Best Free Book About God "Life by Chance?" Part 2 Chapter 5

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LIFE BY CHANCE?

 The Lie: If given enough time, life can be formed through random processes

The formation of the first “simple” cell by random processes must have indeed been a miraculous event.  Evolution speaks of simple life forms but in reality, there is no such thing as a simple life form or even a simple single cell.  Not too long ago, science considered the structure of a single living cell to be rather simple but this concept has radically changed.  Science has discovered that the very “simplest” living cell is a vastly complex organism in itself.  The cell contains hundreds of proteins, enzymes, and hormones, each of which has a special function and complex system all of its own.  The cell membrane is capable of selecting and transporting essential products such as oxygen, vitamins, salt, sugar, etc...  There are tiny power plants called mitochondria which convert food into energy which is then utilized to maintain the many other components of the cell.  The cell manufactures its own proteins from complex factories called ribosomes.  These ribosomes act upon information and exact specifications which are supplied by a messenger known as RNA.  The RNA receives its information from a substance called DNA which is in the nucleus of the cell.  The DNA acts like a complex computer with all the necessary capability and information to reproduce any and all parts of the remainder of the cell.  DNA has hundreds of thousands of information bits which it must remember and be able to utilize in order to maintain the proper cell function.

If a single cell was ever formed by chance, it would obviously have to have been capable of reproducing itself or life would have ended with the first cell.  In order to reproduce itself, it would be necessary for DNA to be present in the nucleus of the cell.  A single strand of DNA is composed of a chain which consists of hundreds of individual links which must be in the proper sequence.  The smallest single link of this DNA chain is composed of about 200 molecules which also must be in an exact order.¹

The science of probability can be used to effectively demonstrate the impossibility for life to have occurred by chance from random particles.  To illustrate the law of probability, consider what the chances would be for three separate blocks, A, B, and C to fall in their proper sequence if they were placed in a hat, shaken, and then tossed on the floor.  Since there are three separate blocks, the probability is determined by multiplying 1 x 2 x 3 which equals 6.  This means that there is one chance in six that the blocks will land in the proper sequence.  The reason for this is because there are six different combinations which can be made from the letters A, B, and C.  The combinations are ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, and CBA.  If a fourth block with the letter D is added to the hat, the chances of landing in sequential order become 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 or one chance in 24 because there are 24 different combinations that can be obtained from the four letters.  If a fifth block is added the odds become 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 or one chance in 120 attempts.  The odds climb to one chance in 720 attempts if a sixth block is added.  By determining probabilities, gambling casinos around the world are able to ensure that their businesses will ultimately produce great profits because of predictable odds.

Now consider what the chances would be for the smallest link in the long DNA chain to arrive at its proper functioning sequence by chance. The chances that 200 different parts could come together in their proper order is one chance in 10³⁷⁵ which is written as a “one” with 375 zeros after it!²  Since it would only be possible to cram 10¹³⁰ electrons into the entire universe, we will assume for the sake of simplicity that there could be no more than 10¹³⁰ “particles” available from which the proper sequence of 200 parts could be formed.  (This estimate is exceedingly generous).  This means that the universe could hold no more than approximately 10¹²⁸ separate groups of 200 components.  In order to insure that one combination or group of 200 will be in the correct sequence, however, it will require 10³⁷⁵ separate groups of 200 components to be formed.  Since only 10¹²⁸ of these groups could ever be formed at any one time in the universe, it is highly improbable that any of the 10¹²⁸ groups would contain the proper sequence because it requires 10³⁷⁵ groups to ensure that one will have the proper order.  If the first groups didn’t contain the proper sequence of 200, suppose that all of their 10¹³⁰ particles managed to separate from their original groups, and re-arrange themselves into new groups of 200 components each; If this didn’t work, suppose they were mixed and re-shuffled to form new groups, and then more groups, and so on until the proper sequence was attained.  Even if these particles were separated and re-arranged into new groups a billion times per second, it would still be inconceivable to achieve the proper sequence.  If the universe is 30 billion years old, then 10¹⁸ seconds would have ticked by since the beginning of time.³  If the 10¹³⁰ particles were mixed and re-arranged a billion times per second, then in 30 billion years they would have made 10²⁷ attempts at attaining the proper sequence.  In 30 Billion years, therefore, the most groups of 200 that could possibly be formed in the universe would be 10²⁷ x 10¹²⁸ which would equal a maximum possible total of 10¹⁵⁵.  Since it would require 10³⁷⁵ groups to ensure that the proper sequence would be attained by chance, the odds that the 10¹⁵⁵ possible attempts would contain this proper functioning sequence is 10¹⁵⁵ divided by 10³⁷⁵ which equals one chance in 10²²⁰.  These odds amount to no real chance at all!

