An Interlocking Pattern

Consider the wonderful interlocking in all the departments and workings of nature. The existence and continuity of the sun is essential to the earth and man. Without light and heat, life would be impossible. But water is essential to life, and it needs to be distributed. Thus it is that the sun causes evaporation, the clouds are formed, the rain is distilled to fall gently on the earth, vegetation is watered, man and beast live by the products of the earth. The cycle continues without the aid, and in spite of the interference, of man.

Design is apparent in nature wherever we look. How wonderful is the marvellous adaptation of all forms of life to the conditions of their environment! The fish are constructed with all the functions and facilities needed to live in the water; the birds fly in the air; the animals run, walk, crawl, lurk, climb, or leap according to the particular needs and environment of their species. How remarkable is the propagation of plant life in the various forms of seed dispersal! Some trees, like the sycamore, have winged appendages; some plants have hooked appendages by which their seed is carried far and wide on the coats of animals, as they brush by; some seeds are in hollow shells so that they can be borne on the water to the place where they settle for germination. The bees are particularly known as pollen carriers, fertilising as they move from plant to plant.

Lastly, consider man, with his wonderful frame and unique endowments. The five senses - how intricate are the organs by which they function: the eye with its protective lashes and brows and tear-ducts, its ability to focus, its power to see objects near and far; the ear, the nose, the tongue, the nerves, all perfectly constructed for hearing, smelling, tasting, touching. How smoothly does the system of digestion and assimilation work to feed and nourish the body. How unique in mammalia is the biped with such easy balance and control. Whence came the power of speech, the ability to reason, the sensitivity of conscience, the gift of invention?

Is all this wisdom and contrivance accidental and self-generated? or is it not as the Psalmist proclaims, 'O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches'. (Psalm 104.24). A notable exponent of what is called Natural Theology has summed up the argument in these words:

'There cannot be design without a designer, contrivance without a contriver, order without choice, arrangement without anything capable of arranging, subservience and relation to a purpose without that which could intend purpose, means suitable to an end, and executing their office in accomplishing that end, without the end having been contemplated, or the means accommodated to it. Arrangement, disposition of parts, subservience of means to an end, relation of instruments to a use imply the presence of intelligence and mind.'

The Psalmist expresses the fact in declaring: 'He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know ?' (Psalm 94.9,10.)

The witness of nature to the existence of God must be accepted by all thoughtful people. It is a commonplace question in examining or admiring any object to enquire, 'Who made it?' If the question were side-tracked by the rejoinder, 'it did not have a maker', the enquirer would either feel slighted or conclude that the answer was a joke. Who then could be so illogical as to assert that the Universe, or even the minutest insect, had no Maker. Not only is His existence attested by 'the things that are made', but many divine attributes are manifest as well. Creation testifies to His beneficence. Consider the exquisite beauty of forest and field, of mountain and meadow, of sea and stream, of lake and lagoon. How glorious and grand is nature. Consider the fauna and flora which cover the earth with exquisite designs and colour. We do not eat flowers; they are there to impart joy and gladness, and to uplift and ennoble man's mental make-up. How kind and good is the Provider of our food - not in the form of a tasteless concentrated pill but of endless variety for us to enjoy and appreciate. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works'. (Psalm 145.9).

In nature, then, is abundant evidence of the wisdom, power and beneficence of an Almighty Creator. There is also evidence of purpose. Now it would seem extremely unlikely that a Creator having such attributes and having endowed mankind with faculties to reason, praise, worship, and revere, would not make Himself known, nor reveal His purposes and intentions in His creative work. In point of fact, such a Revelation has been made. The Bible is the word of God. If this can be proved, the second line of evidence for God's existence is established, because if God has spoken, He is a reality.