Creation Devotional May 15 - Biology
Daily Devotional – May 15
Biology
Earthworms help plants by plowing, aerating, and fertilizing the soil. Earthworms dig burrows that help channel water and air throughout the soil. They drag plant matter (such as old leaves and grass) down into their burrows, which they eat along with huge amounts of soil. It has been estimated that 90% of the fallen leaves in an orchard are ultimately dragged underground by earthworms! The food is then digested, and the remains “cast” onto the surface of the ground in small balls. These worm castings are high in nitrogen that is vital for plant growth. An acre of land can contain as many as three million earthworms aerating and fertilizing the soil! Our home sits on a 3 acre lot. That means there are more worms on our little plot of land than the population of New York City (estimated at 8.4 million people).
It has been estimated that every 300 - 400 years, every particle of soil on the top 16 inches of the earth’s surface has passed through an earthworm’s gut! How does evolution explain these tireless tillers? Did some earthworm just decide to start eating dirt one day in order to recycle plant material with tons of dirt and thereby provide nitrogen needed for plants? Hardly. God, the Grand Designer, knew that for us to exist on earth, we needed plants. So, God created these little creatures to plow, aerate, and fertilize the soil.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.
~ Psalm 118:1
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 14 - History
Daily Devotional – May 14
History
Why do you think evolution caught on so quickly? That was the question the interviewer on public TV asked Sir Julian Huxley, the grandson of Thomas Huxley who popularized evolution during Darwin’s day. Sir Julian Huxley was the president and founder of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). During his lifetime, he was the world’s ambassador for evolution.”
What was the reason so many scientists in the 1800s accepted the unprovable assumptions of evolution - lock, stock, and barrel? Was it that Charles Darwin had superb evidences that proved the fact of evolution? Was evolution of bacteria to people proven beyond any doubt by reproducible experimentation? Did the fossil record prove evolution? Had animals been seen changing from one type into a completely different body structure? No, none of this had ever happened.
So, why was evolution accepted so rapidly? According to Sir Julian Huxley, “[I suppose the reason] we all jumped at Origins was because the idea of God interfered with our sexual mores.” It wasn’t scientific evidence that caused people to accept evolution but their desire to justify sexual immorality! When evolution replaces God, then everything is permissible.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
~ Hebrews 4:12
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 13 - Biology
Daily Devotional – May 13
Biology
What animal only comes out to feed at night, lives in caves, uses sonar to navigate, has eyes like a deep-sea fish, hovers in place, and has a phenomenal sense of smell? If you guessed a bat you are wrong. It is actually a unique bird that lives in South America commonly known as the “oilbird.” Oilbirds got their name from the native Indians who knocked them from their nests on the cave ledges with long poles so that they could melt down the fat in the bird to make oil for torches. While most other birds roost at night and are active during the day, the oilbird is the opposite. During the day, oilbirds roost on cave ledges, digesting the previous night’s fruits and nuts.
Oilbirds navigate in total darkness by emitting clicking calls in rapid succession and listening for their return echoes. Unlike bats, which emit ultrasonic clicks that we cannot hear, oilbirds’ clicks are audible. They leave the cave at night and use their echolocation system, their keen sense of smell, and incredible eyesight to find fruits and nuts. During these foraging trips, they do not perch, but hover in place to feed. The oilbird’s retinal rods are stacked in three tiers, an arrangement seen only in deep-sea fish that live in total darkness. The density of this bird’s rods is 1 million rods per square millimeter. This, in combination with its oversized pupils, gives the oilbird the greatest light-gathering capacity of any land animal!
What a bizarre bird: it uses sonar like a bat, has eyes like a deep-sea fish, hovers in place like a hummingbird, and tracks smells like a bloodhound. As with the duck-billed platypus, the oilbird has a hodgepodge of features from all over the animal kingdom with no clear evolutionary ancestry. This makes perfect sense if the entire animal kingdom has a common Designer--God--but defies any naturalistic evolutionary explanation.
The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
~ Psalm 111:2
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 12 - Paleontology
Daily Devotional – May 12
Paleontology
Carbon -14 (14C) dating can only be done on the tissue of something that used to be alive. All plants and animals contain carbon, including some 14C. As they continue to live, carbon is added to their tissues. After they die, no more carbon is added; the unstable 14C begins to decay to nitrogen-14. To determine the age of a sample, scientists measure the amount of carbon-14 left. Scientists have found that 14C has a half-life of about 6,000 years (5,720). So after 6,000 years only ½ of the original carbon-14 would be left. After another 6,000 years ¼ would be left and so on.
