Microscopic Magnificence

LightGrams
December 19, 2019
Volume 23, Number 40

Gingerbread houses are edible and visual treats that we commonly see around the holidays. Popularized by the fairy tale “Hansel And Gretel”, millions of children have had the thrill of building their own version of these delicious houses.

And so has Canadian researcher Travis Casagrande; he has constructed his own version of a gingerbread house. But in place of gingerbread he used silicon. And to see his creation you’ll have to use a microscope.

The tiny house was etched with fine detail by using a stream of charged ions. It sits atop a tiny snowman, also etched with fine detail. Together, the snowman and house are about the breadth of a human hair. It’s hard to imagine having the patience and the skill to create such a miniature masterpiece.

Casagrande’s creation doesn’t begin to match what is found inside each of our bodies. Shaun Doyle, writing on Creation.org, says this about cells, the building blocks of all life systems: “A cell has billions of parts that can’t reproduce by themselves, and yet when they are put together in the right way—the conglomeration can reproduce itself!” (https://creation.com/biblical-biology)

Doyle looks for a comparison to “the humble cell”: “And to what can we compare the cell, in terms of complexity? A 747? No. That’s an insult to the cell.” A true comparison would be more on the scale of a fully automated, self-reproducing New York City!

How do we account for such a complicated, precise system? Do 747s “just happen”, or are they designed by intelligent engineers? Casagrande’s gingerbread house didn’t just happen. Neither has our universe: “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4).

David didn’t know about cells or DNA, but he understood the big picture: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).

We learn this truth in the very beginning of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). I cannot believe that the car I drive “just happened”. The computer I’m using to compose this message didn’t just somehow evolve. These and dozens of other complex inventions I use daily are the result of intelligent people developing them. How can I believe less about this body I inhabit?

Romans 1:18-22 speaks of a tragedy that frequently occurs: people refusing to admit the obvious. “Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~

Copyright, 2019, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).

“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.

Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for noncommercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.