Booklet > Creation or Evolution > The Scientific = Evidence: A Critical Choice

Consider the powerful words of the apostle Paul: "Ever since the = creation of=20 the world [God's] eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they = are,=20 have been understood and seen through the things he has made" (Romans = 1:20, New=20 Revised Standard Version throughout this sidebar).

Paul's words remind us that we can look at the miracles in the world = around=20 us and see compelling evidence of God's handiwork, understanding not = only that=20 He is the Creator but glimpsing some of His nature and character.

Let's take a glimpse at a particular flower, an orchid with the = scientific=20 name of Coryanthes. Although the scientist's language is a = little=20 technical, it's important to read the account in the author's own words = as he=20 describes his findings and those of another scientist, a Dr. Cruger. The = incredible story is well worth reading.

A built-in bee-bath bucket

According to a famous writer and observer of the wonders of = nature:

"This orchid has part of its labellum or lower lip hollowed out into = a great=20 bucket, into which drops of almost pure water continually fall from two=20 secreting horns which stand above it; and when the bucket is half full, = the=20 water overflows by a spout on one side. The basal part of the labellum = stands=20 over the bucket, and is itself hollowed out into a sort of chamber with = two=20 lateral entrances; within this chamber there are curious fleshly ridges. = The=20 most ingenious man, if he had not witnessed what takes place, could = never have=20 imagined what purpose all these parts serve [emphasis added = throughout].

"But Dr. Cruger saw crowds of large humble-bees [bumblebees] visiting = the=20 gigantic flowers of this orchid, not in order to suck nectar, but to = gnaw off=20 the ridges within the chamber above the bucket; in doing this they = frequently=20 pushed each other into the bucket, and their wings being thus wetted = they could=20 not fly away, but were compelled to crawl out through the passage formed = by the=20 spout or overflow.

"Dr. Cruger saw a 'continual procession' of bees thus crawling out of = their=20 involuntary bath. The passage is narrow, and is roofed over by the = column, so=20 that a bee, in forcing its way out, first rubs its back against the = viscid=20 stigma [the sticky part of the flower that receives pollen] and then = against the=20 viscid glands of the pollen-masses. The pollen-masses are thus glued to = the back=20 of the bee which first happens to crawl out through the passage of the = lately=20 expanded flower, and are thus carried away . . .

"When the bee, thus provided, flies to another flower, or to the same = flower=20 a second time, and is pushed by its comrades into the bucket and then = crawls out=20 by the passage, the pollen-mass necessarily comes first into contact = with the=20 viscid stigma, and adheres to it, and the flower is fertilised. Now at = last we=20 see the full use of every part of the flower, of the water-secreting = horns, of=20 the bucket half full of water, which prevents the bees from flying away, = and=20 forces them to crawl out through the spout, and rub against the properly = placed=20 viscid pollen-masses and the viscid stigma."

Design reveals the designer

These fascinating design details show us the complexity, variety and = even a=20 touch of humor in the world around us. Several scriptures acknowledge = that we=20 can learn of God through His creation.

One such passage is in Acts 14. The apostles Paul and Barnabas made = quite a=20 stir in the city of Lystra by healing a man who had been crippled, = unable to=20 walk, since birth. Idolatry was rampant in Lystra, and the instinctive = reaction=20 by the citizens of the city to this miracle was to worship Paul and=20 Barnabas!

What was the two men's reaction? Notice what they told the people: = "Friends,=20 why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you = good=20 news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living = God, who=20 made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In = past=20 generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he = has not=20 left himself without a witness in doing good-giving you rains from = heaven and=20 fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy" = (Acts=20 14:15-17).

God's servants deflected these misguided intentions and directed the = people=20 to the Creator God.

