Here are a bunch of random thoughts about science, fire, heat, and energy as I wrap up my career as a science student.
It’s my last week of school… for at least a year!
Last week God reminded me of the laws of thermodynamics. There was a previous time where God showed me Himself in these laws. I was helping a student last week, and it all flooded back like a deep memory that I had forgotten.
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics, by google definition, is the branch of physical science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy, and by extension, of the relationships between all forms of energy.
When I think of heat, fire usually comes to my mind, and I think of Hebrews 12… “For our God is a devouring fire.”
The first law of thermodynamics: energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be transferred or converted from one form to another.
God was not created or destroyed. He appears in many different forms.
There is also another law (Conservation of Mass) that says matter cannot be created or destroyed. Genesis 2:1-2 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. We know that God is eternal, neither being created nor destroyed, but we also know that He created all the matter in the universe and that was finished in the days of creation.
Romans 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.
*Disclaimer: When trying to relate God to scientific theories and laws, the thought processes will break down eventually; I learned by experience.
The second law of thermodynamics: entropy of the universe is increasing.
Entropy – measure of chaos, randomness, disorder
The universe has a natural tendency to go to more disorder, more chaos. But there are so many things in order like the forming of a baby in the wound, the way water is taken up in a massive tree, even the cloud of a hurricane is not a random shape. So if increasing entropy is spontaneous, what keeps everything in order?
Colossians 1:17 He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.
The third law of thermodynamics: the entropy of a perfect/pure crystal at absolute zero is exactly equal to zero.
Entropy, as defined above, is the measure of chaos. Absolute zero refers to the lowest temperature possible where there are no vibrations within molecules. Pure means no impurities or imperfections. When entropy is zero, this means there is no chaos or disorder…
This scenario is only theoretical. Scientists have not been able to reach absolute zero. But I see God in this. God is pure and perfect, without chaos and disorder.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meeting of God’s holy people.
Einstein’s E=mc2
E=mc2
E is energy, m is matter, c is the speed of light.
Here’s another equation I found God in. Remember the first law of thermodynamics, energy is neither created nor destroyed.. and I also told you the same is true for matter. Well here is an equation where under certain conditions, energy can become matter. Energy divided by the speed of light gives matter. I will leave it at that. If you see how that relates to God, then that’s awesome. If not, I’m sorry. I can’t put anymore words here.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Reflections
This was an awesome day of reflection. When I got home, I looked in the mirror and caught a glimpse of a sparkle in my eye, and I know it’s because I belong to God and I had been thinking about Him.
You know how when metal is on fire or gets hot, and it glows? I wonder if my face could glow if I was on fire for God. It reminds me of Moses. He spent so much time in the presence of God that he had to wear a veil, so he didn’t scare the people. I don’t want to scare people, but I sure do think it would be awesome to glow because of time spent with the Lord.
Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD.
The Warmth of the Sun verses the Warmth of the Son
More thoughts on heat… but like from the sun.
I love summer. How when you walk outside, and the warmth of the sun hits your skin. For me it’s like I’m being powered with this internal energy. It makes me feel good and happy and I just want to soak up all the sun I can.
Today is one of those beautiful sunny days. There’s a little breeze blowing every now and then. The trees and grass are green. Flowers are blooming. There are birds flying and singing. Crickets chirping.
This warmth comes in it’s season, but the warmth of the Son is always there. It’s a deeper kind of internal energy. The kind that lets you move on. It’s rays pierce through to the soul. This warmth is ever lasting. It doesn’t bring happiness but joy. It doesn’t just make me feel good, but it makes me feel alive. It’s a warmth you can get in the light and in the dark, in the summer and in the winter. The warmth of the Son makes me content.
2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
Science, Science and Faith, Faith
When I started digging into the bible, I was already a science major and only had a few classes left to take. People always told me I was very analytically minded. I liked to understand things and make sense of it all. I loved science because, well I guess because its like studying creation and that has always fascinated me. As I became a Christian and started growing in my faith, I would see God in science, somewhat like I have shared here. I thought it was cool. It was like evidence for God. So I started to relate science, God, and the bible. It was fun and interesting. As I grew more and more, science stopped being able to explain God to me. It was surface. I didn’t want surface stuff anymore, I wanted depth. I started growing deeper, and science took the back burner (I guess that can be pun intended since I’ve been talking about heat). I started to realize how much more God is than the created things we can see and study. I started to see the power of His Word alone. I started to feel His presence. My faith was starting to grow down and take hold like the roots of a plant grow down. Now, science means very little to me, and I am not as passionate about it anymore. Maybe it will come back, but I don’t care if it does. I don’t need science to explain anything anymore. Looking back, it has been a cool journey. I believe God used me in the science field and during my time in school, and that it was not a coincidence I was led to that major.
I used to be a science person. For a brief time, I was a science and bible person. Now, I just want to be a faith filled foreigner waiting to go home. God’s Word is much more powerful than any scientific evidence you can show me.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance of the things we cannot see.
God made the laws of universe. It’s cool to try to figure out what those laws are, but I’d rather know God Himself than the laws.
Job 38:33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
Ephesians 4:5-6 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
