If God created everything perfectly, why do we observe entropy increasing according to the second law of thermodynamics?

CREATION IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE

In the beginning, all things emerged from a divine act that was declared “very good” (Genesis 1:31). This original perfection is evident throughout the opening chapter of Genesis, where the earth, the heavens, and all living creatures came into being according to a precise design. No hint of disorder or corruption casts a shadow on that initial state. Instead, nature and humanity flourish in harmony, reflecting the careful planning and benevolence of the One who set it all in place.

INTRODUCTION OF CORRUPTION AND ENTROPY

After humanity’s disobedience, Scripture records that creation was subjected to a profound change. Genesis 3:17–19 notes that the ground became cursed. The New Testament further clarifies that “the creation was subjected to futility” (Romans 8:20). This futility is often linked to the concept we now define as entropy—an increasing disorder over time. While originally everything existed in a perfect order, the fall introduced a form of frustration or decay, aligning with observations about the second law of thermodynamics.

WHY A PERFECT GOD WOULD ALLOW ENTROPY

1. A Law with a Purpose: Even within the very good creation, certain physical laws—including the processes governing energy transfer—may have operated differently before the fall, or they were intended to serve beneficial ends. The second law of thermodynamics does not necessarily equate to evil or imperfection on its own. It can also drive cycles of renewal, helping ecosystems maintain balance.

2. Consequences of Sin: According to Romans 5:12, sin brought death into the world, transforming reality’s original state. Many commentators link this spiritual and physical disruption to the observable decay in nature, suggesting that our present universe is not as it was first created.

SUPPORT FROM SCIENCE AND DESIGN

Evidence from various fields can still point to a purposeful design:

• The rapid stratification observed at Mount St. Helens after its 1980 eruption is cited by some geologists as an example that large-scale geological features can form quickly under catastrophic conditions, aligning with a timeline of a relatively young earth.

• Polonium halos, studied by some scientists, are considered by proponents of intelligent design to be indicators of rapid granite formation, suggesting that earth’s rocks did not always form over millions and billions of years.

• The detection of soft tissues in certain dinosaur fossils (e.g., finds by Dr. Mary Schweitzer) has raised fresh questions about conventional time scales, offering discussions among those who propose a more recent creation.

None of these examples by themselves prove or disprove the workings of entropy; rather, they highlight that creation exhibits complexity and cannot be explained purely by undirected processes. In tandem with Scripture, they reveal an intentional structure, even in a cosmos now subject to decay.

BIBLICAL TEACHING ON THE UNFOLDING OF ENTROPY

1. Romans 8:20–22: This passage teaches that creation “groans” and longs for redemption. Entropy or seeming disorder is a temporary condition introduced so that humanity recognizes the need for spiritual restoration.

2. Genesis 3:17–19: The curse on the ground indicates a transformation of nature that aligns with increasing disorder, labor, and eventual physical death.

MYSTERY AND REDEMPTION

Even as the second law highlights a universal trend toward disorder, Scripture offers hope of a coming restoration. “Creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay” (Romans 8:21). This future promise indicates that the current realities of entropy and decay are not permanent.

THE ULTIMATE RESTORATION

Believers look forward to “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). The resurrection of Christ demonstrates divine power to overcome decay and death, as seen in the empty tomb. This event, supported by extensive historical and textual evidence, stands as the cornerstone of hope. If the One through whom all things were made (cf. John 1:3) conquered death in a physical resurrection, there is assurance that entropy does not have the final word.

CONCLUSION

The observation that entropy increases, as described in the second law of thermodynamics, does not conflict with the biblical teaching that God created everything in a perfect state. Rather, Scripture presents a clear narrative of a catastrophic moral fall that affected the entire cosmos. The ensuing decay or futility underscores humanity’s need for salvation and highlights the dramatic contrast between the present fallen creation and God’s promised future restoration. Entropy is thus both a reminder of the world’s brokenness and an invitation to trust in the redemptive work that resolves all disorder.