<![CDATA[LIVINGSTONE FELLOWSHIP - God\'s Creation]]>Sun, 10 May 2026 19:01:44 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[The WONDERS of WATER]]>Wed, 02 May 2018 08:47:12 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/gods-creation/the-wonders-of-waterPicture
“He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their home; they sing among the branches. He waters the hills from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the service of man, that He may bring forth food from the earth.”
Psalm 104:10-14

The Bible and Water
One of the oldest Books of the Bible, Job, written almost 4,000 years ago, reveals an understanding of ecological relationships, erosion and distillation, the significance of water to the regeneration of plants, the clouds as water vapour, the process of evaporation and condensation and the water cycle.
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Marsh Reeds

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? While it is yet green and not cut down, it withers before any other plant.”
Job 8:11-12

Regeneration of Plants

“For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.” 
Job 14:7-9
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Smoothing of Rocks

“As water wears away stones and as torrents wash away the soil of the earth…” 
Job 14:19

Clouds

​“He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it.” 
Job 26:8

Evaporation, Condensation and Precipitation

“For He draws up drops of water, which distill as rain from the mist, which the clouds drop down and pour abundantly on man.” 
Job 36:27-28

“Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.” 
Job 37:11
Dew, Hail and Ice

“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt, to cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man; to satisfy the desolate waste and cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass? Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? The waters harden like stone and the surface of the deep is frozen.” 
Job 38:25-30

“He causes the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.” 
Psalm 135:7

The Water Cycle

“All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again.” 
Ecclesiastes 1:7

Ecological Insights in the Scriptures
Here we see that the ancient prophets, including Job, King David and Solomon understood water’s essential relationship to the ecology, its role in erosion of hillsides, smoothing of rocks, regeneration of plants, the water cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation and the clouds as composed of water vapour.
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Understanding the World of Nature
Because so many of us today live and work in cities, insulated and isolated from the country side, many tend to ignore the vital role of water, unless we are caught off guard by a sudden storm, or a flash flood. However, the authors of these ancient Bible books had an intimate knowledge of their natural world, which compelled them to have great respect for the power of the Creator, demonstrated in the dynamics of water.

Taken for Granted
Water is so common that we hardly pay attention to it, unless we experience a searing drought, raging floods, stifling humidity, or a paralysing blizzard. Water often provides us with much joy and delight, as we see a sunrise or sunset reflected off a river, lake or ocean. But most fail to consider the unseen properties of water that makes it the one thing that makes life on this planet possible.

The Blue Planet
Earth can rightly be called the blue planet because, as far as we have been able to discern so far, ours is the only planet in our solar system with life and water.

Hydraulic Sculpting
Anyone who has stopped to survey spectacular canyons, such as the Fish River Canyon, or Blyde River Canyon, would have to consider the tremendous power of hydraulic sculpting as millions of litres of water have cut through the earth to form these massive canyons. Water can be as gentle as a morning mist, or as cold and hard as ice. Water can be as irresistible as a crashing wave, or a tsunami.
Water is Life
Water and life go together. Virtually everything alive on earth has its source in water. Of course, marine creatures live in and depend upon liquid water and are composed primarily of water. Many creatures and plants depend upon water vapour and are also composed mostly of water. People who live in the humid tropics, can literally feel the water all around them in the sweltering heat.

Our Bodies are Mostly Water
Our bodies are mostly composed of water. A baby is about 78% water. An adult male is estimated to be composed of 65% water. At adult female is composed of about 60% water. Older members of our families are composed of about 50% water. We live longer and remain healthier by drinking more water. Water is the very substance of our cells.

Water Enables Us to Live, Move and Think
Water lubricates and operates our blood flow, digestive systems, metabolism and even muscle and bone movements. Water provides our bodies with the temperature control critical to maintain life. Water even helps us to think. Our brains are 75% water. While we can live for about 30 days without food, we cannot live more than 3 days without water.

Hydrogen and Oxygen
Most of us have forgotten almost everything that we learned in school about the Periodic Table. However, most of us can remember the formula for water: H2O. Water is a compound formed from two atoms of Hydrogen and one of Oxygen. Hydrogen and Oxygen are the Creator’s basic building blocks. Science calls these elements.

Hydro Genesis
Hydrogen is the most basic of all elements. It comes up as number one on the Periodic Table. The word Hydrogen is made up of two Greek words, meaning water and born. Hydro genesis. Water, birth and life are inter related. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up something like 90% of its weight. Hydrogen atoms have a positive electrical charge and Oxygen has a negative charge. Together they are like magnets which attract each other and together form water vapour or drops of water and eventually clouds, thunder storms, puddles, streams, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans.
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The Properties of Ice
Generally we understand that as liquids become cooler they become more dense until their molecules stand still and freeze. However, as water gets colder, it does get more dense, but just before freezing, it expands. That is why ice floats. If it did not do this, then ice would form at the bottom of lakes and rivers and gradually build up, killing all life in the rivers or lakes. This would ultimately destroy all life on earth.

Discovering the Character of the Creator
The 19th century author George MacDonald, wrote in Discovering the Character of God: “I walked home one Winter Sunday morning after church. It was a lovely day. The sun shone so warm that you could not help thinking of what God would be able to do before long – draw primroses and buttercups out of the earth by force of sweet persuasive influences. But in the shadows lay fine webs of laces of ice, so delicately lovely that one could not but be glad of the cold that made the water able to please itself by taking such graceful forms and I wondered over again, for a hundredth time, what could be the principle which, in the wildest, most lawless, fantastically chaotic, apparently capricious, work of nature, always kept it beautiful. The beauty of holiness must be at the heart of it somehow, I thought. Because our God is so free from stain, so loving, so unselfish, so good, so altogether what He wants us to be, so holy, therefore all His works declare Him in beauty. His fingers can touch nothing but to mould it in loveliness; and even the play of His elements is in grace and tenderness of form.”

Cohesion
Water has a surface skin so that even a sewing needle can be made to float on the surface of the water. This surface tension enables water to form droplets, vital to life processes and important to the function of every living cell.

Adhesion
While cohesion causes the water molecules to stick together, adhesion helps water to stick to other things. It is this adhesive force that creates capillary motion, the ability of water to climb up tubes. Cohesion and adhesion together make water molecules able to reach up and grab the sides of a tube and seemingly in defiance of gravity, pull itself upwards while at the same time, reaching down and pulling fellow molecules up. It is this adhesive property that enables water to move up through living plants and through the capillaries of our body.
Temperature Control
Water is the earth’s thermostat and our human body’s thermal regulator. You may expect water to become a gas at room temperature. However life exists because it does not. Water does escape our surface skin and become vapour through the process of evaporation. E-vapor-ation cools the surface area where it occurs. Water also stores heat extremely well and gives it up reluctantly. It is water’s ability to store heat and hold it, that it is just one more way that it supports life on earth. If water did not retain heat so well and if it did not cover over 70% of the earth’s surface, the temperature fluctuation on the earth between night and day would become so extreme that all life would quickly cease to exist.

