Canyon Ministries
[Originally published as 3rd Rock From the Sun – Just Right]
Dr. Danny Faulkner, of Answers in Genesis, wrote an article on January 1, 2014 discussing just a few of the wonders of the “just right” nature of the earth. Dr. Faulkner succinctly explains three important facts.
1. The earth is just the right distance from the sun (the habitable zone). The earth is perfectly positioned to be neither too hot nor too cold. We will neither burn nor freeze. Of course, we may need to do some convincing of that for people living in Phoenix, AZ or Siberia.
2. The earth has just the right mass.
Here are Dr. Faulkner’s own words about the mass of the earth.
But being in the habitable zone is not enough. The earth’s moon is in the right zone but is sterile. The problem is that the moon has too little mass (and hence too little gravity) to keep any significant atmosphere. Liquid water cannot exist in the vacuum of space, as on the lunar surface. But if a planet is too massive, it retains the wrong kind of atmosphere, such as the poisonous, lighter gases on Jupiter. For a planet or moon to support life, it must have just the right mass.
3. The earth is just the right composition. The heavy iron core produces just the right gravity to hold the right mixture of atmospheric gases required for life.
For many of you, this is not new information. However, let’s apply a very important question to these facts.
What does this tell me about God?
Romans 1:19–20 tells us that the invisible qualities of God have been made known by creation. In fact, they are so plainly revealed that man is without excuse. So what is God revealing to us about Himself with respect to the characteristics of the earth?
John 1 proclaims Jesus (God the Son) as the creator of all things. The apostle Paul speaks in concert with John in Colossians 1:15–17. Paul announces Jesus as the creator of all things in heaven and on earth and that Jesus continues to hold everything together. This is remarkable when considered in the context of the placement and composition of the earth. God created the earth in a manner that fully provides for the life He placed upon it. He has given it everything it needs for life. This truth is a resounding witness to the heart that God has for us. For God has not done that for the earth alone. Listen to what 2 Peter 2:3–4 has to say.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
God has given us everything we need just as He created the earth to have everything it needs. Move forward, Christian! Advance…for you have been rightly positioned and fully equipped for VICTORY!
Praiseallujiah!
Jon
