It is amazing how many examples of intelligent design we can recognize when we open our minds. Lately, there has been a great deal of discussion about the earth’s climate and the impact human activity has on our environment. We hear about global warming, ocean currents, sea-level rise, weather patterns, and atmospheric gases. Each of these topics is a piece of a very intricate puzzle.
What seems to be missing in this puzzle is the very large part God plays in the whole picture. In fact, we need to recognize that the complex balancing act of the earth’s environment is convincing evidence of the work of an intelligent plan by a Being with unlimited power and knowledge.
What else would we call it but the work of God.
With each group focused on their particular area of concern, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. And it is a picture that paints a portrait of the master artist we call God.
Once we step back to view the bigger picture, we begin to see the incredibly complex combination of elements that allow life to exist on earth.
The tilt of the earth creates the seasons that drive the recycling of plant life that lives, grows, and dies, only to feed the next generation of its species. That same seasonal cycle creates the freeze/thaw cycle that turns mountains into plantable soil. While we might complain about summers that are too hot or winters that are too cold, that seasonal rotation is critical to life on this planet.
The rain that spoiled our picnic plans is critical to providing moisture for plants to thrive.
The rotation of the earth provides a cycle of activity and rest for animal life. More importantly, the timing of that rotation prevents the surface of our planet from becoming too hot or too cold to support life. That same rotation cycle allows water to exist in liquid form, an essential ingredient for life.
The earth orbits our sun at just the right distance to allow life to exist. This is commonly referred to as the “Goldilocks Zone, ” and is a critical factor that science uses to judge whether life might exist on planets outside our solar system.
The thin layer of gases that forms our atmosphere provides our ability to breathe and drive our metabolism. That same layer of gases serves to protect us from the sandstorm of meteorites that rains down daily.
Earth’s magnetic field does more than help us navigate. It also serves as a shield to block much of the sun’s lethal radiation.
Taken as a whole, this incredible combination of elements is what makes life on earth possible. Those who would believe that our existence is just the result of a series of accidents of nature probably have never truly examined the miracle of our existence.