Solvent
Virtually all natural elements can be dissolved into water, from sodium to gold. Water has the capacity to carry to every cell in our bodies the dissolved nutrients and critical components we need to live a healthy life.

Fresh Water and Salt Water
Although water seems to be abundant along the coast lines, rivers and lakes, over 96% of the earth’s water is found in oceans. While sea water is critical to life everywhere, it is too salty for human consumption, for irrigation and for most agricultural and industrial purposes. Fresh water amounts to approximately 3.7% of the world’s water supply. However, most of that is in glaciers, ice caps and in the atmosphere. Of all the water in the world, only about 0.007% of the global water supply is available to human beings, as fresh water in streams, lakes and wells. However, even that is more than enough for all of our needs.
Abundant Fresh Water
It is calculated that if all the world’s fresh water was evenly divided, each human being would have over 5 million litres. In a normal life span, we would tend to take in about 45,000 litres. So we have more than enough fresh water available for all of our needs. If we do not pollute it, do not over exploit it and do not hoard it, all air-breathing creatures of the earth loved and cared for by our Creator, would have more than enough fresh water available.

The Constancy of Water
Two thousand years ago, less than 3% of the total population living today, were on earth. Yet there is no more water available today, than there was then, or at the day of Creation. We live in a closed system as Psalm 104:10-15 describes.

“He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their home; they sing among the branches. He waters the hills from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the service of man, that He may bring forth food from the earth and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread which strengthens man’s heart.”
Psalm 104:10-15

The Threat of Pollution
Rivers, lakes and wetlands are vital to the health and survival of all domestic and wild animals and people. However, it is estimated that 1 out of every 5 people in the world are without access to safe drinking water. Half of the world’s population lack adequate water purification systems. 40% of the world’s population do not have adequate access to sanitation. Three billion people suffer from water related diseases and millions die each year from cholera and other water borne diseases. In Bangladesh, 60% of infant mortality is related to water borne diseases.
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The Decline of Water Quality
Rapid population growth and overcrowding in cities, has not only over-burdened water supply systems, but has also led to the downgrading of the quality of available water. Much of the world’s fresh water supply has been contaminated by pollution, dumping of sewerage and chemicals from industry. Hormone and antibiotic laced animal products are also finding their way into our fresh water supplies. Chemical pollution is creating a devastating effect on both human and animal immunity, endocrine and reproductive systems. The huge amount of hormones found in both food and water are leading to an early onset of puberty. Rapid urbanisation has also tended towards more intensive agriculture production, with fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, poisoning and choking river systems and infecting food supply.

Stewardship of Creation
The Creation Mandate makes clear that we must not only consume water, but be its caretakers. The life, health and well-being of billions of animals and people throughout the earth depend upon our understanding and wise management of the earth’s resources. Our Lord said that whoever offers a cup of fresh water will receive a reward. Providing clean water to friends, neighbours, visitors and the animals who share our part of the world, is a Christ-like act of neighbourly love.

Wise and Efficient Irrigation Methods
More than 70% of the water drawn from the world’s rivers, lakes and underground aquifers is used for agriculture and irrigation. More than half of that water is lost to evaporation before it even reaches the roots of the plants. So one of the most significant water stewardship practices which we could develop, would be more efficient drip, or micro irrigation, systems.

Recycle, Renew and Reuse
Recycling urban waste water to irrigate and fertilise fields and rain water harvesting from roofs, would be other positive developments. Western countries have learnt to use half as much water to produce a tonne of paper, as for example, China does. Creative landscaping to match natural local vegetation and rainfall is also wise. It is not necessary to have green lawns in a desert, maintained by massive irrigation. Desert gardens made of cacti and rockeries may be more appropriate. In our homes, repairing water leaks, installing low-flow shower heads, washing only on full washer loads and using dishwashers only when they are full and channelling that water into the garden, are other ways we can recycle and use grey water from showers, sinks and washers to water plants. Harvesting the rain water that falls on our roofs into large water containers, to later be utilised for either the garden, or drinking purposes, is also a wise option.
Care for Creation
The wonder of water should remind us of the One who created our world and our responsibility to be good stewards of all of His Creation.

Water in the Bible

“In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” 
Genesis 1:1-2 

The Spirit of God brooded over the fathomless depths of the oceans as the Creator brought life out of the waters. The Lord God created the earth with the capacity to nourish all the life to which it gives birth. Life could not exist without water.

All Creation Testifies to the Creator

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the Heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you Heaven of heavens and you waters above the Heavens! Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.”
Psalm 148:1-
The New Covenant

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…” 
Ezekiel 36:25-26

Born of Water
After conception we grew for nine months, swimming in the placental water sac of our mothers. This provides the simplest explanation for our Lord Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus 

“…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’”
John 3:5-6

We are first born naturally out of water and when we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are born a second time – born of the Spirit.

Power Over Evil
The sea often symbolises evil and chaos in the world. God's power over the sea shows His power to limit and ultimately destroy all evil (Psalm 46:2-3; Psalm 74:13-17; Daniel 7:3).
Water in Biblical Miracles
Water is a primary element of many of the miracles of the Bible:
  • The Creation of life (Genesis 1).
  • The Flood of Noah (Genesis 6-9).
  • The preservation of baby Moses in a basket on the Nile River (Exodus 2).
  • Several of the plagues on Egypt involved the River Nile (Exodus 7-10).
  • The dividing of the Red Sea to enable the entire nation of Israel to pass through it (Exodus 14).
  • The water which God provided from the rock in the wilderness (Exodus 17).
  • The dividing of the Jordan River to enable the entire nation of Israel to pass through into the Promised Land (Joshua 3).
  • How the Lord provided for the Prophet Elijah during the drought (1 Kings 17-18).
  • The fire that fell on Elijah’s water saturated altar on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).
  • The floating axe head on the river as witnessed by Elisha (2 Kings 6).
  • Our Lord Jesus turning water into wine (John 2).
  • The miraculous catches of fish in the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5 & John 21).
  • Our Lord Jesus Christ walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14).
  • Our Lord Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4).
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​Miracles of Nature
Each of these miracles demonstrated the power of God. However, consider the fact that the regular processes of nature are also miraculous. 