UPDATE: Because of advances in technology, some believe that the observable universe stretches to a size of nearly 100 billion light years. This would change the mathematic calculations above but not the impossibility of life developing by chance. (Refer to previous update)

If there is really no practical chance that the smallest link of the human DNA chain of a single human cell could be formed by random processes in 30 billion years, how are we to account for the billions of complex life forms on earth which are each composed of billions and billions of diverse and complex living cells?  To assume that life evolved by chance random processes requires more faith than it takes to believe that there is an eternal designer and creator who is responsible for the existence of a complex, organized universe.  The essence of life is still a great mystery because even if all the necessary components for life are available in their proper sequence, after the obvious death of an organism, it is still not possible to restore the essence of life once it has vanished.

Many people are under the impression that modern scientists have managed to “create” life from non-living materials but this is a false assumption.  There have been some remarkable achievements made by biochemists involved in genetic research but nothing has ever been created from basic chemicals which can qualify as being “life.”  Scientists have managed to synthesize some basic amino acids under a controlled laboratory environment; but, the conditions that were necessary to accomplish this feat could not have existed outside of a laboratory.  The amino acids had to be immediately taken out of the environment in which they were formed; otherwise they would have been destroyed by that very same environment.⁴ The synthesis of amino acids is certainly a noteworthy accomplishment but an amino acid is far from being classified as “living” in any sense of the word.

In 1970 a man by the name of J. P. Danielli was reported to have synthesized the first living cell.  This living cell, however, was constructed from the dismantled components of other living cells which means that life still had to be originated from that which was already living.⁵ Most of the spectacular and well publicized achievements in genetic research are attained by the utilization of organisms which are already living.  There are complex problems in the quest for “creating life” which appear to be insurmountable.  Let us suppose though that someday science actually does manage to unlock the mystery of life itself.  Such an accomplishment would certainly not be the result of some random natural process.  It could only be attained through years of planning, organization, and intense study and observation of present living systems.  In other words, such an achievement could only be realized by creative processes under controlled and exacting laboratory conditions.  In the final analysis, since man is a living entity, life would have still had to have come from life.  It would have required a living creator because it is obvious that the first synthesized cell would have never been able to create itself.

It is difficult to adequately present and document in a few short chapters, the wealth of scientific evidence which supports the theory of special creation.  The purpose of this section has been to stimulate an interest that will lead to further investigation by the reader.  The bibliography at the end of this book contains some excellent study material which has been written by dedicated men of science. One book, in particular, offers a unique authoritative comparison between evolution and creation.  This book is called Scientific Creationism and it was written by Dr. Henry Morris who is the director of the Institute for Creation Research.  This book contains numerous quotations from some of the nation’s top authorities and zealous advocates of evolution who independently acknowledge the numerous inadequacies and major problems which the theory of evolution encounters. Unfortunately, students in our public educational systems will seldom be presented with these types of admissions by these top authorities because the theory of evolution has become the “sacred cow” of science and is now presented as undeniable fact in every form of media available.

There is no logical reason why an alternate theory which is supported by thousands of bona fide scientists could not be taught in conjunction with the theory of evolution. This can be done in a way that adheres to scientific facts and avoids any mention of religion or the Bible.  Students should be given the opportunity to make their own decisions, based upon the facts that are presented for each theory.  It is unfortunate that so many young people are denied this important opportunity. (By Robert Linkey)

 The Truth:

“O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.”  (Psalm 104:24)

"You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.” (Nehemiah 9:6)

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My  frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139: 13-17)

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and because of your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

 Epilogue

   Deception Mastered

Satan is a master liar, and because of this, it would require more than a lifetime to uncover all of the many lies and deceptive schemes that he foists upon humanity.  The few deceptions that have been revealed in this book are merely examples of the many mental and spiritual obstacles that Satan strives to erect in order to prevent people from obtaining the free gift of eternal life which God has made available to all.  Hopefully, the reader of this book has received enough truth to destroy the plans of Satan, and to enjoy the plans of God.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”(John 8:32)