The argument from design
is somewhat like the argument from cause and effect. Just as every effect
must have an adequate cause, every design requires a designer! See Heb.
3:4. Pure chance cannot be an adequate cause of the grand effect of the
universe, nor can chance be responsible for all the intricate design in
our world. There has to be a Great Cause and Designer!
The moon is about 240,000
miles away from the earth just the right distance for the proper gravitational
pull for the ocean tides. If the moon were 1/5th closer to the earth the
tides would reach 35-50 feet over most of the earth's surface twice a day.
The sun is 93 million miles away from earth—just the right distance to
keep the cold and heat ratio at a proper temperature to sustain life. If
our orbit around the sun brought us 1/8th of an inch closer for each 18
miles traveled we would eventually burn up, or if we departed from our
regular orbit 1/10th of an inch every 18 miles we would soon freeze to
death. The earth's tilt on its axis is 23.5 degrees in order to spread
the waters over the earth's surface. If there were no tilt the waters would
nearly all gather at the poles and leave the middle of the earth to be
huge deserts. The oceans present spread provides for the constant cooling
and evaporating needed to bring clouds and rain. If 4/5ths of the surface
of the earth were not water the temperature changes from day to night would
be far more extreme. If the atmosphere surrounding the earth were much
thinner than it is meteorites would not burn up in the friction of our
atmosphere as most now do. The earth would have many more disasters from
these space projectiles striking the earth with great force—some of them
with the power of atomic bombs.
We need not worry
about these designed elements changing and bringing an end to life on earth.
God's designed laws will remain in effect until He calls for this world
to end in the fashion He has determined. Read Genesis 8:2 and 2 Peter 3:1-13.
Our Grand Designer is in control and the world operates based on His laws,
not based on pure chance. Christians should find a comfort in that which
the unbeliever does not have. —Ted J. Clarke