We live in an amazing world, and when you study it, you are amazed at the complexity and the unbelievable marvels of the natural world. Not only that, but the infinitesimal brain of man has no way of understanding the universe. I love to study the universe (astronomy) and our natural world, and that causes you to wonder how it can all be. Firstly, where did it all come from? Secondly, how can it all operate the way it does?

OUR SUN

The sun lies at the heart of the solar system, where it is by far the largest object. 99.8% of the solar system’s mass is occupied by the sun, which is so large that about one million Earths could fit inside the sun.

The temperature at the surface of the sun is about 5,500 degrees Celsius (10,000 degrees Fahrenheit), while temperatures in the core reach more than 15 million C (27 million F), driven by nuclear reactions. One would need to explode 100 billion tons of dynamite every second to match the energy produced by the sun, according to NASA. If we take time just to absorb that, it is mind-blowing for the human intelligence.

The sun is one of more than 100 billion stars in the Milky Way (our own galaxy). The sun is relatively young compared with ages of other stars.

NASA has said this: “The Sun does not “burn” like we think of logs in a fire or paper burning. The Sun glows because it is a very big ball of gas, and a process called nuclear fusion is taking place in its core. Nuclear fusion occurs when one proton smashes into another proton so hard that they stick together… and release some energy as well. This energy then heats up the other materials (other protons and electrons and such) nearby. This heating eventually grows out from the center (or core) of the star to the outside, finally leaving the surface and radiating out into space to be the heat and light we know stars emit.”

People, including scientists, sometimes say that the Sun “burns hydrogen” to make it glow. But that is just a figure of speech. Hydrogen really doesn’t burn in the sun; it fuses into helium, so no oxygen is required! By fusion, the sun “burns” about 5.64 million tons of hydrogen per second, resulting in 5.59 million tons of helium. We all know how light hydrogen is, so 5.64 million tons is enormous – staggering – incomprehensible! I can’t understand it.

LET’S TRANSLATE THAT TO THE UNIVERSE

Our own sun burns/changes 5 million tons of hydrogen every second into helium and produces incredible light and energy.

This is from the European Space Agency – [[“There are something like 10¹¹ to 10¹² stars in our Galaxy, and there are perhaps something like 10¹¹ or 10¹² galaxies. With this simple calculation, you get something like 10²² to 10²⁴ stars in the Universe.  This is only a rough number, as obviously not all galaxies are the same, just like on a beach the depth of sand will not be the same in different places.”]]  This is one estimate. I have seen the number as high as 1027, but what are a few billion stars when we talk these figures?

Our sun is about an average-sized sun, but let’s see how much hydrogen is being “burnt” every second in the entire universe. It is 5 million tons multiplied by 10²² to 10²⁴ stars. AND THIS IS HOW MUCH HYDROGEN IS BEING BURNT/CHANGED EVERY SECOND: 

5,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons every second in God’s universe.

I cannot take it in, not one little bit. Where did such a mass of hydrogen come from? Young people told me once in a forum that everything just made itself. That is like, “Take God out of the equation, and it just happens all by itself.” What is wrong with an education system that dismisses God and claims that all matter just happens to be there all by itself, or worse still, it made itself. That is the position of the fool David Attenborough. (I am correct to call him a fool, for he is a deep-seated atheist, and God says atheists are fools (Psalms 14:1).

THE IMMENSITY OF GOD DEFIES BELIEF

Things are so astounding – “What are these incredible facts going to do to us?” Make us feel incredibly insignificant, I would think. Powerless, in the whole scheme of things. Now we need to take a look at Psalm 8.

Psalm 8:1-6: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who has displayed Your splendour above the heavens! From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man, that You take thought of him, and the son of man, that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands. You have put all things under his feet.”

I don’t know how God made the universe. Not by the explosion of a particle the size of a grain of sand, but then again, it is likely He did not place all the galaxies and the solar systems in there exactly as we see today. Astronomers are seeing the end of life of stars and galaxies crashing into each other and new stars being born. However, God does not work in disorder or mindless randomness. He uses the laws of physics to continue what He put in place. We don’t need to argue that case but be content with what David said. Psalm 19:1-2: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”

Paul, in writing to the Hebrews, wrote – Hebrews 11:3: “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

The secret is in the verse – “By faith.” However, the god of this world has so blinded the eyes of those who won’t believe, they can’t acknowledge the truth. One of the greatest of these blind leaders of the blind is the late Stephen Hawking. Here are some things he wrote:

“I think the universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science,” Hawking, who died in March, wrote. “If you accept, as I do, that the laws of nature are fixed, then it doesn’t take long to ask: What role is there for God?”

