COPYING GOD'S IDEAS
Genesis 1:31
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
If you want to learn a new subject, find a master at the subject and copy them. If you want to lose weight, find someone who has already lost weight. If you want to program video games, find the ace games programmer and become her apprentice. And if you want to design ingenious and innovative new materials, go to the master designer Himself – God.
Unfortunately, many engineers who might benefit from imitating God's material designs do not give Him the glory, maintaining instead that they are imitating nature.
One example of material design, following what is seen of God's design in nature, is that of fish scales. Scientists at Montreal's McGill University experimented on fish scales by puncturing them and examining the results under microscopes.
If you have work gloves, you will know that you need them to be both flexible and strong. They should be strong enough to resist puncture, yet flexible enough to allow comfortable working. McGill University's François Barthelat realized that fish scales had the properties required. The fish's skin is indeed flexible, but it was discovered that individual scales are very tough and are actually well resistant to puncture and damage. Barthelat's team discovered how fish scales fractured, deformed and interacted in order to develop new materials based on the properties that they discovered. Their resulting artificial scales had to be made in a manner akin to overlapping tiles, so that large surfaces could be covered. The whole process relies on the research into materials, which could only have been designed by God.
Thank You, Lord, for the wisdom, beauty, and sheer ingenuity of all that You have made. Amen.
Genesis 1:31
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
If you want to learn a new subject, find a master at the subject and copy them. If you want to lose weight, find someone who has already lost weight. If you want to program video games, find the ace games programmer and become her apprentice. And if you want to design ingenious and innovative new materials, go to the master designer Himself – God.
Unfortunately, many engineers who might benefit from imitating God's material designs do not give Him the glory, maintaining instead that they are imitating nature.
One example of material design, following what is seen of God's design in nature, is that of fish scales. Scientists at Montreal's McGill University experimented on fish scales by puncturing them and examining the results under microscopes.
If you have work gloves, you will know that you need them to be both flexible and strong. They should be strong enough to resist puncture, yet flexible enough to allow comfortable working. McGill University's François Barthelat realized that fish scales had the properties required. The fish's skin is indeed flexible, but it was discovered that individual scales are very tough and are actually well resistant to puncture and damage. Barthelat's team discovered how fish scales fractured, deformed and interacted in order to develop new materials based on the properties that they discovered. Their resulting artificial scales had to be made in a manner akin to overlapping tiles, so that large surfaces could be covered. The whole process relies on the research into materials, which could only have been designed by God.
Thank You, Lord, for the wisdom, beauty, and sheer ingenuity of all that You have made. Amen.
GOING VIRAL
Matthew 10:29-30
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
"Put thi mack' on, mi lad," shouted my father, "Or tha'll catch thi death o' cowd!"
Translated into the sort of English that those outside Manchester, England, might understand, Dad was advising me to put a raincoat on, as my failure to do so might cause me to get a cold so bad that it could be fatal. Of course, as a professional engineer, my father was completely aware that it was not damp conditions that caused colds, but rather infection by viruses.
A virus is a remarkable object. It is a very small particle. One kind of virus was discovered early in virology because a filtrate still contained infection, having been filtered through a material that should have removed bacteria and other cells. In fact, viruses do not really contain enough material to be properly considered as living, and yet they can reproduce when they behave as parasites on cells. A virus is really just made of a protein and a nucleic acid. But if one part of the virus is missing, it cannot fulfill its function. As such, we can consider it to be irreducibly complex. In an article on the Answers in Genesis website, Dr. Andrew Fabich has described viruses as molecular machines, which bear all the hallmarks of intelligent design.
Viruses are, of course, not popular. It is difficult to think of any good ones, though Dr. Fabich gave a list of beneficial viruses. However, most viruses that we have heard of are unpleasant, so we have to remember that God must have made them all good and beneficial at Creation, and they have suffered the effects of the Fall since then.
We understand that everything You made was made well and perfect, Lord God, including things that have gone wrong because of Adam's sin. We look forward to the day when all this harm will be undone, in the life to come. Amen.
Matthew 10:29-30
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
"Put thi mack' on, mi lad," shouted my father, "Or tha'll catch thi death o' cowd!"
