Anyone who knows me well knows I
am a nerd. I have always been fascinated
by academic pursuits, whether it is reading classical literature, studying
history, or buying chemistry and physics books to “brush up” on things I had
studied in school.
One of the things I really enjoy
is watching the documentaries and specials on History Channel, Discovery
Channel, and the Science Channel.
Recently I watched the series “How
the Universe Works.” If you have never
watched it, I highly recommend it. It is
hosted by a virtual who’s who of physicists and astronomers describing the
science behind some of the biggest questions about how the universe was created
and how it works. Having watched the
series describe our theories about the workings of the universe and the impact
on our solar system, I could not but help to be overwhelmed at the majesty and
grace of such an amazing creation. I am
particularly awed at all of the things that came together to make the Earth
such a special planet that was able to foster intelligent life.
According to this series, the
Universe formed over 13.5 billion years ago when an infinite amount of mass and
energy which was compressed into an infinitesimally small area exploded at near
the speed of light.
Over time, the matter resulting
from this explosion coalesced into stars, which aided by the forces of dark
matter and gravity, grouped into galaxies.
As stars formed and died spectacular deaths in the form of supernovas,
the resulting materials congealed to form planets and solar systems around
these stars.
In our case, these events
happened in just the right times and locations to create the conditions for
life to be created. Our solar system
happened to form in the outer third of the Milky Way galaxy, sufficiently far
away from the galaxy’s core to avoid the intense heat and chaos resulting from
the gravitational pull required to hold the galaxy together.
Our planet formed at just the
right distance from the sun to ensure that we had just the right amount of heat
to support life without destroying the conditions required to maintain it.
Our planet coalesced of just the
right materials to create water and organic compounds.
Even the physical make-up of our
planet and those in our solar system contributed to create unique conditions to
support life. For example, our planet
formed a solid iron core surrounded by a molten metal core. The magnetic field resulting from this odd
configuration provides a shield that protects our atmosphere from the
incredibly harmful effects of the solar winds.
Without such a field, the atmosphere would boil off and our planet would
die. Another amazing example is that
Jupiter’s mass and location in the solar system has acted as a buffer to
protect the earth. Apparently, Jupiter’s
massive gravitational pull has created conditions wherein the planet Earth is
largely protected from deadly impacts by planet killing meteors and other
objects.
The creation of our moon as well
was a blessing. According to scientists,
the creation of the moon was the result of the glancing impact of a huge meteor
off the earth’s surface. The resulting
debris coalesced into the moon. The
resulting tides and currents caused by the gravitational pull of the moon have
been essential to maintaining the conditions to create and sustain life on
Earth.
When I think of all the unique
circumstances it took to create a habitable planet and life on earth, I am astounded
by the wisdom, majesty, and grace it took for our creator to craft such a
universe. It is purely a gift that we
are here today.
Too often I take for granted the
power of my God. Too often I forget
about the pure scale of what God has done.
Sometimes it takes thinking on such universal scale to realize how much God
has done for us throughout eternity and to thank Him for the blessings that He
has poured out upon us.
Often I get caught up in my own
life and problems and I question God. I
question his goodness and his love. My
own questioning reminds me of Job, questioning God’s goodness when he
suffered. But today, I am reminded of
God’s answers to Job. He doesn’t answer
Job’s question of why he is suffering, he points back to his glory and
majesty.
“Who is this that darkens my counsel with
words without knowledge? Brace yourself
like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s
foundation? Tell me, if you
understand. Who marked off its
dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across? On what were its footings set, or who laid
its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels
shouted for joy? Can you bind the
beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the
cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the
constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?” -- Job 28: 2-7, 31-33
Sometimes we just need to put
things back into perspective in order to allow ourselves to put our faith in
Him.