In a new book that was published posthumously, Stephen Hawking wrote that it is impossible for God to exist in our universe. Stephen Hawking’s Final Book says, “There’s ‘No Possibility’ of God in Our Universe.” “Did God create the quantum laws that allowed the Big Bang to occur?” Hawking wrote. “I have no desire to offend anyone of faith, but I think science has a more compelling explanation than a divine creator.”

Let’s look at what Hawking said another way. “Did God create the laws of physics and mechanics that allow a big motor vehicle to operate?” Hawking would then conclude that it is the quantum laws that would cause that vehicle to operate, just pure science in isolation. BUT THEN, who made the materials such as steel and thousands of other pieces of material, without which there would be no vehicle?

Hawking is one of those Paul speaks of in his epistles – 1Corinthians 2:14: “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.” 1Cor 1:18: “The word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Romans 1:21-22: “Even though they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” Sadly, Hawking now knows the truth.

THE MYSTERY OF UNBELIEF – OR IS IT?

We ask what is it in human minds that will dismiss God but accept all sorts of irrational propositions instead? I think the human race is just as stupid as people who stand before a brick wall with portals, e.g., 7 of them each fitted with a door. Each door has pictures painted on it from things enticing, lustful, depraved, greedy and pleasure-filled. On one of those doors, there are no pictures, just a plain wooden door. On it is written, “This is the way to God”; and on the other six are written, “This is the wrong way,” “This is the way to destruction,” “This is the path to disaster,” “This is the path to damnation,” “This road leads to a place of lost misery,” and the last, “This is heading to everlasting ruin.”

We stand there and watch, and as the human race passes by, each one chooses the door of his/her liking. But it is noted, not many at all choose the door, “This is the way to God.”

Firstly, we must understand man is a fallen creature, and all his decisions are foolish and “anti-God,” for the nature within him propels him away from wanting to acknowledge God or be in His presence. Only by divine grace can that be done. When a human being is heading away from God and towards destruction, the fallen nature within will want to stay on that path, and in most cases, all warnings and instructions are ignored and/or rejected.

There is an old adage, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” But when you transfer that to spiritual matters, it makes it so much harder because, unless the Spirit of God is present, that man may be convinced but is still blind since he is not spiritually discerning. That is why argument never makes a Christian, but the Holy Spirit in conviction will lead a person to Christ. That is why a person just can’t arbitrarily decide to become a Christian. “But when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.”

God has positioned the universe in place and has provided millions of insights and wonders in creation, and they are all bright lights mapping the path to God. And if a man genuinely acknowledges that and turns to God, the Lord will not disappoint. That man will find God.

People like David Attenborough, now touting in strongest terms this hoax of climate change with its consequential anti-Christian concepts, is a man who will be held a lot more accountable than most other people because he has seen unbelievable wonders in Nature over the years in the Nature programs he produced; but he vociferously rejects any notion of God. It is the fool who says in his heart there is no God. Each man and woman will be judged according to the light afforded to him and her. The South American in the Amazon rainforest 1,000 years ago, who had never heard of Christ or anything relating to Christianity, had the light of creation to guide him to God to recognize a Creator. That is all he had. However, the over-privileged in the western world who have so much access to the Christian faith and the means of considering God, if they reject God, they have a great penalty on them because they have rejected greater light.

When the preacher in Ecclesiastes considered so many things, he concluded in Ecclesiastes 1:8, “All things are wearisome. Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing.” Man wearies himself with nonsense and vanity and lightness, but the weightier things of eternity, he refuses to consider. This is our generation. All is vanity.

GO TO THE FUNGI, YOU SEEKERS

I photograph and study tropical rainforest fungi, and the more you see of the behavior of these organisms, the more one is filled with wonder, and you realize the infinite wisdom of God in the tiniest degree. There is a tiny fungus that has a little cap on it, and before it rains, the cap lifts so a raindrop can hit the little spores inside to scatter them for the continuation of the species. It did not design that for itself, for in doing so with the hundreds of years of evolution, it would have been long dead!

Without fungi, plants could not live. The underground network of fungi is unbelievable, and they have a special relationship with the roots of plants and trees. Rather than use my own words, I will repeat this from the “Pacific Horticulture” site.

“The word “mycorrhizae” comes from the Greek words for fungus and root and refers to the symbiotic relationship that exists between plant roots and certain fungi. In natural settings, these mycorrhizal fungi are present in the soil in association with plant roots. The fungi colonize by attaching to the surface of the root (ectomycorrhizal) or to the inside of the root cells (endomycorrhizal). Then they send their filaments (called mycelium) into the surrounding soil, effectively extending the plant’s roots and root-absorbing capacity, 10 to 1000 times – far beyond what the plant can do alone. Several miles of these ultra-fine filaments can be present in less than a thimbleful of soil. Mycorrhizae supply the water and nutrients needed by the plant for its establishment and survival, and, in return, receive from the plant roots, sugars and other compounds needed by the fungus.”

