The universe is big. Why? To say something about the one who made it. He is bigger.

The fact that the universe is able to support life depends on the delicately fine-tuned fundamental characteristics, particularly concerning the form of the laws and constants of nature. In the past few decades a broad consensus has emerged among physicists concerning these fundamental laws that govern our universe that have been discovered and proven to be balanced on ‘knife-edge’. So much so, if any of these differed only very slightly, the universe would not have been able sustain itself, let alone exist. Did a random explosion such as the ‘big bang’ really create nothing from everything? Not only everything, but creating the most intricate, fine tuned universe, galaxies, planets, stars, living organisms, plants, animals and living and breathing, soul and spirit filled humans? Holding organs made up of trillions of organised, structured and complex cells, that orchestrate every biological process. We are more than the just intelligent machines, We cannot even begin to fathom the intricacy of our bodies; biomedical research had advanced our understanding of how our bodies work, but still only provide a very small snapshot. Likewise, scientists predict that the universe is about 93 billion light-years in diameter; and the amount of stars in our sky probably amount to the grain of sand on all our shores in the world, but lets face it; we will never be able to know- it is simply too immense for us to comprehend. I don’t know about you but it doesn’t seem like such a cosmic accident to me. The design of our universe is incomprehensibly, undeniably intelligent, would you say that intelligent design demands a designer? I’ll let you decide…

Just to name a few, I’ve put together a few examples of this fine tuning within our universe… no matter what conclusion you may come to, i think it’s safe to say that our universe is absolutely mind-blowing.

Nuclear Force:

It just so happens that the universe contains a force that keeps the protons in the nucleus of each atom together, hence the term “nuclear” force…. The only problem is: if there was just a very slight increase in the strength of this nuclear force them the universe would consist mainly of heavy metals which would prevent life from existing anywhere at all… however, if there was a slight decrease in the nuclear force then the only element in the universe would be hydrogen which produces the same results… no life.

Electromagnetic coupling constant:

This force is that which causes positive charges to distract and opposite charges to attract… however if this constant were just slightly stronger, it would keep molecules from existing (and hence no life could ever exist), on the other hand, if this constant we’re slightly smaller, the electrons would leave the nucleus producing the same result… no life.

Expansion Rate of the Universe:

The universe is expanding away from a point of origin at approximately 2 million mph… besides accumulating a serious speeding ticket, physicists have found that if this were just a few percent slower then all the matter of the universe would collapse into a ball. On the other hand, if the rate of expansion were even slightly faster, then the galaxies and starts could never have formed. Either way, no life.

Mass of the universe:

All the matter in the universe is fixed within a very narrow range… according to astrophysicists, a few percent increase in the amount of matter in the universe would have resulted in the stars being too big and too hot… however, just a few percentage decrease in the total mass of the universe and the results would’ve been stars that were too small and no heavy elements to support life. Either way, no life in the universe.

Distance between the stars:

Astrophysicists have discovered that the distance between stars is absolutely critical for life. The average distance between stars in our galaxy is 30 trillion miles. That distance is needed for earth to exist in its present life-supporting position. For instance… if the distance between the stars were just a few percent closer, this would destabilise the planetary orbits around the sun and kill all chances of supporting life. But if the distance between the stars was too far, then planets could never have formed.

Number of protons and electrons:

It has actually been discovered that the ratio of the number of protons to the number of electrons is extremely delicate for life to exist… for instance, if the ratio was just a little bit larger then it would have prevented the galaxies, stars and planets from ever forming. However, if the ratio was slightly smaller then it would have likewise prevented galaxies, stars and planets to form. Either way, it has to be exactly like it is for life to exist.

Force of gravity:

Gravitational force is measured in newtons or m/s². If gravity were any stronger, the smaller stars would not have formed, and if it were any weaker, the bigger stars would not have formed. It has to be exactly like it is. In fact, all masses are found to attract one another with gravity and it just so happens to be the square of the distance between the masses…

But the question is, “where did that “2” (the square) come from?”… and why is the equation exactly squared? Well, they found in every test, the force of gravity is keyed precisely to that “2”. As it turns out, it just so happens that any value other than than 2 would eventually decay of orbits and the entire universe would destroy itself.

The very structure of our universe is determined by the fundamental constants and quantities. Scientists have come to the shocking realisation that each of these numbers have been carefully dialled to an intricately precise value that falls within an exceedingly narrow life-permitting range. If any of these numbers were altered by even a hair’s breadth; no physical life of any kind could exist anywhere.

The force of gravity is determined by the gravitational constant; if this constant varied by just 1 in 10 60th parts, none of us would exist. To understand how exceedingly narrow this life-permitting range is: imagine a dial divided into 10 60th increments. To get a handle on how many points on the dial this would be; compare it to the number of cells in your body, or the number of seconds that have ticketed since time began. If the gravitational constant had been out of tune by just one of these infinitesimally small increments, the universe would either have expanded and thinned out so rapidly that no stars could form and life couldn’t exist, or it would have collapsed back on itself with the same result… no life.

Mass of the proton:

If the ratio of the mass of the proton to neutron were to vast just a little higher or lower, utter chaos would result and the entire universe would be destabilised- the atoms would fly apart or crush together and everything they’re in (which is everything) would be utterly destroyed. Without this perfect balance of the proton and neutron, the universe would completely collapse.

