Only By the Master’s Hand - Part Two   

     To most, this magnificent blue planet spinning around the solar system possessing an atmosphere which sustains a myriad of life forms is nothing more than the product of sheer chance.  With the infinitely small odds of any life beginning on any planet, if you then combine that together with the incredibly small chance of the existence of a perfect planet that could actually sustain life such as ours, it seems to defy any probability of our current existence.  Yet, here we are.  Is it chance or is it by divine creation?  Many believe that by delving into the scientific aspects of how this planet operates and its general compositional makeup, the notion of creationism would then be dispelled.   However, the more we discover scientifically, the more it becomes apparent that creation is the only plausible answer. 

     Let’s take a look at just one very small aspect of how this planet is truly unique among other floating hunks of rock in the universe and why it was specifically designed with mankind in mind. 

The Atmosphere and Gravity 

     The Earth is able to retain an atmosphere where other planets simply fail to do so.  It not only retains this atmosphere but it only retains what it needs to sustain life and dispels into space what is not conducive to mankind’s existence.  How is this achieved?  Mass and gravity play a very large roll in determining what atoms are retained and what are allowed to exit the Earth’s atmosphere.  Of course, there are many other factors that also play a part in whether or not a planet can retain an atmosphere, such as, its radius and the composition and temperature of the atmosphere, in this article I will discuss three - volcanism, mass and gravity. 

     Atmospheres of Earth-like planets such as Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are largely created by the out gassing from the interior of the planet by means of volcanoes.  This process is called volcanism.  Even though the other planets also experience volcanism, Earth is the only planet that is able to retain many of these gasses to create an atmosphere conducive to life while the others do not.  Why?  There are many factors but this is where mass and gravity become a large factor in determining where life can and cannot exist.   

     Earth is very dense and has a much greater mass than the other inner ring planets in our solar system.  Therefore its gravitational pull is much greater.  The gravity of our planet makes it very difficult for anything to escape from its surface into space.  It actually takes an object (rocket, bullet, atom, etc.) to have acquired a minimum velocity of 6.9 miles per second at the surface in order for it to have the ability to escape the atmosphere and reach space.  In comparison, the planet mercury, which is less than 10% the mass of Earth only has an escape velocity of 2.6 miles per second.  The escaping gasses from its interior are moving faster than the planet’s escape velocity so they mostly exit into space which is the reason Mercury has almost no atmosphere at all.  

     Atoms vary according to their atomic mass.  If an atom spewing from a volcano has an atomic mass that is greater than approximately 20, it will be retained in the atmosphere because that element’s mean speed will be insufficient for it to achieve escape velocity since it cannot overcome the Earth’s gravitational pull.  On the other hand, Hydrogen and Helium, with atomic weights of 1 and 4 respectively, very easily escape into space and is why there is very little of either in our atmosphere. 

     The planet Mars has a very thin atmosphere.  Since that planet has only 15% of the mass of Earth, it can only retain the more massive of molecules, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2 - Carbon (12) + Oxygen (16 x 2) = 44).  Those that are necessary to sustain life forms such as ours escape randomly into space.  Therefore, the sheer design of that planet has predetermined whether or not it can possess an atmosphere conducive to life. 

     The Earth is very unique from all other planets in the universe in that it has an atmosphere that can sustain life.  This atmosphere is the result of a body that has the perfect amount of mass which results in the perfect amount of gravitational force.  Atoms are present and out gassed from the inner depths of the Earth that miraculously have the correct atomic weights and composition to build the necessary molecules which form, sustain and support life.  Those that are detrimental to life escape the atmosphere. 

     The Earth is nothing less than a super sized space vessel with all of its parts purposefully manufactured and constructed to the exact specifications which would allow it to sustain a species such as mankind.  The blueprint as well as the number of components are only finite in the mind of an actual all knowing, all powerful God.  The Earth was His unique special creation, designed for His unique special created species - mankind.   

     Knowing that He created the heavens and the Earth and that He can literally hold the whole world in His hands, don’t be afraid to trust Him with your very lives.  What we see now is temporary for He will some day, in the not so distant future, create a new Heaven and a new Earth, one that has not been corrupted by the sin of mankind but will remain perfect in every way.  Read the Bible which is the living Word of God.  Trust Him with all your hearts and prepare to live for all eternity safe and secure in His loving hands. 

God’s Trust

 

How beautiful God's eyes must be to have master pieced this world of wonder and beauty.

How powerful yet sweet the voice that formed all of the heavens and Earth.

How gentle and loving His hands must be to have sculpted the faces of all his children.

How the radiance of His countenance must have glowed throughout all the heavens as He observed the beauty of His creation.

   With all the awesomeness of the universe that  is entrusted unto His loving care, He still adamantly pleads for each one of us to rely steadfastly upon Him for all the needs of our hearts and lives.    

             

   All He really wants is for us to wholly place our trust in Him in everyway.  To willingly stay in His sight, relaxing in the comfort of His embrace and ever listening to His voice.    

Stay in God's Trust.

© 1991 G. R. Workman    

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). 

 

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:1–2). 

 

© 2016 G. R. Workman