The Intricacies of Creation

How often have we taken the time to look around us and see just how intricate and complex our Universe is? From Galaxies to Stars to Planets, from trees and bugs to dogs and cats, from fish of the sea to fish of the deep sea, from complex cell organisms that we find at the molecular level - all share one thing: they appear to have been designed. Who is the designer? For Christians, Genesis 1:1 gives us the answer. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This entry is meant to look at the intricacies of God's Creation. (All photo credit goes to NASA; Hubble Telescope - Images 1 and 3)

Hubble: Eagle Nebula (NASA)

First, we will look at what has become known as the Teleological argument, then we will take a look at what God's Word says about the intricate and complex Creation around us. The Teleological argument is one used for the existence of the creator God, based on the principles of purpose, design, or direction, in nature. The word "teleological" is derived from the Greek telos, which means "purpose." The basic concept is as follows:

1. Nature exhibits complexity, order, adaptation, purpose and/or beauty.
2. The exhibited feature(s) cannot be explained by random or accidental processes, but only as a product of mind.
3. Therefore, there exists a mind that has produced or is producing nature.
4. A mind that produces nature is a definition of "God."
5. Therefore, God exists.

There are other forms of the argument which assert that complexity necessitates a designer, such as the following:

1. All things that are designed were preconceived, intended, purposed or contrived.
2. Preconception, intention, purpose, and contrivance necessitate an intellect, mind or will.
3. All things that are irreducibly complex display intention and preconception.
4. The universe contains non-man made things that are irreducibly complex.
5. Those things display intention and preconception.
6. Those things necessitate an intellect, mind or will.

Looking at the design in the universe, the Anthropic Principle seems to support this. It is the "philosophical argument that observations of the physical Universe must be compatible with the conscious life that observes it." It was produced from the research that shows why the Earth is the singular most complex area in the entire Universe where life (as we know it) can exist - and the reasons as to why.

What are some of the intricacies of Creation, by this vein? Take the Earth for example. Any closer to the Sun, the Earth would burn up. Any farther away from the Sun, the Earth would freeze. The Earth's axis, which is a 23.5 degree tilt, gives us seasons and other such things. If there was no tilt, the equator would burn up from direct sunlight and radiation - it would become an arid desert. However, because we have the 23.5 degree tilt, we have seasons, which are beneficial across the world.

If the Earth were to move 2% closer to the sun we would fry. If it was 2% further away, we would freeze. The Earth spins at approximately 66,700 mph, which is 18.5 miles per second. NASA tells us that we are "just the right distance from the Sun." Psalms 104:5 says, "He set the earth on its foundations, it can never be moved." Psalms 93:1b, "indeed, the world is established, firm and secure." God set the Earth in just the right place.

Also, the 24 hour day gives us something else: as the Earth rotates, and the moon orbits around the Earth, the night gives things a chance to cool down, perhaps not by much, but it allows for night so that everything does not burn up. The Moon itself revolves around the Earth every 28 days, and controls the gravitational pull, especially on the tide.

All of these intricacies come together so that life as we know it can exist upon the Earth. The planets of our Solar System each have a function, too. Take Jupiter, for example. It is one of the largest planets near Earth, one planet after Mars. We have found large meteor craters on Jupiter. Had these meteors crashed into the Earth, they may have had the potential of wiping out mankind.

Luckily, the mass density of Jupiter, being millions of times more than that of the Earths, sucks in the meteors passing by because of its gravitational force. Without this gravitational pull and the effect it has on these meteors, life on the Earth today would be very improbable, or very scarce. It is yet another intricacy of Creation.

So, now that we have taken a brief look at merely a few of the complexities of this universe, what does scripture say about God's Creation? Genesis 1:16 says, "God made two great lights - the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars." Isaiah 40:26 says, "Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

Hebrews 11:3 points out, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." At the time of this writing, people did not understand what the author meant. Science was ignorant of the subject. But now, we know that the universe is made out up invisible attributes - atoms. Yet another biblical confirmation of the intricacy of Creation. The early Greek Atomists held similar ideas a few centuries prior about the make-up of the universe, but these ideas were unpopular until the past few hundred years.

God himself says in Isaiah 45: 12, "It is I who made the earth and created human beings on it. My own hands stretched out the starry heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts." If God himself said this, why should we question? We ought not to, yet we do anyways. Isaiah 40:12 says, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?" God has.

There will never be a telescope built that can show the entire splendor of God's Universe, to the very deepest regions of space. Revelation 4:11 says, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." God created the entire universe! Jeremiah 32:17 declares, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

Hubble: Carina Nebula (NASA)

Psalm 147:4-5 declares, "He determines the number of the stars, and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." God, creator of the Universe, is the very same who sent his son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins so that by accepting him and repenting of our sins, asking forgiveness, we may be saved. "He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - he remains faithful forever." (Psalm 146:6)

By examining the Psalms, we see that time and time again, God is given praise for his creation. Psalm 104:25, "There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small." Psalm 33:6;9, "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth... For he spoke, and it came to be, he commanded, and it stood firm."

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1) God's creation declares his existence! We are his creation, and by looking at our own intricately designed systems, we can come to the logical conclusion by deductive reasoning that we have an Intelligent Designer. "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" (Psalm 8:3-4) We are God's creation.

With the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, we see one thing: The Creator entered into his Creation to sacrifice himself for this creation so that in him they may be saved. That statement alone brings deep meaning. Nehemiah 9:6 says, "You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." Amen.

Troy Hillman