If the Bible’s description of the earth is not the true, the alternative is unthinkable for a Christian. It would mean that the Bible is not inspired by God after all.
Paul wrote that every word of Scripture is inspired by God.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
This affirmation is repeated by our Lord Jesus himself.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17 (NKJV)
In the verse from Second Timothy above, Paul added that all scripture is profitable for doctrine. This means Genesis Chapter One can and should be used to establish the doctrine of the shape of the earth.
When well-meaning Christians, who put their trust in NASA instead of God, contend that Genesis was never intended by God to be a truthful description of the heavens and earth, it is a contradiction of this principle. When interpreters insist that Genesis is mere poetry, not reality, they accuse God of misleading us, which, of course, is satanic. God always uses poetry and metaphors to beautify and clarify rather than obscure or confuse.
Those who object to biblical cosmology on the grounds that it makes the Bible and the gospel look ridiculous have overlooked that refusing to believe the truthfulness of Genesis Chapter One refutes the gospel because it undermines the credibility of the entire Bible.
The shocking truth is that, if we throw out Genesis Chapter One, we must toss the Word of God in its entirety, which is an unthinkable alternative.
Prayer
Lord, I ask you to open eyes, ears, and hearts to the truth of your Word. Deliver us from the idolatry of believing in a false cosmology instead of your Word. Amen.
