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 If I were to show you a silk rose, you would undoubtedly
conclude that it was a product of intelligence and design, right?
Now suppose I
show you a real rose, one with all the same characteristics of the silk rose,
but with all the incredible added systems and technologies that we describe
as "life."
If you can conclude that the silk rose is a product of intelligence
and design
while the real rose is not, please stop for a moment and ask yourself, "How and why
did I come to that conclusion?"
Yes, for just this moment, step back from ALL your preconceptions about
life, dig deep into the core of your being and ask
yourself, "HOW and WHY did I come to that conclusion?"
I think you'll find that the answer isn't in the characteristics of the
rose itself, but rather in your ability, or willingness, to recognize and
acknowledge the
designer.
To illustrate, suppose I told you that I had created the real rose myself
from the raw elements of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, etc. You would not
believe that I was in fact its designer and creator for the simple reason
that you do not believe that I have the capability to accomplish such a
feat. If you do not believe in a God who the capability to accomplish
such a feat, neither will you believe that life is the result of His
intelligence and design.
Let's take this a step further. Suppose with advances in genetic
engineering that we are one day able to produce a real living flower, identical to the
one found in nature, from nothing but the raw elements of hydrogen, carbon,
oxygen, etc. Would you still then declare this manufactured flower to be a
product of man's incredible intelligence and nature's flower to be the product of
chance?
The answer, again, is not found in the object itself but in your
underlying beliefs about the designer.
If you conclude that a simple rose, and life itself, is not the result of intelligence
and design, is it
because of a lack of evidence of technology, intelligence and design in life
... or is it simply because of you lack firsthand knowledge of the Designer of life
and belief in His capabilities?
If your beliefs about God influence your objectivity and consistency in judging design and intelligence in the world around you,
seeing silk flowers as designed but real flowers as not, then the only way
to achieve objectivity and consistency is to set aside ALL of the
preconceptions and teachings that influence your mental processes of
perception and evaluation. I know from experience that admitting how
little we really "know" is incredibly humbling, but it is the first step to
gaining knowledge that our current belief systems keep us from seeing.
In my experience, once you accept that God could be our creator, and
seek to grow in that understanding rather than to reject it or rationalize
it away, your eyes will be opened to all kinds of evidence of design and the Designer,
evidence that
you would readily accept in any other pursuit.
All it really takes is a single experience that gives you a personal
awareness, understanding and appreciation of your Creator. Are you
open to that experience? Have you sought that experience? It takes
you beyond the theories and arguments over the evidence for intelligent design, but why debate
whether there's evidence of design when you may be able to meet the Designer
Himself, and to know first hand the touch of His presence in your life?
"There is a
principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against
all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance
- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
Herbert Spencer
"In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1
The fool says in his heart, "There is no
God."
Psalms 14:1
A non-believer is
someone whose life hasn't yet been touched by God.
Author unknown
"The simple fact
that there is a creature, namely man, that can conceive of the concept of
a divine Creator suggests there must be one. Why would every culture be
born with a burning desire to know Him if He didn't exist and wish for us
to earnestly seek him?"
Anonymous
For although they knew
God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their
thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they
claimed to be wise, they became fools.
(Romans 1:21-22)
Do you have eyes but
fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?
Words of Jesus Christ, in Mark 8:18
"The kingdom of God
does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it
is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
Words of Jesus Christ in Luke 17:20-21
"I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew
me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and
have seen him."
Word of Jesus Christ in John 14:6-7
One thing I do know. I
was blind but now I see!
Words of the blind man in John 9:25 |
