those with seeing eyes and hearing ears can see His glory in the things that have been made.