“Who does great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number. He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields.”
Job 5:9-10

“He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number.” 
Job 9:10

Water from the Rock and From Clouds
Is the sending forth of water from the rock in the wilderness any more awe-inspiring than the water that God pours forth from the clouds to provide the fresh water essential for our daily life?

The Pillar of Cloud by Day and Fire by Night
Is the guidance of God through His presence in the towering pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, in the wilderness more magnificent than the manifestation of massive, silver-lined thunder clouds that dash over the earth’s surface with thunder and lightning?

Water and Wine
Is the turning of water into wine any more amazing than God's daily miracle of drawing up colourless, tasteless water from the earth, forcing it through the vines to produce sweet and savoury grapes? “…A vineyard of red wine! I, the Lord, keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.” Isaiah 27:2-3

Creator and Sustainer
While our Lord Jesus Christ walked on earth, He performed extraordinary miracles. But prior to His Incarnation and since His Ascension, to this present day, He performs daily miracles which maintains all material aspects of the cosmos.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist.”
Colossians 1:15-17
By the Word of His Power

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” 
Hebrews 1:1-3

He Makes all Things New
For the One who created all matter and continues to hold all material things together, the One who bonded the first Hydrogen atoms with Oxygen to form the first life-giving water, is the same One who changed the composition of water to wine when He was on the earth. He is the same one who offers us the water of Eternal Life.

Wells of Salvation

“Behold, God is my Salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my Salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of Salvation.” 
Isaiah 12:2-3

Forsaking the Fountain of Living Water
For those of us who have worked in the desert, water is the most basic daily need and concern. To have a guide who knows where the spring or well is, can make the difference between life and death.

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of Living Waters and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water.” 
Jeremiah 2:13

“O Lord, the Hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be ashamed. ‘Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the Fountain of Living Waters.” 
Jeremiah 17:13
Living Waters Flow from Christ
Zechariah spoke of when the Lord Jesus Christ would come to Jerusalem:

“And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur.” 
Zechariah 14:8

A Fountain of Water Springing Up into Everlasting Life
In John 4, we read of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well:

“…If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water. The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?’ Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 
John 4:10-14

Rivers of Refreshing Water in the Desert

“A man will be as a hiding place from the wind and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” 
Isaiah 32:2
Rivers in Desolate Heights

“I will open rivers in desolate heights and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water.” 
Isaiah 41:18

Springs of Water

“They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them.” 
Isaiah 49:10

Come to the Waters

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” 
Isaiah 55:1

Rivers of Waters

“They shall come with weeping and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel…” 
Jeremiah 31:9

A Fountain Shall Flow from the House of the Lord

“And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip with new wine, the hills shall flow with milk and all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; a fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Acacias.” 
Joel 3:18

Living Fountains

“For the Lamb who is in the midst of the Throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” 
Revelation 7:17
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Rivers of Living Water

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” 
John 7:37-39

Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
In order to be filled with the Holy Spirit we need to thirst.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” 
Matthew 5:6.

We need to come to Jesus. Only our Lord Jesus Christ can satisfy our spiritual thirst. It is He alone who can fill us with His Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11).
Drink
We need to drink. We need to receive the Holy Spirit. A step of faith is needed. Even a baby can drink.

Believe
We need to believe. We are filled with the Holy Spirit when our hunger and thirst leads us to the Lord Jesus Christ and by faith we receive the fullness of the spirit to surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rejoice

“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of Salvation.” 
Isaiah 12:3

Come to Christ

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” 
John 6:35
The Fountain of the Water of Life

At the end of the Book of Revelation, we read:

“And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.’” 
Revelation 21:6

Come to the Water of Life
“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” 
Revelation 22:17

Life Everlasting
Without water, life could not exist. Without the living waters of our Lord Jesus Christ, everlasting life would not be ours.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 
John 7:37-39

​Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
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]]><![CDATA[Will Animals be in Heaven?]]>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/gods-creation/will-animals-be-in-heavenPicture
There is no doubt that animals will be in Heaven. The Bible is clear:

“Now I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse…”
Revelation 19:11.

The Bible describes the angels around God’s throne as having features and characteristics like that of a lion, a bull and an eagle (Ezekiel 1). God Himself is likened in Scripture to a lion, a leopard, a bear (Hosea 13:7-8) and to an eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11). God made a good and perfect earth, populated by many animals. God directed Adam to name the animals – indicating relationship.

Creation Worships the Creator
The largest book in the Bible, the middle book of the Bible, the Hymn and Prayer book of the Bible, the Psalms, reveal that all of God’s Creation have contact with God (Psalm 93). All God’s Creatures praise Him.

“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures… beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl; …let them praise the Name of the Lord for His Name alone is exalted. His Glory is above earth and heaven.”
Psalm 148:7-13.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
Psalm 150:6

The living creatures around God’s throne who are singing Holy! Holy! Holy! is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His Glory! are animals (Isaiah 6:3).
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Every Creature
The last book of the Bible presents the final climax of the ages when all Creation faces the Creator. First the four living creatures (the animal-like angels around God’s throne, as described in Ezekiel 1) praise God, then the twenty four elders, then the Redeemed people of God, then the angels (Revelation 4:6; 5:12). Finally the great scene is described when all living beings present their worship to Almighty God.

“And every creature which is in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the Throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 
Revelation 5:13

Consider the Sparrows
God created all the animals (Psalm 104). All animals belong to God (Psalm 50:10). God cares for the animals.

“Jesus said: ‘are not the five sparrows sold for two copper coins and not one of them is forgotten before God.’” 
Luke 12:6.

It is that Scripture which inspired the first act of the Union of South Africa, the minting of the half cent coin and later the one cent coin with two sparrows on it – reminding us that God cares for the very least.

Animals Matter to God
There are those who say that animals do not matter, but the Lord Jesus taught that His people are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 6:28). If a sparrow is worthless, then of what value are you? A hundred times zero equals zero. A million times zero still equals zero. For you to be of great value, the birds of the air must be of some value. Obviously animals matter to God because the presence of animals in Nineveh is recorded as one of the reasons for God’s mercy in not destroying that sinful city (Jonah 4:11).
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The Ark of Noah
Noah’s Ark is the premier Biblical picture of Salvation. God provided a way of salvation from the judgment of the Flood, for Noah, his family and for multitudes of animals. In his commentary on Genesis, John Calvin wrote: “It was a kind of restoration of the former state of things when God brought to Noah those animals, which He intended should be preserved through Noah’s labour and service. …Moses explains the manner in which the animals were gathered together into the Ark and says that they came of their own accord. …it shows that the blessing of God rested on the obedience of Noah, that in a moment such an assemblage of all animals should take place.”

“Then God remembered Noah and every living thing and all the animals that were with him in the Ark…” 
Genesis 8:1.

