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Today the most noted and respected field of human
study is what is called science. Yet this field of study has been
the cause in every realm of society, of the most widespread rebellion
against traditional Biblical values. Yes, the field of scientific
study has created the impression that Biblical principles have
been outdated by its discoveries and theories of the origin and
progression of life.
Yet if one searches history they will find that the
greatest minds of those we would be called scientists and philosophers,
were those who were strongly committed to faith in God and in
the Bible as the source of all truth and revelation. However today,
what we often call science is really a misnomer. The fact is,
true science has always confirmed the Bible rather than denied
it. For science today that denies the Bible is not science but
SCIENTISM, which is the extension of scientific theories to a
supposedly, complete philosophy of life and meaning, that exists
to attack the Bible and its truths taught. Such is the so -called
scientific theory of Evolution. Evolution is the teaching that
denies the creation of all life by a sovereign omnipotent eternal
being called the Creator, and substituting for Him, mindless chance
in a chaotic, unguided, universe. However, today I don't want
to talk about false science, except to give you an example of
how often the ideas and teachings of science as fact, can turn
out to be proven false. My case in point is an impossible "
paradox "as evolutionary scientist once called it.
It was the year 1629, and a Dutch sailing ship commanded
by a Captain Palsaert, encountered a fierce storm off the coast
of Australia. The violence of the storm wrecked the ship which
quickly had to be abandoned. The captain and crew lowered lifeboats
into the churning waters and luckily made it to shore where they
proceeded to wait for rescue. While there, Captain Palsaert and
the crew explored the land, and keeping his log, wrote of some
strange occurrences. It seems that this island paradise was home
to creatures they had never seen before. They encountered the
kangaroo, the koala bear, the ostrich and a host of other creatures
never before heard of. However, what was most strange to them
was an encounter with a creature that was to be known as impossible
paradox. What creature was this? It was what we call today the
Platypus.
Well, after Captain Palsaert and his crew were finally
rescued, he submitted his log to the authorities who questioned
him about these strange creatures he wrote about. Scientist dismissed
these descriptions as sailors tales for they knew no such creature
could exist such as the Platypus.
What is a platypus? Well it's a sleek-furred little
animal about two feet long that lives along the streams of Australia
and Tasmania. What's so strange is, it has a bill and webbed feet
like that of a duck, a flat tail of a beaver, the sharp spurs
of a rooster and the poison of a snake!. Even more it barks like
a dog, yet it lays eggs instead of bearing its young alive, and
it nurses its young with milk as do other true mammals.
Indeed, such a creature unless actually seen, one
would wonder how can it exist. Well scientists of the day scoffed
at such a report and dismissed it for more than 100 years, until
another explorer, "down under," sent a dried skin of
a platypus to a Dr. George Shaw from the British Museum in London.
This skin which resembled the animal fur of a beaver, had a bill
of a duck! All the scientists at the British Museum looked the
skin over and declared it an elaborate fake! Dr. Shaw himself
tried to tear the bill off to prove it, however he couldn't detach
it. I'm told this skin still is on display there at the British
Museum in London, England, and one can see the marks of Dr. Shaw's
scissors and his attempt to detach the bill.
You see, the Platypus didn't fit the scheme of things as evolutionary scientists of the day taught. The platypus simply couldn't exist! So they named this animal skin PARADOXIS - a paradox. But in 1884, W. H. Caldwell sailed to Australia to settle the argument. Caldwell learned that this creature was nocturnal and very shy, which is why few people ever saw them. Caldwell found a living platypus and began studying it. Although this creature seemed all mixed up as to its makeup, it really was well designed. You see the bill isn't hard like a duck's. It's soft and has sensitive nerves along the surface. So when the Platypus dives into the water, a flap of skin covers the eyes and ears, and the animal sifts the mud on the bottom and is able to feel out worms, grubs and water insects. Also since its feet are webbed and its tail is flat, it is a well designed swimmer which can go very fast and make quick turns. The male and female look alike except the male is equipped with a horny spur that connects to a poison gland. The poison is similar to a snake and is used to protect it from predators.
To date, this creature is almost extinct, but as
far as I know it still lives. In fact, when I was a young boy,
I personally saw this very creature myself in the famous Bronx
Zoo in New Your City. I remember it too. Well after W.H. Caldwell
finished his intensive study of this little creature, he returned
to England and the Museum and reported his findings. The platypus
was a real mammal, and not a hoax put together by pranksters in
Australia as scientists contended. In embarrassment, they conceded
its existence, and again so-called science of the day was proven
wrong.
Now, in my research for this creature's particulars
I came across a paper from the University of California at Berkeley
which stated that this mammal, the platypus, was a very primitive
mammal because like reptiles and birds, it laid its eggs rather
than having a live birth. However, the platypus does not in any
way prove evolution. On the contrary, a fossil platypus has recently
been recovered from Argentina. By comparing a modern day platypus
and this ancient fossil, we can see that this creature has for
thousands of years undergone no evolution at all. Now what does
all this prove? It proves the Bible is true and correct. We find
in the Book of Genesis these words,
Gen 1:1 (NIV) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Gen 1:24 (NIV) "And God said, "Let
the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock,
creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according
to its kind." And it was so."
One cannot help but be amazed at the many wonderful
and varied creatures God has made to inhabit the earth. Indeed,
the platypus is one of them. However, the idea today so readily
accepted that science has debunked the Bible is also something
to reconsider. Although much of society today that inhabits the
world of the intellectual, scoffs at the Bible's teaching of a
creation by a Creator, all the earth cries out - "its true!"
