** February 27, 2007 **
WE ARE WONDERFULLY MADE
By: Former Florida Senator John Grant
(
Psalm 139).
We are wonderfully made. Consider this: The genome is all the DNA in an organism, including its genes. Genes carry information for making all the proteins required by all organisms. These proteins determine, among other things, how the organism looks, how well its body metabolizes food or fights infection, and sometimes even how it behaves. DNA is made up of four similar chemicals that are repeated millions or billions of times throughout a genome. The human genome, for example, has three billion pairs of bases. Or put in a more basic way, of all the billions of people living on the face of the earth, there is no one exactly like you or me. We are unique and individual.
If you printed out a person's personal genome in standard type on letter sized paper, the stack of papers would be higher than the Washington Monument. If you recited your personal gnome at a conversational pace twenty four hours a day, it would take thirty one years just to recite it. And this personal id is complete and in every cell in your body.
As I listened to Dr. Frances Collins, head of the US Genome Project, I was captivated by his description of the uniqueness of the human body and each ones personal genetic road map. But what really got to me was the personal testimony of his Christian faith. He began his medical practice as an avowed atheist, but when he examined the evidence, he was totally confirmed and conformed in the Christian faith.
He declared that in the search for truth in both the spiritual and scientific realm, the two are not in conflict but each is complimentary to the other. He said that "atheism is the acceptance of a universal negative." How true. All I could think of as he talked was
Psalm 139. Indeed, I am wonderfully made.
Why did God make me.... make you? Have you ever pondered that question about yourself? Without a doubt, it is the single-most important question you will ever ask yourself. Because when you understand why God your Creator made you for a unique purpose, it can impact your future like no other factor. When you know your unique purpose, you can make better decisions and stay more focused on fulfilling God's calling on your life through your vocation. Ultimately, knowing your unique purpose prepares you for experiencing the greatest level of satisfaction and success in life.
Scientific research does not divide us from the Christian faith. Indeed, it compliments it. Yes, God made you and me as a scientific marvel, but more importantly, He made each of us each in the image of himself. My, what a wonderful family lineage we have.
(a thought on life from John Grant)
About the Author:
As a former Florida Senator, John Grant has served in federal, state and local government in both the legislative and executive branches, including twenty one years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate. He is a lawyer by profession, specializing on life resource management and estate planning from a Biblical perspective. As Chairman of the America's Board of the United Bible Society, he oversees the distribution of Bibles through twenty nine national Bible societies and forty different countries in the western hemisphere. Currently he is Chairman of the Florida Capitol Advocate Group, a government consulting firm in Tallahassee and Washington. He and his wife of 40 years live in Tampa, Florida, USA.