The solar system:

Just to name a few… here are some amazing examples of fine-tuning in our solar system:

Jupiter’s distance: 

The average distance between Jupiter and Earth is around 484 million miles. If Jupiter’s distance was just a little big greater, then there would be too many collisions from asteroids and comets, but if it were any less, then the earth’s orbit would become unstable and also destroy life.

Venus:

In the 1950s, scientists thought that Venus may be a very warm, tropical sort of paradise. The atmosphere is very dense which creates a greenhouse effect, therefore on the surface its about 900 degrees day and night. In 1962 the Mariner 2 spacecraft flew past Venus and was able to actually explore that by being there in concert with ground observations that had been made the previous year which revealed that Venus is rotating backwards, the opposite way to earth. It also rotates very slowly, no other planet rotates quite so slowly. These two facts may seem insignificant, however they contradict what would be expected in the secular model because if the solar system formed from a spinning nebula, cloud of gas, really everything ought to be rotating the same direction and speed, so Venus defies both these expectations.

The sun’s distance:

The sun itself is loaded with all kinds of design features, like a finely tuned watch in the sky. Do watches make themselves? 

• Plant growth: The sun’s light and heat allow plants to grow through photosynthesis. 
• Climate: The sun is the primary source of energy that drives Earth’s climate system. 
• Weather: The sun drives weather patterns, including ocean currents and wind. 
• Seasons: The sun’s position in the sky relative to Earth’s axis of rotation causes seasons. 
• Gravity: The sun’s gravitational pull keeps Earth in orbit. 
• Solar energy: The sun’s energy can be used for agriculture, heating buildings, and other purposes. 
• Solar magnetic field: The sun’s magnetic field extends into space, forming the interplanetary magnetic field. 
• The oxygen we breathe

if the sun’s distance were just a little bit further than it is from the earth, then the entire planet would freeze, but if the sun were just a few percent closer, the waters of earth would boil. In either case, no life.

Our sun is not mediocre at all… first of all its brighter than about 90% of all stars in the Milky Way, it has more mass than about 92% of the stars we know of. If our sun were just an average star, it would be classed as a red dwarf which make up about 3/4 of all stars. We should be very thankful that we don’t orbit a typical star because these stars are small enough in order for the earth to be warm enough to support life we would have to orbit it very closely, so much so it would be tidal-locked. This means the same side of the orbiting object always faces the one in the middle. One side of the earth would be perpetually roasting and the other side perpetually freezing. 

If this wasn’t enough, the sun’s colour just happens to be the right colour for life to exist… its known that if the sun’s colour were more red or blue then the photosynthetic response would be weaker, and hence ruin life.

The moon’s distance:

If the moon’s distance were just a little closer to the earth, it would get sucked in by gravity and crash into us, bringing death to our planet, but if the moon were just a little further away, it would move off into space leaving behind death for our planet.

When Apollo astronauts landed on the moon, they conducted numerous experiments including the placement of special mirrors on the surface. After 45 years, these devices are still yielding important information: they take a lazer-beam from the earth to the moon and shine it through a large telescope in an observatory in west Texas. They send a pulse with that laser and measure the time difference between when they sent the pulse and when it came back. Knowing the speed of light, we can also measure the distance of the moon to a fraction of an inch. What they have found is that the moon is slowly receding from the earth at about 3.78 cm per year. 

The moon has moved several feet since the moon landing. What’s interesting about this is that if you extrapolate this further back in time in an unlimited way, if the moon was only as half as far from the earth as it is now then the recession would be several feet per-year because this changing distance is not linear. Scientists estimate that Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. Ok so you do the math and extrapolate this back in time by about 1.5 billion years, the moon would be right up against the earth. You cant do this because if the moon where anywhere in the vicinity of the earth, our own gravity would disintegrate it and turn it into a ring like Saturn has. Therefore we know that the moon can’t be anywhere as near old as scientists say or we’d be in trouble and yet we are told in the idea of evolutionary time that the moon is about 4.5 billion years old! Over a time-scale of lets say 6,000 years, then the moon has only moved a few hundred feet since then, and that’s perfectly consistent with the biblical time scale.

Size of the moon:

The moon has a radius of about 1,080 miles, and a diameter of about 2,159miles. If it were just slightly bigger, then its gravitational effect on the earth cause massive tides and ferocious winds that would wipe our life on earth… but if the moon were just slightly smaller then the tides and winds would be too small and the earth would overheat. The question is, “how did the moon get positioned so precisely in the sky?”

The big question…

So if all these things would have to be spontaneously and precisely as they are to even support life and prevent the universe from collapsing in on itself how did they get there? Was it an accident such as a cosmic explosion of nothing creating everything, and life adapted over millions and billions of years? Or does all this mind-boggling intelligence that we see in creation require a creator and intelligent designer? Are we an accident that evolved from some goo to the zoo to me and you? Or are we created on purpose for a purpose for the pleasure of a loving creator?

Why is this the debate over evolution and creation such a big topic? And why is there so much push- back? I think now more than every Satan wants us to keep our heads in the sand, keep us looking down at our phones instead of looking up at the sky. The bible tells us: “God has instilled the knowledge of Himself in every man.” “So that we are without excuse”. God has left His finger-prints all over His creation, all we need to do is simply look at it to be able to see His loving signature written over it all, including you!