THIS WORM GIVES GOD THE GLORY
Job 36:3
"I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker."
When scientists completed the first genetic map of an animal, they found that the results have the signature of our Creator all over them. This animal is the nematode, a very small worm. Even though it has only about 1,000 cells, it is very much like more complex animals. It has a nervous system, a brain, and it reproduces sexually. Scientists picked the species because, being transparent, it would be easier to work with.
Scientists had thought that the six-chromosome worm would have about 6,000 genes. But after they examined the 97 million bases in its DNA, they discovered that it has about 20,000 genes. They believe that about 3,000 of those genes are essential for all animal and human cells. This means that as scientists learn about these genes, they will also be gaining knowledge about those same genes in our bodies. The most important genes are clustered in the center of each chromosome, while the less essential genes are positioned at the end of each chromosome. They noted that the most important of the genes have more protection in the center of the chromosome.
Not only is the genetic code of this nematode much more complex than originally thought, but also it is elegantly designed. The genetic code itself is a sophisticated information system which could never have come about by chance. But now we learn that our all wise Creator has also given special protection to the most essential of our genes by placing them in the middle of the chromosomes. The more we learn about how we are made, the more of the glory of our Creator we see in His excellent work.
Father, I thank You that we are so wondrously made. Help me never fear that new knowledge will take Your glory away. Amen.
J. Travis, "Worm Offers the First Animal Genome," Science News, December 12, 1998, v. 154, p. 372. Photo: Caenorhabditis elegans, a species of nematode or roundworm. Courtesy of Bob Goldstein. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Job 36:3
"I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker."
When scientists completed the first genetic map of an animal, they found that the results have the signature of our Creator all over them. This animal is the nematode, a very small worm. Even though it has only about 1,000 cells, it is very much like more complex animals. It has a nervous system, a brain, and it reproduces sexually. Scientists picked the species because, being transparent, it would be easier to work with.
Scientists had thought that the six-chromosome worm would have about 6,000 genes. But after they examined the 97 million bases in its DNA, they discovered that it has about 20,000 genes. They believe that about 3,000 of those genes are essential for all animal and human cells. This means that as scientists learn about these genes, they will also be gaining knowledge about those same genes in our bodies. The most important genes are clustered in the center of each chromosome, while the less essential genes are positioned at the end of each chromosome. They noted that the most important of the genes have more protection in the center of the chromosome.
Not only is the genetic code of this nematode much more complex than originally thought, but also it is elegantly designed. The genetic code itself is a sophisticated information system which could never have come about by chance. But now we learn that our all wise Creator has also given special protection to the most essential of our genes by placing them in the middle of the chromosomes. The more we learn about how we are made, the more of the glory of our Creator we see in His excellent work.
Father, I thank You that we are so wondrously made. Help me never fear that new knowledge will take Your glory away. Amen.
J. Travis, "Worm Offers the First Animal Genome," Science News, December 12, 1998, v. 154, p. 372. Photo: Caenorhabditis elegans, a species of nematode or roundworm. Courtesy of Bob Goldstein. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
AN UNUSED RELIGIOUS ICON?
Psalm 9:17
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
Are we Christians becoming less able to defend the truths of Scripture, like creation? Dozens of studies show that not only are we, as a group, less ready to defend the hope that we have in Christ, but also we are less able to explain why we have that hope.
George Barna, president of the Barna Research group, has analyzed data from 28 religion surveys that he conducted between 1987 and 1996. In 1992, nearly 50 percent of those polled said that they had read the Bible during the previous week. By 1996, that figure had dropped to 34 percent. Yet, in another 1996 poll, 80 percent of those polled said the Bible is the most influential book in human history, and 76 percent said that the Bible is important to them.
Barna concludes from this kind of information that for many Americans, the Bible has turned into an unused religious icon. The result is a general biblical ignorance. Barna documents this fact with examples from other surveys. For example, 80 percent of those asked thought, incorrectly, that the statement, "God helps those who help themselves" was in the Bible. In another instance, 50 percent of those polled thought that Jonah was a book of the Bible while 10 percent thought that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.
If we are to defend the great truths of the Bible - like creation and the flood - and show their relevancy to Christ's saving work, we must each look at ourselves. Shouldn't we all study the Bible more than we do?
Dear Father, increase in me a desire to study Your Word so that, with Your help, I can be more prepared to witness the hope of salvation I have in Jesus Christ. Amen.
David Briggs, "Survey: Bible mere icon in homes," Brainerd Daily Dispatch (Minn) Friday, August 2, 1996, p. 9A. Painting: Was Joan of Arc the name of Noah's wife?
Psalm 9:17
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
Are we Christians becoming less able to defend the truths of Scripture, like creation? Dozens of studies show that not only are we, as a group, less ready to defend the hope that we have in Christ, but also we are less able to explain why we have that hope.
