Rows of apple, pear and cherry trees in white and pink blossoms under a cloudless blue sky, the orchard was in full bloom. Bees buzzed from one flower to the next gathering nectar. Sun rays reflected from a nearby pond surface and ducks basked in the warmth of the spring morning. A tabby cat explored the grassy meadow, looking for mice. Poplar trees, dressed in fresh green foliage, swayed gently in the breeze. Recent swallow arrivals returned to their old nests or were busily building new ones, and a blackbird sang heartily. The stork had returned to her old nest on the chimney top and surveyed the breathtaking scene.
At some point in the distant past, the universe, including planet Earth and all that is on it, came into being. No one knows exactly when and how, but we can marvel at its complexity, diversity, order and beauty. Ponder, for example, the adaptation of organisms to existing conditions, the complex functions taking place with infinite precision, and the delicate balance in nature (only relatively recently disrupted by human activities).
Considering the intricacy of just one cell is astounding. When one takes into account that millions of cells form the numerous organs performing hundreds if not thousands of functions in a living creature, it becomes mind boggling. Multiply this further by the number of species comprising land, sea and air creatures (including all insects and microorganisms). Add to this the interdependence of all living things and the factors affecting environment and climate, as well as the enormously vast and complex universe beyond our planet (in comparison to which the Earth is like a speck of dust).
Indeed, the natural world is awe inspiring. Even in today’s scientific and technological world, a great deal about the mystery of life is not understood. While not an absolute proof in themselves, the above-mentioned phenomena in their incredible intricacy and complexity provide evidence to support the biblical account of a Being or Mind of supreme intelligence and wisdom behind all that exists.{4} When all is taken into consideration, the probability of everything evolving by mere coincidence or blind chance, without any design, forethought or guidance becomes infinitesimal. Some have stated that in reality more faith is needed to believe in blind evolution than in the existence of a Creator.
Everything visible operates according to principles of law, order and conservation, and is therefore quite predictable. (At the subatomic level, processes become considerably more complicated and are far from fully understood.)
Species produce offspring in their own likeness and seeds germinate into the plants or trees they came from. Life cycles continue predictably from birth, via maturing and reproduction, to death. Energy and matter are conserved through natural cycles – for example, water, carbon and nitrogen cycles. Living organisms absorb elements from the air or soil, use them as building blocks or for fuel, and excrete them again, thus returning them into the environment. Cells change continually, aging, dying and being replaced. Everything is interconnected.
A delicate balance and harmony are essential for the proper functioning of all aspects of life. Whenever the order and balance are disrupted – most often through destructive human activities motivated by greed and selfishness – problems result. These may manifest themselves, for example, in upset weather, natural disasters, physical disease, mental illness, relational problems, and premature death.
The universe is like an intricate time machine with myriads of clocks regulating innumerable activities. The Earth, for example, turns around its axis every 24 hours and around the sun every 365¼ days. The sun and moon rise and set according to preset timers. Seasons come and go with their associated weather patterns. Tides go in and out with regularity.
The animate world also abounds with evidence of inbuilt clocks. For example, swallows migrate thousands of kilometres before winter. They leave their European nesting grounds at the same time every year, fly to the same destination in Africa, and return again in the spring to where they came from.
Salmon also have astounding migratory habits built into their life cycle. They hatch and spend their early life stages in fresh water. In their second year, they swim down the river to the ocean where they grow to adult size. Toward the end of their life, between ages four and seven, the fish make a final journey of several thousand kilometres across the ocean, back to the river estuary where their life began to secure the next generation before dying.
Flowers start blossoming at more or less the same time each year. Likewise, fruit ripens and leaves fall according to an inner timing. Young animals and human babies leave the womb after predictable periods of time that are the same for all the members of a species. Birds know how long to sit on their eggs and what to do when the eggs hatch. They understand how and when to teach their young to fly and to prepare them for life – be it in a local area or including long migratory journeys.