How did trees grow for hundreds and thousands of years without fungi that were necessary for them to survive? They did not. How did fungi survive without the tree roots underground? They did not. It is a symbiotic relationship, and they had to develop together. God made them that way. That is just one little message from God in this world, along with millions He has given. People are without excuse.

Just as a matter of interest to show God’s wonders – “The largest terrestrial organism on the planet is a fungus called “Armillaria solidipes” – or honey fungus. The largest honey fungus identified in North America is in Malheur National Forest, Oregon. It measures 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) across! That’s considerably bigger than the biggest giant sequoia or African elephant. Scientists also believe that this particular honey fungus may be over 2,000 years old. The next largest honey fungus is in the neighboring state of Washington.” (from ‘EarthSky’) (The Oregon fungus is reported to weigh 400 tons.)

Armillaria ostoyae in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon spans 9.6 square kilometers. The Oregon fungus and another in Michigan are both informally called “the humongous fungus.” (New Scientist)

Honey fungus is widely distributed across the cooler regions of the United States and Canada. It is very common in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. These fungi grow in individual networks of above and below-ground fibers called mycelia. Mycelia work like a plant’s roots. They draw water and nutrients from the soil to feed the fungus. At the same time, they make chemicals that are shared with other organisms in the soil.”

The paragraph underneath contains a bit more on how Mycorrhizae work.

Also from Pacific Horticulture: “Mycorrhizae provide many other benefits to plants. The fungal filaments take up and store water, decreasing drought stress during dry periods. The fungal filaments bind soil particles into larger aggregates with organic glues such as humic compounds; the resulting soil structure allows air and water movement into the soil, encouraging root growth and distribution. Mycorrhizal fungi attack disease organisms that enter the root zone in several ways. Some produce antibiotics that immobilize or kill disease organisms. Others trap root-feeding nematodes and kill them. Some protect roots against attacking insects with a thick “net” of their mycelium. Some protect the plants from disease-causing fungi, such as Fusarium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia.

These activities result in improved survival, enhanced top and root growth, and increased production of flowers and fruits, plus protection from disease and an improved soil structure. The plants can better compete against invasion by weed plants and can better survive drought conditions.”

God has placed so much in this world to prove His majesty and His creation. Do not refuse God or neglect the great salvation He offers.

In the post that follows this one, there is a poem I wrote called CREATION THEN – NOT EVOLUTION. I think you might like it. Please take a look.

ronaldf@aapt.net.au

With each passing day, the feeling that we’re going Home soon gets stronger and stronger. Not our home here on earth but our Eternal Home prepared for us by Our Savior. Once a person receives and accepts Jesus as their one and only Savior (John 14:6; Acts 2:21), a longing develops to be free from this sin-filled world and to be in paradise forever. We come to realize that everything on this earth and about this earth is temporary. Even if we were to live past 100 years of age, it wouldn’t even be an eye-blink in Heaven. (ESV all emphasis mine)

We also realize that not everyone will be there; only those who truly ask Jesus to come into their hearts, forgive them of their sins and be their Savior forever. Satan is a master of deception and does everything he and his demons can do to keep us from believing this. He puts it in our minds that the “things” of this earth are more important than anything and that a relationship with the Lord isn’t really necessary. Is it any wonder that his eternal punishment will be the worst of all?

One thing about planning for our eternity, we would wish that all of our loved ones would have the same mindset so that we can look forward to being together forever. Sadly, this will not always be the case.

In our daily prayers, my wife and I ask that the Lord please bless each and every one of our friends, relatives, and even those who are just acquaintances. We don’t want to see anyone lose their eternal home with the Savior. We ask that the Holy Spirit touch all their hearts in a manner that would cause them to consider their forever and give them what they need to make a good decision as to where they will be.

There is a story about a man on his deathbed that calls for his three sons to come to his bedside. When they arrive, he tells the oldest son and the middle son that he will see them again. He then turns to the youngest son and simply says, “Goodbye.” When the youngest asks why his message was different, the father explains that his brothers had received and accepted Jesus into their lives. The youngest had not and was putting all his faith and effort in the things of this earth. The father told him that if he did not change and call on Jesus to forgive and save him, this would be the last time they would ever see each other again.