Why even the two most fundamental laws of Science,
the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics, teach that nothing
is now being created or destroyed. And, that in all real processes
there is a net loss of energy available for further work. Therefore,
all natural processes, without exception whatever, operate within
the framework of these Two Laws.
For those of us who need simple explanations, this
means all processes of life are conservative and disintegrative,
not creative or integrative. Yes, the Bible instead of being discredited
by science, has actually anticipated modern science. For these
Two Laws of science can be found in the pages of Scripture, long
before modern man ever knew about them. We read in,
Exo 20:11 (NIV) "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested [ceased] on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Heb 4:3 (NIV) "… His work has been finished since the creation of the world."
Heb 1:3 (NIV) "The Son is the radiance
of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustains
all things by his powerful word.."
God's Word tells us that all things began by the
creative formation of energy and matter which was fashioned into
the entity of the universe we see before us today. God's Word
goes on to tell us that this work of creation was a fully completed
act. In addition, we are told that God is by His power keeping
all things together, and keeping them from their natural disintegration
and eventual annihilation.
Then as to the Second Law of Entropy, we find that
everything gets old, wear out, disintegrates, runs down and finally
dies out. The Bible calls this Law the "bondage of corruption,"
literally decay, under which the whole creation is suffering.
God's Word again declares,
Rom 8:21-22 (NIV) "… the creation
itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought
into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that
the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time."
So, what the Bible says is scientifically accurate.
Yet thousands of years ago, God gave these truths to Moses and
other Bible writers to give to us. Now in addition, this Second
Law of Thermodynamics says that unless there is some added additional
energy, the universe will suffer its ultimate end, a "heat-death"
when all the energy will have been degraded to low-level heat
and no more work can be done.
Now what does this mean to you and me? Well it tells
us that since this state has not yet been reached, the universe
must not be infinitely old as evolutionists state must be for
evolution to have occurred. It also means our world and the universe
had a definite beginning that could only have been accomplished
by the means of a creative process out of nothing that previously
existed, and which is not operating at present.
So, the platypus and other strange impossible paradoxes
simple mean there are many things in our existence we still know
little to nothing about; but, when found reveal the complexity
of creation and its wonderful order and plan which is God's signature.
Why the Psalmist declared this very thing when he said,
Psa 19:1-4 (NASB) "…The heavens are
telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the
work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night
to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there
words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through
all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In
them He has placed a tent for the sun,"
So remember friends, the basic framework of science
does not discredit the Bible, rather affirms it! However, all
these things were written for one purpose -- to lead you and me
to face God Himself as our Creator and Redeemer. Paul writes in
the Book of Romans,
'Rom 1:18-20 (NASB) "For the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because
that which is known about God is evident within them; for God
made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been
made, so that they are without excuse."
Now, Science and the Bible are two different ways of looking at the world and our existence. True science is the study of the physical world around us but the Bible is mainly concerned with the spiritual condition of man's soul. We are told in Romans,
Rom 3:10 (NIV) "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;"
Rom 3:23 (NIV) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
John 3:16-17 (NIV) ""For God so loved
the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did
not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save
the world through him."
]Friend, the world in which we live is perishing,
it is winding down, it exists in a state of corruption and decay
as does every creature in it. Yet, God says there is coming a
day when He is going to take His sustaining hand off the creation
that is winding down, and will bring about its destruction. We
read in,
2 Pet 3:3-7 (NIV) "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men."…
10 "But the day of the Lord will come
like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements
will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it
will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this
way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy
and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed
its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens
by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping
with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a
new earth, the home of righteousness."
Now all this points to the need for each one of us
to be sure of our relationship to the Creator. Do you know Him?
Have you established a relationship of peace with Him? There is
only one way to do this. It is by accepting His Son the Lord Jesus
Christ into your life and heart. We do this, the Bible says, by
simply believing God and what He says. We are sinners, we are
all under judgment, and unless we are saved and forgiven of our
sins we will perish for all eternity.
Aah, but the Good News is God has revealed and made
a way for all to escape. We must trust Christ, confess our sins
against Him and turn our lives over to His rightful rule and reign.
Friend, all it takes is a prayer of faith that expresses the words
found in.
Rom 10:9-11 (NIV) "if you confess with
your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it
is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it
is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture
says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.""
Yes ,the impossible paradox was solved when doubting
scientists actually saw the platypus. But you too, can solve the
doubting of God by coming to Him for He will reveal Himself to
all who do. Herein lies the paradox of faith. To the world, "seeing
is believing," but to God "believing is[ the
means of] seeing." I trust you've believed in Jesus Christ,
for all who do will see and know these truths. May God bless them
to your heart. Amen.
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NOTES:
(1) John Hudson Tiner, "WHEN SCIENCE FAILS," Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI.
(2)Henry M. Morris, "THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWER," Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI.
(3) "MONOTREMES, Egg-laying Mammals" - University of California, Berkeley, CA, Webpage, "monotreme.html"
(4) WORLD BOOK ENCYLOPEDIA, Volume 15, "Platypus" pg. 505.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker,
Dennis L. Finnan(wwyfin@sparc.isl.net), or visit our webpage at [ http://www.isl.net/wwyweb.html ].