Within the bodies of humans and other creatures, all organs work together without the control or even awareness of their “owners”. In “social” species, such as ants, bees, wolves and geese, there is order and cooperation, each group member knowing its role and tasks for the benefit and preservation of the others. All functions are predictable, occur in a timely way, and follow internal programming or instinct.
Like in a beautiful symphony, there is harmony throughout the natural world. Interdependence and cooperation occur everywhere. The countless life forms and natural cycles are intertwined and balanced (barring unwise human intervention). Although struggle and death also take place, they serve to maintain equilibrium and keep the natural cycles going.
Not only is everything in the natural world balanced and functional, but beauty also surrounds us. Consider the harmony of the colours. The world is not just black and white with shades of grey, but is filled with bright as well as muted, well coordinated colours in marvellous variety. With its basic colours of blue and green, the natural environment has a calming, rejuvenating and balancing effect on the mind, heart and body. Splashes of red, yellow, orange, pink, purple and brown add interest as well as promoting feelings of cheer, serenity, inspiration and vitality, among others.
The natural beauty, aesthetically pleasing to the senses, brings happiness, enjoyment, and even amusement. We admire the delicate shape of a violet, orchid, or cherry blossom; the yellow carpet of a dandelion covered meadow; and even the purple flower of a prickly thistle visited by a furry bumblebee. Who can help but smile at kittens, cubs or puppies playing; or hungry chicks with their beaks wide open for mother to drop something in? Before each of us lies a seemingly endless variety of delightful living and non-living things for our eyes to take pleasure in. If only we can pause to admire and smell the lilacs, to explore the forest path, to climb the mountain, to listen to the waves on the seashore.
As a piece of art communicates about the artist, the natural world attests to the qualities and character of the Creator. One can discern love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and patience as well as humility, wisdom, generosity, and imagination throughout the physical world.{5}
Divine love appears in the abundance of good things surrounding us, such as warm spring sunshine, a cool fresh breeze, sweet juicy strawberries, and tender parental care. The creation reflects wonderful benevolence. Barring humanity’s destructive deeds, nature functions harmoniously. Furthermore, the Creator’s care and provision are unconditionally available to all creatures. While effort and struggle may be required for survival, all organisms are well equipped for life in whatever circumstances they find themselves.{6}
Nature displays joy and even humour – birds chirping, lambs frolicking and exploring their world, human mothers excited about the first smile of their baby. How can we not be amused by kittens hitting each other with their paws as they enforce their “social order”, or a puppy barking at a bug? Or, who doesn’t enjoy watching toddlers at their first attempts to pull themselves up on the coffee table, discovering what it feels like standing on their feet? Light-heartedness and playfulness abound among living creatures.
Away from the hustle and bustle of human rushing, peace and tranquillity come to the fore. Walking in a forest, for instance, one feels refreshed by the soothing greenery, cool shade, and soft scents. Generally, animals are quiet or make non-disturbing noises. Most birds sing pleasantly, insect buzzing is usually not irritating, and neither is the croaking of frogs. Dogs, cows and other animals only make ongoing bothersome noises when upset or unhappy.
Overall, nature’s design has inbuilt gentleness. Under normal conditions, climate remains balanced and pleasant, with hurricanes, tornadoes and violent storms being more the exception than the rule. Destructive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are only occasional occurrences. Most animals are non-aggressive to humans and attack only if threatened or if human activity encroaches on their habitat. Predators are in a minority and usually only kill for food to survive. In addition, they are a vital part of ecosystems and if absent, the other animals tend to overpopulate and become destructive to the environment. In the past century or two, however, the balance in nature has become seriously disrupted by imprudent human activities, and consequently violent natural phenomena are on the rise.
Patience can also be seen in nature’s design. In the animal kingdom, creatures patiently wait for their young to hatch and grow up, sometimes under adverse conditions, for which they are equipped. Male emperor penguins, for example, endure weeks of frost and blizzard without eating, huddled together, each with an egg on his feet, waiting for the young to hatch, the spring to arrive, and their female partners to return from feeding in the sea.