Since the 14C keeps decaying, after about 18 divisions (representing a supposed 100,000 years), there is not enough left for a mass spectrometer machine to measure. After about 40 divisions (representing about 220,000 years), there should not be a single atom of 14C left. For years, Bible-believing scientists have been radiocarbon dating (14C) materials found at various levels in the geological rock layers. Evolution-believing scientists never bother to radiocarbon date artifacts found in rock layers because they have been conditioned to believe in evolution, and evolution requires these rocks to be millions of years old. Therefore, in their minds, it is impossible to find any 14C within any creature found in these “millions-of-year-old” rock layers.
Yet, fossils found within the rock layers still have LOTS of 14C. And the amount of 14C left in the samples always seems to fall within the same range - 5% to 12% of modern levels. This same 5-12% level is found regardless of where the sample came from in the rock layers. Thus the very earliest forms of life in the rock layers (assumed to be 500 million years old) have essentially the same amount of radiocarbon as fossils found in upper rock layers (assumed to be 5 million years old). This means ALL the rock layers were laid down during one event because all the life found in these rock layers is essentially the same age!
So what do evolutionists do with such evidence? Basically, they assume the 14C is just “background contamination.” What the evidence of measurable levels of 14C in fossils actually reveals is that these layers were laid down a short time ago and all at once. When we put on our Biblical glasses, these fossils were laid down about 4400 years ago in the Flood of Noah’s time. The C14 level is so low because before the flood less C14 was produced and spread through more biomatter.
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
~ Hebrews 1:10-11
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 11 - Biblical Accuracy
Daily Devotional – May 11
Biblical Accuracy
Did you know that pterosaurs are mentioned in the Bible? Not by the modern scientific name but as “fiery flying serpents” (Isaiah 14:29, 30:6). Also in Numbers 21, as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they encountered “fiery serpents” (21:6, 8). Some modern commentators suggest these were venomous snakes. The Hebrew words used to describe them, however, include the verb, uph, which means to fly or flutter, that is “flying serpent”. These creatures most likely were pterosaurs with venomous bites and brilliant scales that appeared “fiery”.
Notice in Numbers 21:9 and John 3:14, this creature was put on a pole. At this time, because of their disobedience, the people of Israel were plagued with poisonous flying serpents. God told Moses to have the people raise a symbol of this serpent up on a pole in the midst of the camp in order to protect them. But neither the Old nor New Testaments, in their original language, use the word “snake” to describe what is being put on the pole. The poisonous reptiles that attacked and killed the Israelites flew. Today’s translations assume these creatures were venomous snakes, but why could the people not have escaped from slithering snakes? Also, a snake, from Genesis to Revelation, has been used as a symbol of Satan. Why would people look to a symbol of Satan to be saved? A much better explanation would be the now extinct pterosaur being hoisted up a pole with its wings spread out. This would have formed the shape of a cross! This was a foreshadowing of the final salvation coming to mankind – Jesus Christ dying on a cross.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.
~ John 3:14
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 10 - Biology
Daily Devotional – May 10
Biology
Sponges are peculiar animals. They have no heart, lungs, stomach, or nerves. They are like a hollow sac with a large opening opposite its base. They are filter feeders. Most sponges eat tiny, floating particles and plankton, which they filter through their pores. Cleaner water is released out of the top of the sponge. Sponges act as super-filters cleaning the ocean of its bacteria, algae, filth, and debris. A full grown sponge can filter the equivalent of a bathtub full of water in only one hour!
Evolutionary biologists like to refer to the 4,000 species of sponges as “simple animals.” But is this really a simple animal? An experiment was done in which the sponge tissue was pressed through a fine mesh; this broke the sponge into individual cells. Amazingly, the sponge cells rejoined, forming a whole sponge! Don’t try this with the cells of your body – you won’t come back together like this “simple” creature!
You can even make a “mixed sponge smoothie”, blending together the cells of different species of sponges. Each cell, from each species, will find similar cells and reconnect! Simple? Hardly! Creative ingenuity by the Creator, yes!
Remember his marvelous works that he hath done;…
~ Psalm 105:5
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 9 - Design
Daily Devotional – May 9
Design
Imagine a box. How did it come about? Evolution? Let’s examine this possibility.
Billions of years ago, there was a tree that fell down into water. The tree became very mushy. Many animals walked through this water stirring up the shredded tree and water. Later, the water dried up leaving a mat of shredded “paper.” The wind soon picked up this paper and folded it into corrugated cardboard - each dip and ridge was nicely lined up. Then the wind folded the corrugated paper into a four-sided box with a top and bottom. Of course, glue was needed, so it came flying through the air at the right moment and hit the right parts of the box to glue it together. As time passed, black paint fell from the sky and formed the word “Amazon” on the side of the box. Is this true? Of course not! We know when we see a box, there must be a box maker.