The Ark Included Animals
The most revealing Old Testament picture of God's Redemptive work is Noah’s Ark. God took great care to save the animals from the Flood. In God's instructions to Noah we see many details and repeated emphasis on animals (Genesis 6). The Redemption of mankind from the Judgment of the Flood is a picture of Salvation. The rescue of the animals in the Ark is also a picture of how animals share in the benefits of Christ’s Redemption. Just as with the animals in Noah’s Ark, we see that the Salvation provided by Christ includes animals.

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth – in Him.” 
Ephesians 1:10

God’s Covenant with All Animals
Following the Flood,

“God made a Covenant with Noah and with every living creature… for perpetual generations… The rainbow shall be in the cloud… to remember the everlasting Covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 
Genesis 9:12,16

Reversing the Curse
In the words of Isaac Watts immortal Hymn: Joy to the World: “He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found!” Just as the rebellion of Adam and Eve brought death to every creature, so in the second Adam – Jesus Christ – the effects of the curse are reversed.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 
1 Corinthians 15:22.

The blessings of the second Adam, Christ, are greater than the curse of the first Adam.

“And all flesh will see the Salvation of God.” 
Luke 3:6

(The Greek word sarx translated flesh is equally used to refer to all mankind and all breathing creatures, all animals and all Creation).

“Because the Creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” 
Romans 8:21
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Heaven
In the light of these and many other Scriptures, I firmly believe that our Loving Almighty Creator intends all His creatures to enjoy Heaven with Him forever. The only part of creation that will be missing from Heaven, according to the Bible, are those sinful human beings who reject the great Salvation that God has revealed in the Bible and provided through Christ.

King David’s View of Affection for Pets
The prophet Nathan spoke to King David of a poor man in his kingdom who had a little lamb who shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like one of his own children (2 Samuel 12:3). There was no suggestion that this mans’ affection for his pet was inappropriate. Indeed when King David heard that a man had taken this precious pet and had killed it, we read:

“So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man and he said to Nathan. As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!” 
2 Samuel 12:5

Animals on Special Assignment
Throughout the Bible we read of various animals to whom God spoke and gave assignments. A raven was assigned to bring food to Elijah (1 Kings 17:4-6). The donkey through whom God spoke, (Numbers 22:21-41). The lion whom God sent to kill the prophet who disobeyed God (1 Kings 13:24-30). The big fish that swallowed Jonah and transported him to the shore (Jonah 1:17). The lions whom God commanded not to harm Daniel (Daniel 6:22). All the animals that God commanded to present themselves to Adam to be named (Genesis 2:19), and the animals whom God guided to assemble in Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6 and 7).

Do Animals have Souls?
The Hebrew word nephesh is translated soul more than 130 times in the Old Testament (KJV). The same Hebrew word nephesh, which is translated soul whenever it refers to man, is translated as beast, living creature or life when referring to animals. In Genesis 1:21, when referring to God’s creating of the whales and every living creature which moves and the birds in the air, the same word nephesh is used. When God made a Covenant with Noah and every living creature, the word nephesh is used again to refer to the animals (Genesis 9:9-10). Proverbs 12:10 which speaks about a good man being kind to his animals, the word again is translated from the Hebrew nephesh . On occasion the KJV translates nephesh as soul when referring to animals, including Psalm 74:19, and Job 12:7-10. Leviticus 17:10-12 also states that “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” and the soul is in the blood (Deuteronomy 12:23). The Hebrew word nephesh is translated psyche in the Greek Septuagint. Throughout the history of the church, the classic understanding was that animals have souls. It was only from the time of the humanist enlightenment that the existence of animal souls was even questioned (J.P. Moreland, Beyond Death).

Do Animals Have Spirits?
Ecclesiastes 3:21 speaks of the spirit (ruwach ) of the animal. There is no doubt that

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 
John 4:24.

To worship God one must have a spirit. Yet the Psalms and Revelation repeatedly speak of animals worshipping God. Yes, animals are not created in the image of God – but neither are angels and they will be in Heaven.
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Character, Memory and Affection
Anyone who has adopted pets, or seen a litter of kittens or puppies born and raised them is well aware that every puppy and kitten has its own individual character and personality. They plainly have memory, preferences and can express affection, sensitivity and compassion. All of that is what we normally mean by our soul. Those who have been privileged to have lions, leopards and cheetahs as friends also appreciate the depth of character and deep affection that they are capable of.

Will our Pets be in Heaven?
Throughout the years my family has rescued and adopted many cats and also some rabbits and ducks. When I was growing up, I had the joy of having a lioness, Vivian and a leopard, Malcolm, as my dearest friends. When any of our pets have died, we have grieved and wept and buried them with Scripture reading, Hymn singing and prayer, thanking God for all the happy memories and committing our beloved pet into the hands of our Creator. When my children have asked if we will see and recognize our pets in Heaven, I could answer with an emphatic, Yes!

Together Forever

“The wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” 
Isaiah 11:6

“Search from the Book of the Lord, and read; not one of these shall fail; not one shall lack her mate; for My mouth has commanded it, and His spirit has gathered them. He has cast the lot for them and His hand has divided it among them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever; from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.” 
Isaiah 34:16-17

The Source of Love
God is the source of all love. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift (1 John 4:16). It is impossible that we could love our pets more than God does. If God has put such deep love in our hearts for these beloved furry family members, then we may be sure that he loves them far more than we do (James 1:17). As the animals in the Ark shared the salvation of Noah and his family, so we can have every confidence that our beloved pets who have been adopted into our families will also share in the blessings in Redemption. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found. In Christ the curse of the Fall is reversed. Christ proclaims:

“Behold, I am making all things new.” 
Revelation 21:5

Will Extinct Animals be in Heaven?
When speaking to Job, God pointed to the great land and sea creatures, including dinosaurs, who reflect something of the glory and greatness of our Creator (Job 40:41). We can expect to see extinct creatures, such as dinosaurs, in Heaven.
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The Creator and His Creation

“For since the Creation of the world God's invisible qualities – His eternal power and Divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”
Romans 1:20.

In lions we see something of the power, the courage, the boldness and royalty of the Creator. In lambs we see gentleness and meekness. In otters and dogs we see God's playfulness. In horses we see some of the strength, stamina and perseverance of the Creator.

Pets in Paradise
Cambridge professor C. S. Lewis wrote that he believed that animals may enjoy immortality along with their masters. In The Great Divorce Lewis portrayed Sarah Smith, a woman very ordinary on earth, as great in Heaven. In Heaven she is surrounded by the very animals she cared for on earth. In her book on Heaven, Joni Eareckson wrote that she expected God to bring our pets back to life in eternity. Theologians John Piper and Dr. R. C. Sproul have also expressed their expectation of seeing beloved pets in Heaven. Animals were part of God’s original paradise before the Fall. The state of paradise before the Fall is the clearest picture of what we can expect in Heaven.