Even though God is supreme, sovereign and omnipotent, his awe inspiring handiwork demonstrates humility – its inherent power is not flaunted before humans. Mighty displays of power in nature through such occurrences as deafening thunder, blinding lightning, or terrifying tsunamis are relatively rare. Instead, a quiet display of wisdom, glory, and generosity occurs in sunrises and sunsets, starry and moonlit nights, and the myriads of living organisms of direct benefit to humans.{7}
The imagination of the Creator is seen in the astounding variety of designs, sizes, and colour combinations. How many shapes of leaves, types of flowers, kinds of seed “containers”, and ways of seed dispersal are there? How many different beaks, flying habits, and nest types come to mind? What about the various sounds that animals produce to communicate with each other, many inaudible to the human ear? Sizes in the animal world range from the 30metre long and over 100 tons in weight blue whale, to microscopic organisms visible only under electron microscope. The plant kingdom at its large end features the 100 metres tall giant sequoias with a base diameter of 10 metres. These trees and the whales make humans look miniature in comparison. All this is, however, dwarfed, by incredible heavenly phenomena such as the billions of galaxies of which the Milky Way is only a tiny part.
Humans are the only creatures on the earth who have been endowed with free moral agency. Created in divine image and given stewardship (not ownership or licence to exploit) over the rest of the natural world, we are in a special position. Our nature, however, has been marred by what has been referred to as the Fall – the choice made by our ancestors in primeval history to go contrary to their Maker.{8}
Estranged from God, human nature is not subject to divine teaching and is a paradoxical mixture of good and evil. While men and women can create inspiring art, compose near celestial music, and perform sacrificial deeds, a dark side also lurks, described in the Bible as the “acts of the sinful nature” or “works of the flesh”. Others use the term “ego”. This accounts for traits such as selfishness, unfaithfulness, intemperance, intolerance, strife, envy, jealousy, greed, anger, hatred, rebellion and murder.{9}
The global balance and harmony has been disrupted by human disregard for what has been divinely ordained. As a result, pain and suffering have entered – sickness and disease on the individual level; war, poverty and famine on the national level; and destructive natural disasters on the global level. Physical and spiritual laws governing life, when ignored or neglected, bring about adverse consequences – the law of cause and effect too is in operation (referred to by Buddhists as karma). While forbearance, mercy and patience operate in the universe, justice and judgment are also present.{10}
Although cause and effect as well as order and predictability overall exist, in the human life this doesn’t always appear to work. Sometimes unexpected and unexplainable suffering comes to those who have done all in their power to follow a right way of life. Conversely, a person who does evil is seemingly getting away with it or even appears to prosper.
The biblical story of Job portrays a just man unjustly afflicted, thus overturning the notion that humans can control their destiny by their behaviour. At the end of the story, God reveals himself as the Creator who does great, mysterious and incomprehensible things for divine reasons.{11}
The book of Ecclesiastes shows the futility of trying to fully understand life, but advises trusting and remaining faithful to God regardless of the apparent injustices or meaninglessness.{12} Some of the psalmists and prophets also lamented about the seeming gross injustices. They were, however, reassured that in the end justice would prevail.{13}
In infinite and unfathomable wisdom, God has created an ordered universe (even though the law of chaos also operates) and allowed humans, made in divine image and given freedom of choice, a limited control over it. The Creator has given people a desire to know how the universe works as well as to understand their lives in relation to it, to each other, and to God. While we have been able to discover a great deal about our world and universe through scientific exploration, a large amount still eludes us. In this life, ultimate understanding that surpasses human reason is unavailable to humans except through special revelation, but even then much for now remains awe inspiring mystery.{14}
The Bible, however, gives a wonderful hope. A time is coming when the Creator and all humanity will be reconciled. There will also be restoration and renewal of the universe. Then too new knowledge will be revealed and previous mysteries understood. A pristine heaven and earth will emerge with an order, beauty and harmony that will pale today’s world into insignificance.{15}