Translated into the sort of English that those outside Manchester, England, might understand, Dad was advising me to put a raincoat on, as my failure to do so might cause me to get a cold so bad that it could be fatal. Of course, as a professional engineer, my father was completely aware that it was not damp conditions that caused colds, but rather infection by viruses.
A virus is a remarkable object. It is a very small particle. One kind of virus was discovered early in virology because a filtrate still contained infection, having been filtered through a material that should have removed bacteria and other cells. In fact, viruses do not really contain enough material to be properly considered as living, and yet they can reproduce when they behave as parasites on cells. A virus is really just made of a protein and a nucleic acid. But if one part of the virus is missing, it cannot fulfill its function. As such, we can consider it to be irreducibly complex. In an article on the Answers in Genesis website, Dr. Andrew Fabich has described viruses as molecular machines, which bear all the hallmarks of intelligent design.
Viruses are, of course, not popular. It is difficult to think of any good ones, though Dr. Fabich gave a list of beneficial viruses. However, most viruses that we have heard of are unpleasant, so we have to remember that God must have made them all good and beneficial at Creation, and they have suffered the effects of the Fall since then.
We understand that everything You made was made well and perfect, Lord God, including things that have gone wrong because of Adam's sin. We look forward to the day when all this harm will be undone, in the life to come. Amen.
YOUR FATHER KNOWS
Matthew 6:8
“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Qohelet, the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, reminds us to "Remember your Creator". Why do we need to remember Him? It is because everything that we value has come from Him. Qohelet has spent eleven previous chapters, explaining that if we do not reference everything to God, then it is all meaningless, just like trying to grab hold of the air.
Most of us have times when we do not know where to turn. We spend so long wondering who can help us through our difficult times, when the answer is within us. It perhaps sounds trite to some to say that God is always with us and that He will listen to our needs. It might sound trite – but it's true. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble", says the Psalmist. "Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psalms 46:1-3)
It is often the very work of God in creation that brings us back to hopefulness. If God could fling the stars into space, if God can move the mountains and control the waves, then He can deal with my little problem. Qohelet says, "Remember your Creator… before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2) Our problems are of more concern to Him than the light of the stars. We can turn to Him – "for your Father knows what you need before you ask him".
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for always being there, always protecting, and always loving. Amen.
Matthew 6:8
“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Qohelet, the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, reminds us to "Remember your Creator". Why do we need to remember Him? It is because everything that we value has come from Him. Qohelet has spent eleven previous chapters, explaining that if we do not reference everything to God, then it is all meaningless, just like trying to grab hold of the air.
Most of us have times when we do not know where to turn. We spend so long wondering who can help us through our difficult times, when the answer is within us. It perhaps sounds trite to some to say that God is always with us and that He will listen to our needs. It might sound trite – but it's true. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble", says the Psalmist. "Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psalms 46:1-3)
It is often the very work of God in creation that brings us back to hopefulness. If God could fling the stars into space, if God can move the mountains and control the waves, then He can deal with my little problem. Qohelet says, "Remember your Creator… before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2) Our problems are of more concern to Him than the light of the stars. We can turn to Him – "for your Father knows what you need before you ask him".
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for always being there, always protecting, and always loving. Amen.
EXTRA-BIBLICAL WRITINGS SUPPORT THE BIBLE'S HISTORY
Genesis 11:8
“So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.”
Many people today tend to dismiss the early chapters of Genesis as legend rather than history. However, if the Bible's story of the Flood and the Tower of Babel are not history there are some established historical facts that have no explanation.
According to the Bible, after the great Flood, people multiplied but failed to scatter over the face of the earth as commanded by God. Having one language, most of the people stayed in one location and built a great city. It was not until God confused their language that they scattered across the earth. If these events did not take place, how do we explain the fact that a 6th century B.C. Chinese writer describes the ultimate God Who created all things in much the same way as an ancient Egyptian writer? And why would these descriptions match 8th century B.C. Greek writings? While it is true that each of these cultures had their unique gods, their ancient writings about the Creator use very special language. Lao-tzu was an 8th century B.C. writer who described the ultimate God as eternal and self-existing. Likewise, an ancient Egyptian writer described the ultimate God as the source of everything in the heavens and on earth as well as all life.