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”
Romans 8:19

Will we be able to Communicate with the Animals in Heaven?
God spoke through Balaam’s donkey. Baalam’s donkey was unable to express his own thoughts and feelings in the language understood by Baalam . Whales and dolphins communicate in highly complex ways. The Apostle John in the Revelation “Heard an eagle that was flying in mid-air calling out in a loud voice” (Revelation 8:13). In the Garden the serpent spoke to Eve. Revelation 5:13 declares that every creature in the universe will be declaring God’s praises audibly. Clearly animals had greater capabilities before the Fall. Christ’s Redemption will reverse all the effects of the curse.

“And there shall be no more curse…”
Revelation 22:3.

No wonder

“the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now.”
Romans 8:22

God's People and Creatures
  • When Adam was created, God surrounded him with animals.
  • When Noah was protected from the Flood and when God made a Covenant with him, he was surrounded by animals.
  • When Abraham was led to the Promised Land, he was accompanied by many animals.
  • When God led Moses and the Children of Israel through the Red Sea, provided for them in the wilderness and made a Covenant with them, they were accompanied by many animals.
  • When our Lord Jesus was born, He was surrounded by animals in the stable.
  • When our Lord returns to establish the new Heavens and the new earth, we can have every expectation that He will again be surrounded by the animals He has created.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org
Website: www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
Website: www.ReformationSA.org
Website: www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

Books, Audios,Data Disks and boxsets are available from
Christian Liberty Books, 
PO Box 358,
Howard Place
7450,
Cape Town,
South Africa,
tel: 021-689-7478,
fax: 086-551-7490,
email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za 
and
website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za
Prices exclude postage.
]]><![CDATA[Marvels of Creation and Science]]>Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/gods-creation/marvels-of-creation-and-sciencePicture
“But now ask the beasts and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this. In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear test words and the mouth taste its food? Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding. With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.”
Job 12:7-13

There is much in modern technology that is marvelous. However, the incredible complexity and intricacy of God’s Creation is infinitely more marvelous.

Flight
For centuries, men dreamed of flying. However, men do not have muscles powerful enough to lift their own body weight into the air.

In 1781 James Watt invented a steam engine that produced rotary power. In 1876 Nikolaus Atto built an internal combustion engine.

The brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright had wanted to fly ever since they had played with kites as boys. Later they learned engineering skills by building bicycles. They realized that the key challenge of flight was to design a craft that could be controlled. A plane that could not be balanced in the air is as useless as a bicycle that cannot be steered.
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Learning from the Birds
Wilbur watched birds in flight and noticed how they bank into a turn, as a cyclist does. He concluded that birds turn and keep balance by twisting their wing tips. He resolved to design a wing that could twist.

In 1900 Wilbur and Orville built an aircraft with twistable wings. They flew it first as a kite and then later as a piloted glider. They discovered that an aircraft needs three basic controls to adjust pitch, roll and side to side movement. However they were frustrated that the wings did not produce enough lift.

The Wright brothers built a wind tunnel and experimented with hundreds of wing shapes until they found the ideal shape, size and angle.

In 1902 with the new design they mastered the art of balancing the aircraft on the wind. Now they needed to mount an engine on it. With the knowledge they had gained with their wind tunnel, they designed a propeller. They also had to build their own engine. Finally, on 17 December, 1903, the Wright brother started the engine, the propellers spun and the aircraft lifted off into the cold wind. This introduced the age of flight.

Learning from Creation
As the brothers became international celebrities they pointed out that God’s Creation taught them all the principles of flight.

The Word of God tells us:

“But now ask … the birds of the air and they will tell you … the hand of the Lord has done this …” 
Job 12:7-9

Feathers
It is apparent that everything about birds is designed for flight. The wings of birds are so light, yet very strong. The shafts of wing feathers support a bird’s entire weight during flight. How can they be so light, yet so strong? If you cut through the shaft of a feather you will see an engineering master piece. The shafts of feathers have a foam sandwich of cross beams which strengthen the light design. Engineers have studied the shafts of bird feathers and used the foam sandwich theme design in aircraft.
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Bones
The bones of birds are hollow and, in many cases, are strengthened by internal struts in a form which engineers call the warren girder. When engineers designed the wings of the space shuttle they incorporated these features that have been observed in the bones of birds.

Control
Pilots balance modern aircraft by adjusting flaps on the wings and tail. The average bird uses some 48 muscles in its wings and shoulders to change the configuration and motion of its wings and individual feathers. Birds can make multiple adjustments several times a second. The eagles and falcons are the example and envy of aircraft designers.

Engine
Flight, especially take off, consumes a lot energy. So birds need a powerful, fast burning engine. A bird’s heart beats faster than that of a similar sized mammal and is usually larger and more powerful than the heart of a similar sized mammal. Also, the birds’ lungs have a different, one-way flow design that is more efficient than mammals.

Energy
One measure of an aircraft’s efficiency is whether it can take off carrying sufficient fuel. When a Boeing 747 takes off for a ten hour flight, roughly one third of its weight is fuel. Similarly a migrating thrush may lose almost half of its body weight on a ten hour flight.
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The Swallow
The barn swallow is one of the wonders of God’s Creation. At 18g it is one of the smallest migrating birds. The average barn swallow flies 12,000km each year. It leaves Europe during its August/September Autumn each year to spend their summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The barn swallow breeds in Europe, but summers in South Africa. Barn swallows fly up to 50km a day, even when at home, to forage. They serve God and people by controlling the aerial insect populations (including mosquitos). Their migratory journey from KwaZulu/Natal to Germany may take a month. They fly an average of 400km a day. Approximately 3,000,000 barn swallows migrate between South Africa and Germany each year.

Endurance
When a bar-tailed godwit takes off from Alaska, heading for New Zealand, over half its body weight is fat. Astonishingly this bird flies for over 190 hours (eight days) nonstop! No commercial aircraft can do that.

Navigation
Perhaps you have had the problem of finding your way across an unfamiliar town. Even with maps and directions you can get lost. So how do navigators find their way across featureless oceans? Merely having a compass does not help unless the navigator knows what his position is in relation to his destination. Not until the invention of the sextant and the marine chronometer in the 1730s could navigators determine their exact location and plot their course on a map. Each fix required hours of calculation.

Global Positioning System
However, today, motorists in many countries navigate using a Global Positioning System (GPS).