George Barna, president of the Barna Research group, has analyzed data from 28 religion surveys that he conducted between 1987 and 1996. In 1992, nearly 50 percent of those polled said that they had read the Bible during the previous week. By 1996, that figure had dropped to 34 percent. Yet, in another 1996 poll, 80 percent of those polled said the Bible is the most influential book in human history, and 76 percent said that the Bible is important to them.
Barna concludes from this kind of information that for many Americans, the Bible has turned into an unused religious icon. The result is a general biblical ignorance. Barna documents this fact with examples from other surveys. For example, 80 percent of those asked thought, incorrectly, that the statement, "God helps those who help themselves" was in the Bible. In another instance, 50 percent of those polled thought that Jonah was a book of the Bible while 10 percent thought that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.
If we are to defend the great truths of the Bible - like creation and the flood - and show their relevancy to Christ's saving work, we must each look at ourselves. Shouldn't we all study the Bible more than we do?
Dear Father, increase in me a desire to study Your Word so that, with Your help, I can be more prepared to witness the hope of salvation I have in Jesus Christ. Amen.
David Briggs, "Survey: Bible mere icon in homes," Brainerd Daily Dispatch (Minn) Friday, August 2, 1996, p. 9A. Painting: Was Joan of Arc the name of Noah's wife?
SOCIAL SPIDERS
Job 8:13-14
"So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web."
A family reunion among spiders is not a pretty thing. Many of the some 35,000 species of spiders begin eating their siblings as soon as they hatch. For this reason, spiders are typically lone hunters. Evolutionists have always explained that spiders evolved this way because it works best for them.
But a few species of spiders are social. They live together in large communities, caring for each other's young and working together to get food. Their social structure is not like that of bees or ants; but, as one researcher put it, spider society is more like a herd of wildebeests. A South American social spider lives in multi generational colonies that can have hundreds of thousands of members. Australia's crab spider is also social, building a nest of eucalyptus leaves. The colonial orb weaving spider of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest builds huge colonies out of individual orb webs. The largest colony web ever found was 12 feet deep, six feet high and 600 feet long. It contained hundreds of thousands of members!
Evolutionary scientists have been struggling not just with an explanation for how social spiders evolved, but how it happened independently among eight unrelated families of spiders. But the answer should be obvious. The same Creator Who made the wildebeest a herd animal also made social spiders the same way. He did it so we might recognize His existence and then learn of His love for us in sending His Son to be our Savior.
We praise You, Father, for the amazing creativity with which You have signed Your creation so we might seek You. Amen.
Laura Helmuth, "Spider Solidarity Forever," Science News, May 8, 1999, v. 155, p. 300. Photo: Crab spider. Courtesy of André Karwath. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
Job 8:13-14
"So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web."
A family reunion among spiders is not a pretty thing. Many of the some 35,000 species of spiders begin eating their siblings as soon as they hatch. For this reason, spiders are typically lone hunters. Evolutionists have always explained that spiders evolved this way because it works best for them.
But a few species of spiders are social. They live together in large communities, caring for each other's young and working together to get food. Their social structure is not like that of bees or ants; but, as one researcher put it, spider society is more like a herd of wildebeests. A South American social spider lives in multi generational colonies that can have hundreds of thousands of members. Australia's crab spider is also social, building a nest of eucalyptus leaves. The colonial orb weaving spider of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest builds huge colonies out of individual orb webs. The largest colony web ever found was 12 feet deep, six feet high and 600 feet long. It contained hundreds of thousands of members!
Evolutionary scientists have been struggling not just with an explanation for how social spiders evolved, but how it happened independently among eight unrelated families of spiders. But the answer should be obvious. The same Creator Who made the wildebeest a herd animal also made social spiders the same way. He did it so we might recognize His existence and then learn of His love for us in sending His Son to be our Savior.
We praise You, Father, for the amazing creativity with which You have signed Your creation so we might seek You. Amen.
Laura Helmuth, "Spider Solidarity Forever," Science News, May 8, 1999, v. 155, p. 300. Photo: Crab spider. Courtesy of André Karwath. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
ONE OF SIN'S EFFECTS ON FROGS
Romans 8:22
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
Researchers have been trying to find out what is causing frogs to grow extra legs, or in some cases, grow no legs at all. While frogs with extra legs or no legs have been reported for centuries, there was some question about whether the incidence was increasing. Some suggested human pollution was to blame, while others suggested an increase in ultraviolet radiation was causing the problem. But none of the suspected pollutants have yet been found in association with deformations in the wild. Now some answers are beginning to emerge.
