The idea that the universe has been around forever is absolutely incorrect because nothing is forever because we have not reached forever yet and we will never do so. And even though matter and energy cannot be created, they had to come from somewhere! Energy is inside matter, but, someone had to put the energy in the matter! If nobody made matter, then......there would be no matter. Maybe the idea that matter cannot be created is false.........
Energy is not matter. Friction tries to stop matter from moving. Inertia is a law of physics that states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Of course, intertia is only true if a force is not applied. So, let's say that the universe is the object and the Big Bang is the force. Remember, if a force is applied to an object, if the object is in motion, it stops moving. But, if the object is not moving, the object moves. So basically it goes no motion to motion and motion to no motion. So, the universe was not in motion before the Big Bang. But the Big Bang is what gave it motion. Unless God gave it motion. But maybe the Big Bang represents God. Maybe the Big Bang became God after it happened.
But, "Sometimes, the things we cannot see are the most real things in the world.," - The conductor from The Polar Express. We cannot see God. But, we feel He is there. So, this quote supports this theory.
Or maybe the universe created itself.
Or maybe something else created the universe.
Or maybe we will never know.