If man was not once of one culture and language, how did all these ancient writers each get the same story to tell? The similarities between these descriptions and those of other cultures bear witness to the historicity of even the earliest parts of Genesis.
Thank You, Lord, for Your saving Word that tells of my salvation. Amen.
Genesis 11:8
“So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.”
Many people today tend to dismiss the early chapters of Genesis as legend rather than history. However, if the Bible's story of the Flood and the Tower of Babel are not history there are some established historical facts that have no explanation.
According to the Bible, after the great Flood, people multiplied but failed to scatter over the face of the earth as commanded by God. Having one language, most of the people stayed in one location and built a great city. It was not until God confused their language that they scattered across the earth. If these events did not take place, how do we explain the fact that a 6th century B.C. Chinese writer describes the ultimate God Who created all things in much the same way as an ancient Egyptian writer? And why would these descriptions match 8th century B.C. Greek writings? While it is true that each of these cultures had their unique gods, their ancient writings about the Creator use very special language. Lao-tzu was an 8th century B.C. writer who described the ultimate God as eternal and self-existing. Likewise, an ancient Egyptian writer described the ultimate God as the source of everything in the heavens and on earth as well as all life.
If man was not once of one culture and language, how did all these ancient writers each get the same story to tell? The similarities between these descriptions and those of other cultures bear witness to the historicity of even the earliest parts of Genesis.
Thank You, Lord, for Your saving Word that tells of my salvation. Amen.
THE GARDEN ON A HILL
Genesis 2:8
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”
In C.S. Lewis’s book about the creation of Narnia, The Magician’s Nephew, there is an “Enclosed Garden”. This is the place where Aslan sent Digory so that he could get the fruit which would heal his mother. It is clear that Lewis is referencing the Garden of Eden in his account, and it is interesting that he chose to position this Garden on top of a hill. The Garden of Eden must also have been on a hill.
We don’t often think about the topography of the early world, but God created the world with hills and valleys and places of interest. It must have been a beautiful world. Today, the places that we think are beautiful often involve hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, so the early world probably had these features.
A river came out of Eden. This river divided into four rivers. Water runs downhill. Therefore, it follows that the Garden from which the river flowed must have been on higher ground than the lands mentioned that were by the four rivers. This means that Eden was on high ground; perhaps it was on a hill, like Lewis’s Enclosed Garden.
Eden is the world that we lost by our sin. Every description of it is as a place of perfection and beauty. Jesus promised the repentant thief that “today you will be with me in paradise” – a word for the perfection of the Garden. Eden is descriptive of what we have been promised, having repented of our sins and trusted in the Savior, because it is a place with the presence of God.
We long to be in the garden of Your presence, out of the dry and thirsty land, in which we find ourselves. Thank You, Lord, for saving me and promising Your presence forever. Amen.
Ref: Lewis, C.S., The Magician’s Nephew. Image: Adobe Stock Images, licensed to author.
Genesis 2:8
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”
In C.S. Lewis’s book about the creation of Narnia, The Magician’s Nephew, there is an “Enclosed Garden”. This is the place where Aslan sent Digory so that he could get the fruit which would heal his mother. It is clear that Lewis is referencing the Garden of Eden in his account, and it is interesting that he chose to position this Garden on top of a hill. The Garden of Eden must also have been on a hill.
We don’t often think about the topography of the early world, but God created the world with hills and valleys and places of interest. It must have been a beautiful world. Today, the places that we think are beautiful often involve hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, so the early world probably had these features.
A river came out of Eden. This river divided into four rivers. Water runs downhill. Therefore, it follows that the Garden from which the river flowed must have been on higher ground than the lands mentioned that were by the four rivers. This means that Eden was on high ground; perhaps it was on a hill, like Lewis’s Enclosed Garden.
Eden is the world that we lost by our sin. Every description of it is as a place of perfection and beauty. Jesus promised the repentant thief that “today you will be with me in paradise” – a word for the perfection of the Garden. Eden is descriptive of what we have been promised, having repented of our sins and trusted in the Savior, because it is a place with the presence of God.
We long to be in the garden of Your presence, out of the dry and thirsty land, in which we find ourselves. Thank You, Lord, for saving me and promising Your presence forever. Amen.
Ref: Lewis, C.S., The Magician’s Nephew. Image: Adobe Stock Images, licensed to author.
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