Originally designed in the 1960s for military use, to guide, for example, cruise missiles, the GPS was later made available to the public becoming fully operational in 1996. The GPS is a marvel of computer technology. The device can show your exact location on the screen and guide you to the address where you want to go.

Satellite navigation devices depend on about 30 satellites that each broadcast signals indicating the satellite position and the time to an accuracy of a few billionth of a second. Once your GPS has established contact with three satellites, it accurately measures how long a signal takes to travel from the satellite to your receiver. This requires complex calculations. In a few seconds a GPS computes the distance to three satellites, all thousands of kilometers away, travelling in different directions, at speeds of many kilometers per second. Yet the GPS is clearly not the first automatic navigation device.

God’s Positioning System

“Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and a turtle dove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.” 
Jeremiah 8:7

Jeremiah wrote about the migrating of the storks and swallows over 2500 years ago.

Today people still marvel at creatures that migrate.
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Migrations
Consider the salmon which can swim thousands of kilometers in the ocean and return to the stream where they were born. Leather back sea turtles have made incredible journeys. One that nested in the Indonesia was tracked as it migrated 20,000km to the coast of Oregon in the United States.

Leatherback turtles often return to the same area of Indonesia to nest again.

Monarch butterflies from vast areas of North America migrate more than 1,700km to a small area of Mexico. Even though they have never been to Mexico before, they find a way, often to the same trees where their great grandparents roosted the previous year. Just how they do it still baffles researchers.

Pigeons have been transported more than 150km to unfamiliar places, while under deep anesthesia, or in rotating drums, yet, after circling a few times, they have calculated their position and turned accurately towards home. As researchers have even gone so far as to force these pigeons to wear frosted eyeglasses, they believe that pigeons calculate their position in relation to home by detecting the directions by which they receive important navigational information.

Scientists took 18 albatross by plane from a small island in the center of the Pacific Ocean to several locations, thousands of kilometers away and released them. Some were taken to the Western rim of the Pacific Ocean, others to the Eastern rim. Yet within a few weeks, most of the albatross had returned to their small island in the center of the Pacific!

Whereas our automatic navigation devices may depend totally on satellites, many animals seem to be able to use various navigational methods – from observing landmarks and the sun to detecting magnetic fields, distinctive smells and even sounds.

Over Engineered
Biology professor James Gould wrote: “Animals whose lives depend on accurate navigation are uniformly over engineered … they usually come equipped with alternate strategies – a whole series of backups, between which they switch depending on which is provided and most reliable information.” The sophistication of animal navigation continues to confound scientific investigators.
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Cell Phones
In 1973 Doctor Martin Cooper was the first to demonstrate a hand held cellular telephone. It had a battery, a radio and a microprocessor (a mini computer).

New Yorkers were stunned to see Cooper making a phone call on the street. This invention was only made possible because of previous inventions. The invention of a reliable battery by 1800, the development of the telephone by 1876, the radio by 1895 and the computer by 1946. The invention of the microprocessor in 1971 made cell phones possible.

Voice
However, communication with sophisticated devices was not actually that new. Since the dawn of Creation a communication device which has often been taken for granted is the human voice. Over half of the billions of neurons in the motor cortex of your brain are involved in controlling your speech organs. About 100 muscles operate the complex mechanisms of your jaw, throat, lips, tongue and chest to enable you to speak.

Hearing
Of course, the human voice would be of no benefit without the ear. The ear is also part of the same communication system. The ear converts sound into electrical impulses that the brain can process. Your brain analyzes sounds so that you can recognize people by the timbre of their voice. Your brain also measures how many millionth of a second one ear hears before the other and thus calculates precisely in which direction and roughly what distance a sound comes from. These are just two of the features that enable you to listen to one person at a time even though several others may be speaking in the background. So, sophisticated wireless communication with caller recognition is not that new. It is first found in how God created us.
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Television
Soon after men learned to broadcast sound, inventors wondered if they could also transmit live pictures. To appreciate the challenge, consider how television works. First a TV camera focuses a scene onto a target device that reads the picture. Instead of reading lines of letters on a page, as we read books, the Television scans lines of spots, or pixels, in the picture. It converts these pixels into an electronic video signal that can be transmitted to another place. A receiver then converts this electronic signal back into a live picture. John Logie Baired, from Scotland, has been credited as the inventor of Television.

When poor health caused him to give up his job as an electrical engineer, he devoted his time to a subject which had fascinated him since he was a teenager – how to build a machine that could transport live images.

Baird’s television camera used a hatbox, perforated by 30 holes, as a disc. As the disc spun the holes scanned successive lines of the picture and they allowed light to fall onto a photoelectric cell. The cell produced a video signal that was transmitted to a receiver. In the receiver the signal was amplified to illuminate a variable light behind a similar spinning disc to reproduce the picture. The challenge was to synchronize the disc. To support himself while working on this project, Baird raised funds by polishing shoes. On the 2 nd October, 1925, Baird transmitted the first television picture from one end of his attic to other. The first person ever to appear on television was a frightened office boy from downstairs. He was paid half a crown for his services. In 1928 Baird broadcast the first television pictures across the Atlantic.
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Eyes

However, this was not the first time that live pictures were ever transmitted. “The hearing ear and the seeing eye the Lord has made them both.” 
Proverbs 20:12

Your eyes are like tiny television cameras. They convert images into electrical signals and transmit these signals along the optic nerve to the back of your brain, where the actual seeing takes place. The eye is a magnificent marvel in miniature. Just 24mm in diameter and 7.5g in weight, the eye is ingeniously engineered. For example, it has separate systems for dim and bright lighting. 30 minutes after entering a dark room your eyes may become 10,000 times more sensitive to light. Your eye has over 100 times more light sensitive cells (pixels) than most video cameras. A large portion of those cells are packed into a small spot at the center of the retina called the fovea, which provides the sharpest vision. Electrical signals from the light sensitive cells pass from one nerve cell to another towards the optic nerve. But the nerve cells do far more than just pass the signals on. They process the images, enhancing vital information and suppressing unneeded details.

The visual cortex of your brain is live a sophisticated video receiver. It sharpens images by enhancing edges and compares the signals from cells sensitive to primary colours so that you can distinguish literally millions of shades of colour. Your brain also compares the tiny dissimilarities between what your two eyes see, so that you can perceive distance and depth.

Consider how your eyes can recognise faces in a distant crowd and send electronic impulses to your brain, which then transforms the signals into clear images.

Consider how subtle details of these faces are compared with one’s in your memory, so that you instantly recognise your friend. Is that process not awe inspiring?