An orchid that shoots straight

Here's another remarkable example of carefully planned design in the = natural=20 world from the same author cited above:

"The construction of the flower in another closely allied orchid, = namely the=20 Catasetum, is widely different, though serving the same end; and is = equally=20 curious. Bees visit these flowers, like those of the Coryanthes, in = order to=20 gnaw the labellum [lip]; in doing this they inevitably touch a long, = tapering,=20 sensitive projection, or, as I have called it, the antenna.

"This antenna, when touched, transmits a sensation or vibration to a = certain=20 membrane which is instantly ruptured; this sets free a spring by which = the=20 pollen-mass is shot forth, like an arrow, in the right direction, and = adheres by=20 its viscid [sticky] extremity to the back of the bee. The pollen-mass of = the=20 male plant (for the sexes are separate in this orchid) is thus carried = to the=20 flower of the female plant where it is brought into contact with the = stigma,=20 which is viscid enough to break certain elastic threads, and retaining = the=20 pollen, fertilisation is effected."

Here we see another marvelous illustration of God's handiwork. Yet = not=20 everyone sees the evidence of creation in the same way. The scientist = who penned=20 these observations of the wonders of the world around him was none other = than=20 Charles Darwin, and the quotations are from his book
Origin of = the=20 Species (pp. 156-157).

Does this surprise you? It should. Darwin used these examples to show = the=20 ability of plants to adapt and to vary rather than to show the variety = in God's=20 design. Why?

Divergent views of evidence

Why don't we all see evidence the same way?

Charles Darwin was not the only scientist in his time who interpreted = what he=20 studied in creation as evidence of life without a creator. Many others = examined=20 what we see as inspiring, incontrovertible evidence of God's handiwork = and=20 concluded that God was not involved.

But why did they come to such different conclusions, and why do = others still=20 come to those conclusions? Let's examine an important passage in the = first=20 chapter of Romans: "Ever since the creation of the world his [God's] = eternal=20 power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood = and=20 seen through the things he has made," says verse 20.

Paul is saying that the creation is a portal through which we can see = the=20 Creator. Although everyone sees the same evidence, each makes a choice = as to how=20 to interpret it. Some early philosophers made a conscious choice to = reject God.=20 They chose to interpret their studies in a way that would exclude Him. = Scholars=20 in various fields since have followed in their wake.

But, since natural structures exist that random cause-and-effect and = material=20 causes can't explain, many scientists have been and will continue to be=20 prejudiced in their interpretations. Because nature can't always explain = nature,=20 it's perfectly reasonable to infer from natural structures that the = supernatural=20 exists-otherwise many examples from the world around us remain = inexplicable.

"So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not = honor him=20 as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, = and=20 their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became = fools; and=20 they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a = mortal=20 human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles" (verses = 20-23).

We have an important choice to make about the evidence for a Creator = God. We=20 must choose whether we will believe it. Our choice will have a profound = effect=20 on our lives.

If we see God in what He has made, then we have a constant reminder = of His=20 ability, concern, purpose and even His humor. But, if we do not see God, = then=20 there is neither hint nor reminder of His purpose for our existence.=20 Consequently we may imperil the normal workings of our conscience, given = by God=20 so that we would question our thoughts and actions.

Belief and behavior

In the remainder of Romans 1, Paul bluntly makes it clear that = serious=20 consequences come from failing to recognize God in His creation. = Reasoning=20 becomes the substitute for God's Spirit and His Word. Eventually = people's=20 reasonings become rationalizations that can lead them to justify almost = any kind=20 of behavior.

Psalm 14 confirms this: "Fools say in their hearts, 'There is no = God.' They=20 are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good" = (verse 1).=20 As does Romans 1, this verse implies that people who choose not to = believe in=20 God see no need to abide by a divine code of conduct.

However, as the next verse tells us: "The LORD looks down from heaven = on=20 humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God" = (verse=20 2).

God can guide and bless those who wisely choose to accept the = evidence and=20 believe in Him. Let's make the right choice.

Creation or Evolution =97 Does It Really Matter What You = Believe?

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The Scientific Evidence: A Critical Choice

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