Sadly, this is how it will be with many families. Some will be saved, and some will be lost. No one can gain Heaven through the will of any other person; it has to be an individual choice. And by the way, for all those who jokingly say they will “party in Hell with friends,” the biblical description of Hell is total darkness, with each person suffering their own punishment alone.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 reveals that after the rich man died, he immediately was in torment. Lazarus was in the “bosom of Abraham,” which was considered a place of peace and joy. This tells us that when we take our last breath on this earth, those without the Savior will instantly know they made a huge mistake. This will not be the final judgment, as that is reserved for the Great White Throne of Revelation 20:11-15. Paul says in Philippians 1:21 that to live is Christ and to die is gain. He made it clear that he did not fear death because he knew where he would be after this life. Each and every one of us can know as well where we will be spending our forever.

God’s word is not hidden from those who seek it, and it’s not complicated for those who are looking for answers. The best part is that when one receives and accepts Jesus as their Savior, their eternal address is set for Heaven forever. It will be with Jesus in a place prepared for us by Him personally (John 14:1-3).

There’s a line in a song that states, “Knowing you’ll be there makes it easy to go Home.” Another song says, “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” God knows that those who belong to His Son will have a certain impatience about leaving this earth. That’s why we should continue to ask for our daily needs and protection from evil until we leave here to go to our real Home.

When we know that others are truly saved, especially our spouses, we can actually realize that leaving this earth will not separate us forever. In fact, should the Rapture take place while husband and wife are still living, they will be at the feet of Jesus at the same instant. But even if temporarily separated due to death, we know our relationship will not end. Though there is no marriage in Heaven, our relationship will be even more pure, holy and complete than it can ever be here.

Collin Raye recorded a song called “If You Get There Before I Do.” It represents a relationship between two people that started on earth and will last forever. It’s a message of hope, not despair.

1.) I read a note my grandma wrote back in 1923. Grandpa kept it in his coat, and he showed it once to me. He said, “Boy, you might not understand, but a long long time ago, grandma’s daddy didn’t like me none, but I loved your grandma so.

We had this crazy plan to meet and run away together. Get married in the first town we came to and live forever. But nailed to the tree where we were supposed to meet; instead, I found this letter; and this is what it said:

(ref.) ‘If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me. I’ll meet you when my chores are through; I don’t know how long I’ll be. But I’m not gonna let you down; darling, wait and see. And between now and then, until I see you again, I’ll be loving you; Love, Me.’

(2) I read those words just hours before my grandma passed away, in the doorway of a church where me and Grandpa stopped to pray. I know I’d never seen him cry in all my fifteen years. But as he said these words to her, his eyes filled up with tears.

‘If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me. I’ll meet you when my chores are through; I don’t know how long I’ll be. But I’m not gonna let you down; darling, wait and see. And between now and then, until I see you again, I’ll be loving you; Love, Me.”

‘Between now and then, until I see you again; I’ll be loving you – Love, Me!'”

We are looking forward to seeing all those who have gone on before us. The absolute most wonderful concept of this is we will never say “Goodbye” again because of death. To top this off, think how it will be to see all the Saints of the Bible and know they want to see us as well.

For those who won’t be there, I have no doubt that the Father has a way that we will not grieve as we do on this earth when we are separated. I believe that everything in Heaven will be absolutely perfect, and we will understand that God’s way is pure, holy, fair, and totally complete.

This brings to mind a saying that was shown in the video of the above song; “I want to be your favorite Hello and your hardest Goodbye.” The father in the story will be with his two oldest sons forever. We can just imagine how difficult it would be for him to say goodbye to the youngest, knowing he would never see him again.

The “Blessed Assurance” of a believer is that we have Jesus, and He has us. God promised this for us, and He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). We are very near to the time that this age we live in will come to an end. The next phase that will begin will be the worst seven years this world has ever experienced, and God has promised that all who are saved will not be in that “wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10). Paul describes us being taken up to meet the Savior in the air in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, and that it will be in the “twinkling of an eye.”

There will still be those who will be saved during the tribulation, but the cost will be high and severe. It would be so much better to be assured that we will not be in that terrible time. Romans 10:9-13 gives the simple steps. The very last verse tells it all; “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Jesus promises in Revelation 3:20 that “…If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” He will not force His way on us but will accept any and all who will call on Him to receive and accept His wonderful gift that was paid in full at Calvary.

Today would not be too early, as tomorrow may be too late. The “unknown day and hour” is rapidly approaching. No one has done anything that cannot be forgiven at this point, as the unforgivable sin is to not have Jesus as Savior when your last breath is taken here. It will be the greatest decision you will ever make.

Maranatha!

huebshman46@gmail.com