WASP-18b, as it is called, resides a thousand light years from Earth.
Scientists say that the tidal interactions between the massive planet and it’s
enormous sun should be pulling them together; however, the planet routinely
orbits its own star in under 24 hours. Its temperatures exceed 2,100C
and this creates clouds of silica-based gems. This means that if we visited
this planet, we might see a sky full of sapphires and diamonds!
We all know about the many animals, which defy scientific laws. The
most common is the bumblebee, which breaks the laws
of aerodynamics because of its massive weight compared to its wingspan.
Scientists also say that dolphin are simply too heavy and large to swim as
fast, jump as high or do as many tricks as they are able to do. Another example
is the 5” long Anna’s Hummingbird. While attempting to impress the fairer sex,
the tiny male bird can dive through the air at around 50 mph. This causes the
hummingbird to whirl its wings at more than a thousand beats per minute and to
burn body fuel about four hundred times faster than a human being.
At Yosemite National Park, scientists discovered a huge variety of microbes, called thermophiles, which
survive at 100C. To get a gist of the enormity of this feat, realize that God
created all living creatures, including thermophiles, largely of protein.
Protein cooks at not much above 40C. Some marathon runners are known to damage
their kidneys as their body overheats. Yet, thermophiles live in this intense
heat and flourish.
At ocean depths of 700m, the pressure is up to twenty times the normal
atmospheric condition. In the deepest of oceans, it is more than a thousand
atmospheres. This is enough to crush a human body. Yet some species of deep sea
fish have no internal body cavities to collapse, so they survive and thrive
here, because of God’s design.
A sperm whale can dive to nearly two miles deep, where pressure reaches
hundreds of atmospheres, and yet its lungs survive. God gave the sperm whale
ribs that flatten when the lungs collapse. Also oxygen is stored in their
blood, which allows the sperm whale to dive for up to ninety minutes before
needing another breath. With human divers, a quick rise to the surface causes
bubbles in the bloodstream, which can cause death. God protected the whale,
however, and this does not happen when they rise suddenly.
At the other end of the earth’s terrain, in the Himalayan mountains, the
migrating bar-headed geese fly in air that is so thin that human mountain
climbers need oxygen. These geese actually enjoy these heights and the cold
weather, because the thin air offers less resistance as they fly, and the
intense cold prevents them from over-heating under their God-given goose down.
The Male Emperor Penguin survives the Antarctic winter, where temperatures
often dip below -50C. God gave them the wisdom to huddle together to share
their internal warmth. The outermost birds continually shuffle to the inside of
the group and each one takes turns braving the extremely cold and cutting
winds. God even gave the males a pocket to protect the eggs and baby penguin.
In the same vacinity, God gave Polar fish their own natural anti-freeze to stop
them from freezing in the icy depths of the sea.
Bats are blind, but they use God-inspired echo-location to create a ‘mental picture’ with so much detail
that they can find the tiniest of
insects flying nearby; and also to detect other bats, in order to prevent
collisions as they streak through the air. God created another phenomenon,
which occurs every autumn. About ten billion birds take off from Northern
Europe, Asia and North America and head for the tropics and beyond. In many
species, the newest born birds follow their parents. However, young swallows
set out on their own journey. No one really knows how they know where to go and
how to return, but God does.
Pigeons and other species of birds seem to read the Earth’s magnetic
signals. God gave them compounds of iron at the base of their beak to detect
the magnetic currents in the earth. Other birds use sight. Some use smell to
detect the scent of ammonia that emanates from their bird colonies. God gave
other birds the ability to navigate by the sun. The night-flyers avoid overheating by using the moon and
stars to navigate. Some birds, like the Indigo Bunting, evidently spend their
early weeks in the nest learning the layout of the night sky. Scientist say
they just need to identify the pole star, because all the other stars
apparently revolve around it. These are all astonishing feats that God created
birds to do.
Well, in spite of all these extraordinary examples, there is a one familiar
creation that is the most astonishing of all…you.
The simplest of mundane tasks undertaken by any one of us requires truly
astonishing physical skills and mental computing power. Consider the talents we
all have to create beautiful music, art, inventions, and scientific and medical
breakthroughs. We are all miracles of God. We are more sophisticated,
intelligent and marvellous than any man-made invention or any of God’s other
creations. God created each of us for a specific plan and purpose with all the
gifts and talents we need to succeed in this area.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, each human being is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You knew us before You ever formed us in our
mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). We are Your most
esteemed creation and You made us to fellowship with You (Genesis 1:26). You care about us so much that You collect all of our tears in Your bottle
and You record in Your journal each one and why we shed it (Psalm 56:8). You will bring vengence upon those who bring
sorrow to Your beloved saints (Romans
12:19). You
alone stretched
out the heavens and spread out the earth by Your mighty power (Isaiah 44:24), and Your love endures forever (Psalm 136:6).
Thought for the Day:
Whatever pleased the Lord,
He created in heaven, in the earth, in the seas and in all the deep places. - Psalms 135:6Read more:
