Considering the Heavens When I consider your heavens

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Considering the Heavens

Considering the Heavens

When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the

When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him. . . ? Many people see the vastness of space and wonder if there is a God, and, if He is there, why He should care about us.

Is there evidence in the heavens of God’s love for us? Or is this

Is there evidence in the heavens of God’s love for us? Or is this all just a vast, dead, space without a hint of the love and care of the God of the Bible?

We will consider the creation from the first heaven (our atmosphere). . .

We will consider the creation from the first heaven (our atmosphere). . .

to the farthest reaches of the second heaven (the cosmos). . . and see

to the farthest reaches of the second heaven (the cosmos). . . and see just how “mindful of us” He really is.

Considering the Atmosphere. . .

Considering the Atmosphere. . .

Our gravity is just enough to keep this thin layer of gases above us.

Our gravity is just enough to keep this thin layer of gases above us. Any more gravity means a heavier, more destructive atmosphere with more deadly gases staying here. Less gravity and we can’t hold onto oxygen and other life-giving gases. Why, it’s like gravity is just right.

The atmosphere is 20% oxygen. Any less? Humans aren’t here. Any more? Everything burns

The atmosphere is 20% oxygen. Any less? Humans aren’t here. Any more? Everything burns a lot faster, and our bodies age quicker. It’s like we have just the perfect amount.

The thin invisible ozone layer keeps us alive by absorbing nasty radiation from space.

The thin invisible ozone layer keeps us alive by absorbing nasty radiation from space. Less ozone and we roast in ultraviolet light from the sun. Any more and we don’t get enough of the sun’s life-giving energy through to the surface. Seems to be just the perfect amount.

Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere acts like a blanket and keeps us warm. Any

Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere acts like a blanket and keeps us warm. Any less, we freeze. Any more, we fry in a runaway greenhouse effect. We seem to have just the right amount.

Lightning strikes once a second on this planet. More often? Too many fires. Less

Lightning strikes once a second on this planet. More often? Too many fires. Less often? Not enough nitrogen would get “fixed” into a form useful for life. Seems to be just right.

Water vapor permeates through the atmosphere, delivering rain & keeping us warm. Want more?

Water vapor permeates through the atmosphere, delivering rain & keeping us warm. Want more? We get a runaway greenhouse effect which will fry the planet. Less? Life on land would suffer from meager to no rainfall. Seems to be just perfect.

Our slow 24 -hour rotation keeps our winds perfect - even hurricane force is

Our slow 24 -hour rotation keeps our winds perfect - even hurricane force is low & our temps nice. Faster or slower and life is possible, but it’s no Eden.

Our liquid center gives us a magnetic field which protects us from the deadly

Our liquid center gives us a magnetic field which protects us from the deadly solar winds. . . Some solar wind can sneak in at the poles and give us the aurorae. . .

a constant, visible, & beautiful reminder of our magnetic field’s protective purpose.

a constant, visible, & beautiful reminder of our magnetic field’s protective purpose.

Apparently, we have a perfect atmosphere!

Apparently, we have a perfect atmosphere!

Considering the Moon. . .

Considering the Moon. . .

The Moon has slowed us, kept us steady, given us tides, stabilized our orbit.

The Moon has slowed us, kept us steady, given us tides, stabilized our orbit. Without it, life could not exist. Apparently, we have the perfect satellite.

Considering our Neighbors

Considering our Neighbors

Venus, closer to the sun, has. . . – an atmosphere so heavy with

Venus, closer to the sun, has. . . – an atmosphere so heavy with carbon dioxide it’s like being under a kilometer of water – a surface temp around 900°F – a cloud cover made of sulfuric acid – no water

Mars, smaller & farther out, has almost no atmosphere, and its water reservoirs are

Mars, smaller & farther out, has almost no atmosphere, and its water reservoirs are essentially frozen, so there is no life-giving water cycle. . .

But it’s a happy planet! Apparently we are not too close, not too far,

But it’s a happy planet! Apparently we are not too close, not too far, but just the perfect distance from the sun for life.

Considering Jupiter & Saturn

Considering Jupiter & Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn are at the perfect distance to: – leave our sensitive orbit

Jupiter and Saturn are at the perfect distance to: – leave our sensitive orbit alone – protect us from nasty, earthbound comets and asteroids. . .

For example, in 1994, Jupiter captured an incoming comet and ate it like it

For example, in 1994, Jupiter captured an incoming comet and ate it like it has done many, many times before.

These dark plumes where the comet fragments struck are bigger than the Earth!

These dark plumes where the comet fragments struck are bigger than the Earth!

big rock, bad day We still get hit by the big ones occasionally, but

big rock, bad day We still get hit by the big ones occasionally, but not nearly as often and always at the perfect time. Apparently, we have the perfect big brothers out there.