“Oh Lord, how many fold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions.” 
Psalm 104:24

Purpose
Frequently, one reads in secular humanist scientific journals, which report to believe in Evolution, statements such as this: Of all the body coverings nature has designed, feathers are the most various and the most mysterious. According to the Oxford dictionary, to design means to “plan something with a specific purpose or intention in mind”

Intelligent Design
Secular humanists who believe in Evolution frequently refer to “Nature” designing things. Although they may claim that they believe Nature is a mere force, they attribute intelligent design to it. Can an impersonal force design things? What many Evolutionists refer to as nature, we know to be Creation. And the Creator does have a name.

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes ... for the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God in manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the Creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” 
Romans 1:16-20

The Wisdom of God
From nature we learn that God’s wisdom is superior to ours. If God can design things better than inventors can, does it not stand to reason that He can advise us better than human councilors can?
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Two Books
As Francis Bacon, the father of the Scientific method once put it: “There are two books laid before us to study; to prevent us falling into error; first the volume of the Scripters, which reveal the Will of God, then the volume of the Creators, which express His power.”

Celestial Mechanics
The great Astronomer, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), is the founder of Celestial Mechanics. He was described as a “Brilliant mathematician and astronomer, he contributed to the Scientific Revolution with his work on the planetary orbits, laws of motion and the Scientific method. Kepler’s accomplishments formed the foundation of modern theoretical astronomy.” Kepler viewed all science as man attempting to “think God’s thoughts after Him”.

The Works of God
Sir Isaac Newton, (1642 – 1727) the father of calculus and dynamics was a scientific genius and a dedicated Christian. Newton formulated the theory of gravitation and the laws of motion. He made vital contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and physics. Newton maintained that there were two key sources of knowledge – one revealed in the Bible and the other revealed in nature. Newton believed that in order to “truly know the Creator, one must study the natural order of things.” Newton dedicated his life to know the Word of God (the Bible), and to know the works of God (Creation).

What Hath God Wrought
Samuel F. B. Morse, (1791 – 1872) was the man responsible for the development of the modern telegraph and the Morse code. This was one of the greatest innovations in the world of communication. Samuel deeply absorbed his families Calvinism, which he eventually translator and applied to all his Scientific work. In 1844, Samuel Morse astonished the US Congress, gathered in the Supreme Court chamber, by sending the words from Numbers 23:23 “What hath God wrought!”

The first intercity telegraph line in the world communicated these words of Scripture to inaugurate the great invention. Morse laid the foundations for the development of modern communications.

Communication
The designer of our organs for communication obviously wants to communicate with us. If we find learning about inventors interesting, we will find that learning about the Creator is far more fascinating. Whether they acknowledge it or not, Scientists have learned design from our Creator God. God speaks to us through general revelation in creation and through special revelation in the Bible. When we study His works in the light of His Word we come to understand the God of Creation “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son ... " Hebrews 1:1-2

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org
Website: www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
Website: www.ReformationSA.org
Website: www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

Books, Audios,Data Disks and boxsets are available from
Christian Liberty Books, 
PO Box 358,
Howard Place
7450,
Cape Town,
South Africa,
tel: 021-689-7478,
fax: 086-551-7490,
email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za 
and
website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za
Prices exclude postage.
]]><![CDATA[Animals in the Bible]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/gods-creation/animals-in-the-biblePicture
"How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished."
Jeremiah 12:4

In the course of my missionary work, which has often been spent in bush areas among wildlife, my love for animals has grown and I have sought to learn what the Bible teaches concerning them.

Often I have been asked:
  • "Will animals be in Heaven?"
  • "What does God think about 'scientific' experiments on animals?"
  • "What should our attitude to animals be?"

This is some of what I have found in my studies of animals in the Bible.
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ANIMALS AND GOD
God created all the animals (Psalm 104).

"Then God commanded, 'Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life; domestic and wild, large and small, and it was done. So God made them all, and He was pleased with what He saw." 
Genesis 1:24, 25

All animals belong to God (Psalm 24:1).

"All the animals in the forest are Mine and the cattle on thousands of hills. All the wild birds are Mine and all living things in the fields."
Psalm 50:10, 11

God cares for the animals (1 John 4:16).

"Look at the birds flying around . . . your Father in Heaven takes care of them" 
Matthew 6:26

"He gives animals their food and feeds the young ravens when they call." 
Psalm 147:9

The Bible describes the Angels around God's throne as having features and characteristics like those of a lion, a bull and an eagle (Ezekiel 1). God Himself is likened in Scripture to a lion, a leopard, a bear (Hosea 13:7, 8), and to an eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11).
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Jesus is described as

"The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." 
John 1:29

Jesus identified Himself with all the innocent animals who had been sacrificed for the sins of mankind and declared that His was the final sacrifice. Jesus abolished animal sacrifices and so Christianity has always rejected the need for further bloodshed of animals (Hebrews 9:12, 26).

"For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins. For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, He said to God:
You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but You have prepared a body for Me. You are not pleased with animals burnt whole on the altar or with sacrifices to take away sins. Then I said, 'Here I am to do Your will, O God.'" 
Hebrews 10:4-7

The Scriptures reveal God's anger against man's sinfulness. God condemned the type of wholesale slaughter of animals in Judaism as a cover-up for their disobedience (Psalm 40:6-10).

"I gave your ancestors no commands about burnt offerings or any other kinds of sacrifices, when I brought them out of Egypt. But I did command them to obey Me, so that I would be their God and they would be My people. And I told them to live as I commanded them, so that things would go well for them. But they did not obey Me or pay any attention. Instead, they did whatever their stubborn and evil hearts told them to do and they became worse instead of better." 
Jeremiah 7:22;24

There is only one way of salvation and that is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God who died to redeem sinful mankind (Revelation 5:12, 13). He died with the result that no other animals need die.. for man's sinfulness.
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Jesus is also known as "The Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5) and it is interesting to notice that He was born in a stable among animals rather than in an inn among sinful people (Luke 2:7), that He rode a lowly donkey in triumph into Jerusalem on that great day of the feast (Matthew 21:5) and that He is prophesied to return again in glory as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11).

The Holy Spirit is symbolised by a dove (John 1:32), and He chose to reveal Himself as like a pure and gentle bird (Matthew 3:16) at Jesus' baptism.

The Bible records at least one occasion when God spoke through an animal (Numbers 22:28-33). Balaam's donkey showed greater spiritual perception than the prophet himself did.

Obviously animals matter to God because the presence of animals in Nineveh is recorded as a reason for God's mercy in not destroying that sinful city.