Two different research papers point to a parasitic flatworm as the culprit. A study of deformed frogs in California showed that the ponds with deformed frogs also had a species of snail that hosts the flatworm. A second study in the Pacific Northwest showed that the pattern of malformation in frogs followed the pattern that is typical of parasite damage. Researchers there said that the pattern rules out suspected human pollutants called retinoids. Other researchers pointed out that flatworms will probably not be the cause in every case; they still suspect human pollution but have been unable to prove it.
We know that the real cause of these frog deformations is ultimately human pollution. That pollution is called sin. It was man's sin that brought decay and death to God's original perfect creation because disobeying God does have consequences. The whole creation groans under the consequences of man's sin. That's why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from the ultimate consequences of our sin. Someday He will return to deliver all believers and the creation from sin forever.
Father, help me be prepared for the return of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
S. Milius, "Parasites make frogs grow extra legs," Science News, May 1, 1999, v. 155, p. 277. Photo: A three-legged Mink Frog.
Romans 8:22
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
Researchers have been trying to find out what is causing frogs to grow extra legs, or in some cases, grow no legs at all. While frogs with extra legs or no legs have been reported for centuries, there was some question about whether the incidence was increasing. Some suggested human pollution was to blame, while others suggested an increase in ultraviolet radiation was causing the problem. But none of the suspected pollutants have yet been found in association with deformations in the wild. Now some answers are beginning to emerge.
Two different research papers point to a parasitic flatworm as the culprit. A study of deformed frogs in California showed that the ponds with deformed frogs also had a species of snail that hosts the flatworm. A second study in the Pacific Northwest showed that the pattern of malformation in frogs followed the pattern that is typical of parasite damage. Researchers there said that the pattern rules out suspected human pollutants called retinoids. Other researchers pointed out that flatworms will probably not be the cause in every case; they still suspect human pollution but have been unable to prove it.
We know that the real cause of these frog deformations is ultimately human pollution. That pollution is called sin. It was man's sin that brought decay and death to God's original perfect creation because disobeying God does have consequences. The whole creation groans under the consequences of man's sin. That's why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from the ultimate consequences of our sin. Someday He will return to deliver all believers and the creation from sin forever.
Father, help me be prepared for the return of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
S. Milius, "Parasites make frogs grow extra legs," Science News, May 1, 1999, v. 155, p. 277. Photo: A three-legged Mink Frog.
WHY ARE YOU?
Genesis 1:27
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
When you know who made something and why it was made, you know the purpose of the item. That's true of can openers, and it is true of human life. Anyone who doesn't know who designed us or why is almost certain to be confused about their purpose in life.
For generations, evolutionary scientists tried to explain our origin by comparing fossilized bones. But more recently, they have turned to comparing the genetic material of current human groups. You might remember when scientists announced that they had discovered that all living people could be genetically traced to a woman in Africa many long evolutionary years ago. They called her "Eve." Today they admit that this picture is a little simplistic. Further studies have led to two contradictory theories. In the first, all humans today evolved from a single African population. The second position is that modern humans are the result of the interbreeding of populations from Africa, Asia and Europe. Some also admit that the flaw in both positions is that the same genetic data can be interpreted to support either theory.
The major flaw in all of these studies is that they assume man is a product of evolution. As long as evolutionary science refuses to consider God's account, which says He made us, it will be without a solid scientific basis to answer questions about why. And people who do not know why they were made are almost certain to live empty, purposeless lives.
Dear Father, I thank You that You have made me and that You have given me forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bruce Bower, "DNA's Evolutionary Dilemma," Science News, February 6, 1999, v. 155, p. 88. Illustration: Human mitochondrial DNA. Courtesy of Shanel. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Genesis 1:27
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
When you know who made something and why it was made, you know the purpose of the item. That's true of can openers, and it is true of human life. Anyone who doesn't know who designed us or why is almost certain to be confused about their purpose in life.
For generations, evolutionary scientists tried to explain our origin by comparing fossilized bones. But more recently, they have turned to comparing the genetic material of current human groups. You might remember when scientists announced that they had discovered that all living people could be genetically traced to a woman in Africa many long evolutionary years ago. They called her "Eve." Today they admit that this picture is a little simplistic. Further studies have led to two contradictory theories. In the first, all humans today evolved from a single African population. The second position is that modern humans are the result of the interbreeding of populations from Africa, Asia and Europe. Some also admit that the flaw in both positions is that the same genetic data can be interpreted to support either theory.
The major flaw in all of these studies is that they assume man is a product of evolution. As long as evolutionary science refuses to consider God's account, which says He made us, it will be without a solid scientific basis to answer questions about why. And people who do not know why they were made are almost certain to live empty, purposeless lives.
Dear Father, I thank You that You have made me and that You have given me forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bruce Bower, "DNA's Evolutionary Dilemma," Science News, February 6, 1999, v. 155, p. 88. Illustration: Human mitochondrial DNA. Courtesy of Shanel. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
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