Considering the Sun

Considering the Sun

Our sun is the perfect size, mass, brightness, and generation for life. Anything else,

Our sun is the perfect size, mass, brightness, and generation for life. Anything else, we’re not here.

Our sun is a “bachelor, ” a single star. Most stars have at least

Our sun is a “bachelor, ” a single star. Most stars have at least one other companion. If the sun had a buddy, our orbit would destabilize and we would not be here. Apparently, we have the perfect star.

Considering Other Stars

Considering Other Stars

Our sun wasn’t born near other big and destructive stars like these four here

Our sun wasn’t born near other big and destructive stars like these four here in the Orion Nebula, the Trapezium Cluster.

The Trapezium Cluster are clearing away planet-making material from their siblings. No planet-making material,

The Trapezium Cluster are clearing away planet-making material from their siblings. No planet-making material, no planets. No planets, no life.

Sun-sized stars eventually go out in a blaze of glory. The sun will, too,

Sun-sized stars eventually go out in a blaze of glory. The sun will, too, a long time from now. . .

But humans were put here at exactly the right time to completely avoid this

But humans were put here at exactly the right time to completely avoid this inevitable scenario. It’s as if we got stuck on a perfect planet circling a life-giving star which has the perfect life-cycle.

betelgeuse Many stars, like Betelgeuse in Orion, are bigger than our sun. They live

betelgeuse Many stars, like Betelgeuse in Orion, are bigger than our sun. They live much faster and violently and die much younger.

And when they die, they scour clean everything within hundreds of trillions of miles.

And when they die, they scour clean everything within hundreds of trillions of miles. We have no big starry neighbors.

As to these explosions called supernovae: Closer to us? life is exterminated Farther? not

As to these explosions called supernovae: Closer to us? life is exterminated Farther? not enough planet-building debris More frequent? life goes bye-bye More infrequent? no planets Supernovae are perfect, too.

Considering our Galaxy

Considering our Galaxy

We live on the only street in our galaxy which allows life. . .

We live on the only street in our galaxy which allows life. . . Closer to the nucleus, we get supernovaed, radiated to death, and thrown out of a stable orbit by other stars. Farther, no planet-building material.

We live in the perfect type of galaxy for life, the spiral. Spiral is

We live in the perfect type of galaxy for life, the spiral. Spiral is perfect for life. Elliptical not so.

FYI FACT! Our Mormon friends claim that we came from Kolob, a planet in

FYI FACT! Our Mormon friends claim that we came from Kolob, a planet in the center of the galaxy. No can do! There’s a supermassive black hole there! Nothing survives this place.

It appears we are located in the perfect place within the perfect type of

It appears we are located in the perfect place within the perfect type of galaxy. Can things get any better? !

Considering the Universe We live in a cluster of galaxies like this, but at

Considering the Universe We live in a cluster of galaxies like this, but at the safest place - the edge!. . . At the edge, spirals survive. How?

Living in the nasty inner places leads to. . . Collisions!!! or. . .

Living in the nasty inner places leads to. . . Collisions!!! or. . .

Cannibalism, in which one galaxy consumes another. Either way, no life.

Cannibalism, in which one galaxy consumes another. Either way, no life.

Worse! Clusters can collide with clusters to produce the most massive things ever seen!

Worse! Clusters can collide with clusters to produce the most massive things ever seen!

It’s as if we live in the perfect galaxy in the perfect part of

It’s as if we live in the perfect galaxy in the perfect part of a perfect cluster in the perfect part of the universe.

Considering Everything Considering. . . our atmosphere, our Moon, our neighbors, our Sun, our

Considering Everything Considering. . . our atmosphere, our Moon, our neighbors, our Sun, our Galaxy, our place in the universe, and many other things not even mentioned. . .

Many scientists are seeing for the first time that Somebody must be behind it

Many scientists are seeing for the first time that Somebody must be behind it all. And because many scientists are seeing design everywhere they look. . . some are seeing a Designer. And are being drawn into the Third Heaven - the presence of God.

Considering the Third Heaven If this whole universe is flooded with design, then maybe

Considering the Third Heaven If this whole universe is flooded with design, then maybe the Bible is correct, they say. If the Bible is correct, so are His promises to take care of us and fill us with abundant life. If He has so meticulously taken care of this Whole Place, how much more will He take care of you, for whom He sacrificed Himself?

What’s better than Him taking care of us now? Some day we will be

What’s better than Him taking care of us now? Some day we will be caught up into the other dimensions of the Third Heaven, into a New Creation, a place He’s prepared for us, to spend eternity with Him.

If you have any questions about this presentation, or want to know more about

If you have any questions about this presentation, or want to know more about the God of the Bible and His love for you, write us at questions@swordandspirit. com