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The first part of this verse is deeply revealing:

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

Thought—these words “image” and “likeness” are very far removed from words such as “the same” or “just as.”

Thought—God describes Himself as “Us” and “Our”.

1. Does God live in this universe or outside of it?

Psalms gives much insight to this question.

Ps. 113: 5,6 Who is like the Lord or God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth.

Ps. 139: 7,8 Where can I go from Your spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

At Jesus’ baptism we can read of the “Us” of creation—

Matt. 3: 16,17

16 And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;

17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And in Acts 2:38 we learn of a gift that remains with us when we partake in baptism.

“...and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

What is the reason for this gift? Eph. 1: 13,14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise., who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

It would seem from scripture, God cannot be confined to outside of the Universe solely.

2. What role does perspective play in understanding Genesis?

There is only one perspective that really matters.

Col. 1:16,17. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and FOR HIM. And He is BEFORE all things, and IN HIM all things consist.

We may *see* all kinds of things related to the creation, but our *seeing* doesn’t make it so. God alone is the only one with the correct perspective on creation and its workings. It was created FOR HIM, He is BEFORE all of creation, and all of creation consists IN HIM. Shall we limit God to a perspective generated by a human created science?

3. You have noted God’s signature in everything from the laws of physics to the microwave buzzes of the universe. How powerful is God?

These simple words in Ps. 33:6 say so much. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.” But if mere words that create a universe does not sound powerful, the passage in Acts 17: 24-29 makes things so clear regarding God’s power.

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is He worshiped with mens hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life, breath, and all things, and He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

God has been intimately involved with all of creation throughout space and time and still is. How odd that man’s science would attempt to put time and space boundaries on I AM and His capabilities. His power is without limit. It matters not that we understand it.

4. What does Hebrews 11:1 mean?

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.

“AS LITTLE CHILDREN” When putting our “image” and “likeness” next to God we see ourselves as we truly are. AS LITTLE CHILDREN. It is that humility and honesty that is required to understand Hebrews 11:1. And it is with that kind of humility and honesty that scripture can be accepted at face value.

Either God is or He is not.

If He is, then He is who He says He is.

If He is who He says He is, then His word is what He says it is.

II Timothy 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.

If His word is what He says it is, then there is no reason to doubt it.

Ecc. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.

Solomon was given wisdom from God and this was his conclusion after striving for full mastery of all that he possessed and knew.