In the same way, the ear has many parts. Sound enters through the eardrum - a tough, tightly-stretched membrane. The airwaves move the surface of the eardrum like a beating drum. The sound is transferred to three tiny bones; the anvil, hammer, and stirrup. These tiny bones amplify the sound 22 times, and they pass the amplified sound into the inner ear via an oval window. In the inner ear is the cochlea, whose twisting exterior looks like a snail shell. In this twisting, fluid-filled cavern are thousands of microscopic hair-like nerve cells, each tuned to a particular vibration. If a middle C has been sounded, then the cochlear middle C hair cells vibrate. These vibrations then make a wisp of electricity that feeds into an auditory nerve that leads to the brain where the electric signal is interpreted as a sound. The ear is FAR more complex than a box!
Each part of the ear had to be in its proper place and fully functioning - right from the beginning in order for us to hear. A hearing ear could not happen by chance, just like a box could not happen by accident. When we see an ear, we know there must be an ear-Maker, and that ear-Maker is God.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
~ Proverbs 20:12
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 8 - Microbiology
Daily Devotional – May 8
Microbiology
We would not have chocolate if macroevolution was true.
Chocolate comes from the seeds of the cacao plant, but in order to make these seeds, the cacao flower must be pollinated by the tiny chocolate midge. This pinhead-sized “fly” is the only known insect that can work its way into the intricate cacao flower. According to evolutionary theory, flowers developed long before pollinator insects existed. Yet, without insects to carry pollen from plant to plant, there would be no fruits, seeds, or chocolate. Of course, insects do not know they are pollinating; the pollen just happens to stick to them as they move from flower to flower. Often it is the flower’s beauty or the flower’s smell that attracts the insects.
Evolutionists theorize that flowers started out drab and had no fragrances. Apparently, these early, boring plants studied the surrounding insects and then engineered their flowers to attract the insect in order for pollination to take place. Does this make sense? How did they get pollinated before the insects appeared? This “theory” simply cannot be true!
Flowers would need to be pollinated from the very beginning - if not, they would most likely go extinct. Flowers were designed with beauty and fragrance from the beginning to attract pollinators. Just as God’s Word says, He made flowers, which are plants, on day 3 of creation week and pollinators (flying creatures such as insects) on day 4. Chocolate testifies to a Creator - not to evolution.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
~ Genesis 1:29
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 7 - Biology
Daily Devotional – May 7
Biology
Did you know that one species of ants herds aphids? These dairy ants protect aphids in order to “milk” them for food. A common type of dairy ant is the cornfield ant. Before winter arrives, these ants collect corn-root aphid eggs and store them in their tunnels. In the spring, these aphid eggs hatch, and the ants herd the young aphids to the roots of young wild plants while they wait for the fields’ corn seeds to germinate. Once the corn germinates, the ants herd the aphids to the corn roots, so the aphids can feed on them. If the weather is bad, the ants carry the aphids underground for protection. When an ant wants a drink, she will stroke the aphid with her antennae causing a sweet liquid called honeydew to be secreted from the aphid. The ant is “milking” the aphid. The aphids benefit by being protected by the ants, and the ants benefit by receiving honeydew from the aphids. Both ant and aphid benefit from this relationship; this is called symbiosis. How did this relationship come about? They needed each other to survive. God’s fingerprints are even over the tiniest creatures of His creation.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised….
~ Psalm 48:1
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional May 6 - Cosmology
Daily Devotional – May 6
Cosmology
We do not have an ordinary sun. It is brighter than 85% of all stars and has more mass than 90% of all stars. Of all stars, 75% are red dwarfs, having less than 5% of the light output of the sun. If our sun were a red dwarf, earth would have to be closer to receive its warmth. If it were that close, it would become locked in position - causing one side of the planet to always be dark - resulting in no life. Red dwarfs also frequently have violent flares, so much so that red dwarfs are nicknamed “flare stars.” The remaining stars that aren’t red dwarfs are unstable and would expel too much radiation to support life on any planet orbiting close enough to support life. Our sun is a class G star. More than half of these are binary or multiple systems which would again not provide a stable climate for earth. Essentially, all of the stars we know the most about in the universe are smaller, cooler, dimmer, unstable, or part of a binary system.
Our sun is amazingly stable. For example, EV Larcertae is a red dwarf that has 1% of the sun’s light output, but it had a mega-flare 1,000 times brighter than the sun. If earth were near this red dwarf, our atmosphere would have been stripped off and everything fried because of these flares. Scientists are beginning to observe that super-flares on typical stars happen once every century. These scientists question why our sun hasn’t experienced super-flares in all of recorded history. Our sun is quiet, calm, and stable. One 30 year study found the sun’s energy varied only .06%. Our sun is no ordinary star but; it is perfectly designed to sustain life on earth. This is no accident.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
~ Psalm 113:3
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
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