"How much more then, should I have pity on Nineveh, that great city. After all, it has more than 120000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals." 
Jonah 4:11
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ANIMALS IN HEAVEN
A controversial question is whether it is God's plan for animals to be in heaven or not. Many Christians believe that heaven just would not be heaven without animals. Certainly I believe that the Creator of millions of different species of animals, birds, insects and fish is a God who loves variety and prizes His creation. I cannot believe that Heaven will only be populated by angels and saints. From a careful study of the Bible I have become convinced that Heaven will be richer in vegetation and animal life than the most paradise-like part of earth could ever be. Where people get the idea of harps and clouds from, I don't know. God has a far greater plan than we can imagine.

"This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head." 
Ephesians 1:10

"Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats, calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do . . . The land will be as full of knowledge of the Lord as the seas are full of water." 
Isaiah 11:6-9

"Search in the Lord's book of living creatures and read what it says. Not one of these creatures will be missing and not one will be without its mate. The Lord has commanded it to be so; He Himself will bring them together. It is the Lord who will divide the land among them and give each of them a share. They will live in the land age after age, and it will belong to them for ever." 
Isaiah 34:16, 17

When the revealed Word of God teaches us that God's eternal plan is for "all creation" to be brought together under Christ then it includes all wildlife too. When God says "everything", He means everything - animals included.

When He says that they will live for "age after age", "forever", this means eternal life. Only one place will last forever, and that is Heaven.

That great book of worship in the Bible - the Psalms - reveals that all God's creation have contact with God (Psalm 93). All God's creatures praise Him (Psalm 145:10). It is only mankind who needs forgiving and saving and teaching as to how to worship (Psalm 36 & 51), the animal kingdom worships God continually and naturally.

"Praise Him, hills and mountains, fruit trees and forests; all animals, tame and wild, reptiles and birds." 
Psalm 148:9, 10

"Be glad, earth and sky! Roar sea and every creature in you: be glad fields and everything in you! The trees in the woods will shout for joy." 
Psalm 96:11, 12

The last book of the Bible presents the final climax of the ages when all creation faces the Creator. First the four living creatures (the animal-like angels around God's throne as described in Ezekiel) praise God, then the twenty-four elders, then the redeemed people of God, then the angels (Revelation 4:6 - 5:12), until finally the great scene is described when all living beings present their worship to Almighty God.

"And then I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea - all living beings in the universe - and they were singing: 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honour, glory and might, forever and ever'." 
Revelation 5:13

In the light of these Scriptures, I firmly believe that our loving almighty Creator intends all His creatures to enjoy heaven with Him forever. The only part of creation that will be missing from Heaven, according to the Bible, are those sinful human beings who neglect the great salvation that God has revealed in the Bible and provided through Christ. So while all the animal victims of scientific experiments will be in Heaven, the same cannot be said for all the hardhearted vivisectionists and ivory poachers.
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ANIMALS AND MAN
Millions of wild animals die painful, lingering deaths in vicious traps every year. Not for food - for furs! Millions more are bred on fur farms and slaughtered for fashion.

Then the beauty industry inflicts untold agony on almost a million animals every year for perfumes, lipsticks and other cosmetics. There are adequate synthetic alternatives, but such is man's inhumanity towards animals that the slaughter continues.

In the name of science, millions more animals suffer in laboratories worldwide every year.

In the first chapter of the Bible, God made mankind responsible for His animals (Genesis 1-28). All animals are God's animals (Psalm 50:10) and we are answerable to God for our treatment, care and protection of them.

"For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by Him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life." 
2 Corinthians 5:10

What does God think of men battering baby seals to death so that some women can wear glamorous fur coats? What will God do to scientists who burn, infect, cripple, blind, shock, radiate, starve, asphyxiate and dissect cats, dogs, mice, monkeys, rabbits and other innocent victims for 'research' and often just trivial curiosity? How could we expect God to ignore the slaughter of magnificent elephants just to provide ivory ornaments, bracelets and necklaces?

When Jesus is identified as the Lamb of God, how can we remain unmoved at the killing and skinning of newborn karakul lambs to provide fur garments? He has provided us with cotton and the ability to make synthetic materials like nylon. We can shear sheep of their wool in summer. How can fashion justify the butchering of baby lambs for their skins?

God identifies Himself with bears, lions and leopards. What Christian can approve the killing of these majestic wild animals for fur coats and carpets? God gave animals fur to keep them warm. He gave us the brains to make synthetic materials from plants. Why don't we use them more?

All animals belong to God. What gives us the right to torture them to satisfy our curiosity in the name of "science"?

We are answerable to God for our treatment of animals. What are we going to say about trapping animals for furs, forcing them to do unnatural acts in circuses, confining and abusing them for our amusement? How can smokers justify the torture and killing of thousands of dogs and monkeys in "tobacco research"?
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"A good man takes care of his animals, but wicked men are cruel to theirs." 
Proverbs 12:10

The Bible says that God has fixed a day in which He will judge the whole world with justice (Acts 17:31). It is well to remember that although man was created in the image of God, the whole message of the Bible is that all mankind has fallen into sinful rebellion against God.

"They are quick to hurt and kill; they leave ruin and destruction wherever they go. They have not known the path of peace, nor have they learnt to fear God . . . Everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence." 
Romans 3:15-17, 23

On the other hand, the Bible indicates that all animals are acceptable in God's sight. They never degenerated into rebellion against God. While all human beings need forgiveness and salvation, all animals are already in a right relationship with God. We should remember this and be humbled.

In the light of the clear teaching of Scripture concerning creation and mankind's responsibility for it, we should treat animals with the love and concern of those who must give an account of our conduct to God.

We must recognise that the welfare and protection of animals is an essential part of our Christian responsibility. I would challenge all Christians to make plain their opposition to such cruel practices as vivisection. We must determine to do all in our power to bring about the speedy abolition of all such mistreatment and tortures of animals.
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(I recommend the work of Animal Voice
Postnet Suite 191,
Private Bag X29,
Somerset West
7129.
E-mail: avoice@yebo.co.za
Web: www.animal-voice.org

The Animal Welfare Society, Animal Anti-Cruelty League, Beauty Without Cruelty, the SPCA and other animal protection societies.) Support your local SPCA, visit animal welfare groups, adopt some of the animals who are needing a home. Volunteer your time to help.

No Christian should be a party to this evil abuse of God's creation. I would call on all those who seek to love and obey God to resolve never to buy or wear real fur or ivory. It is our responsibility to carefully boycott all cosmetics which are a result of cruelty to animals.

(There are enough synthetic alternatives listed by Beauty Without Cruelty,
PO Box 23321,
Claremont
7735,
South Africa,
​Tel: 021- 671-4583.)

We must all do what we can to secure the well-being of all animals who, with ourselves, inhabit the earth and so fulfil the creative joy and purpose of Almighty God.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless." 
Proverbs 31:8

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org
Website: www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
Website: www.ReformationSA.org
Website: www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

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