CHRISTIANITY FOR THE LAST DAYS

Friday, June 1, 2012

EVIDENCE - PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD - FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW - 1A


THIS LIBRARY CREATED ITSELF AND ARRANGED ALL THE SHELVES AND LIGHTING

TRUE OR FALSE

It would be very difficult to prove that the library in the picture created itself and all the books that it contains. To claim that it did so and that it arranged the shelves and chairs and lighting without any planning or intelligence would not be reasonable. Assuming that an accident or mutations put all the books in order would not be logical either. Even without the skill and expertise of a scientist anyone can look at things that are orderly and designed for a purpose and know that those things are evidence of  a designer or creator. We know that it required active and living intelligent minds to write the books, and other intelligent minds to build the library as well as the shelves to hold the books.


In the same way, God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.


What are some of the evidences of the Creator's creative ability ? Where can we see His design skills on display ?


FINGERPRINTS OF GOD IN THE NATURAL WORLD


Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:29)

All around us we see abundant evidence of order, precision, beauty, adaptation and intelligent planning. Consider these marvels of creative design: The variety of beautiful flowers and their perfumes; the 6-sided hexagon shape of every snowflake crystal; the sonar abilities of a dolphin; the tensile strength of a spider’s web; the strength and efficiency of the honeybee honeycomb; the physical and chemical properties of water; a hummingbird in flight; the seasonal migration of the monarch butterfly; and the radar system of a bat.


Could these things be the result of a series of accidents or an explosion in the distant past ?


FINGERPRINTS OF GOD IN THE HEAVENS


THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. (Psalms 19:1)


Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: HE calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that HE is strong in power; not one faileth.  (Isaiah 40:26)


The planet Saturn has 17 major moons and none of them ever collide with Saturn's rings. Some of the moons travel clockwise and others travel counterclockwise. The moon that is farthest away revolves in a motion opposite to Saturn and its rings.


If gravity were any stronger then smaller stars could not form. If gravity were weaker then the bigger stars could not form and no heavy elements could exist.


Nuclear force holds atoms together. If nuclear force were larger there would be helium and heavy elements but no hydrogen. If nuclear force were smaller then there would be hydrogen and no heavy elements. Without hydrogen and heavy elements there could be no life. If nuclear force were 1 part in a thousand stronger or weaker than it is now, carbon could not exist and carbon is the basic element of every living thing. 


In the heavens above us there are the same evidences of pattern, order, beauty, accuracy and purpose that we see in our own world – only magnified to an astonishing degree. Consider these wonders of the star studded heavens: The enormous size, weight, speeds, numbers, distances and temperatures of the billions of planets and stars; the precise calculation and co-ordination of their weight, motions, speeds, temperatures and orbits; the fine balancing of attractions and repulsions; the split-second timing; the perfect  synchronization – the clock-like regularity; and all maintained in a state of harmony by constantly-operating laws and controls. Is it possible that all these marvelous wonders brought themselves into existence ? Could all this be the result of a series of accidents or an explosion ?


This study will be continued in the next part of this series "Facts You Need To Know" 1B.


© 2012 Tyrone Keels
www.issues-of-life.com