By Ercill Hunt

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11:3 NIV).

The atom plays a vital part in God’s creation. All matter is comprised of atoms. The atom is made up of electrons and protons, which are really not solids, but positive and negative charges of electricity. The atom has a dense center called the nucleus. Inside the nucleus are the neutrons and protons. The neutrons have no electrical charge and are therefore neutral; but the protons have positive charges.

One law of electricity is that like charges repel one another. Therefore, since the protons inside the nucleus are all positive charges, they should repel one another and scatter, but for some reason they do not. There is a binding force, not yet understood, holding them together. In addition, when the neutrons of the atom are smashed, they scatter into parts which become electrons and protons and a multitude of other kinds of particles—the number of which staggers the imagination.

In just one railroad ticket there are enough atoms to supply energy to power a diesel train around the world several times. The atomic energy available in the average school textbook is equivalent to the energy output of Hoover Dam for one year—or enough energy to power the electrical needs of an average home for a million years. In one breath of a human there is enough atomic energy to fly a spacecraft to the moon. The atomic energy in one pound of any kind of matter, such as water, is the equivalent of the burning of 1½ million tons of coal. All of this energy is stored in the tiny particles of which matter is composed.

Around the nucleus of the atom whirl the particles called electrons (which have negative electrical charges) at billions of times every millionth of a second. These opposite charges of electricity attract each other; the protons and electrons pull at each other, keeping the electrons from dispersing. From where did this electrical charge come which holds the atoms together in such a specific manner? What force causes these electrons to orbit the nucleus of the atom at such an unbelievable speed?

What is the binding force of an atom? Scientists have discovered this binding force and its properties have been worked out mathematically, but they do not know what it is or how it got there. Recently they have found two new forces within the atom called the pi-mesons. They believe the pi-mesons may be the energy holding things together. It is totally invisible; it can’t be seen, felt, tasted or weighed. But it is there! What is this nuclear glue? Though man can continue to observe and research the atom, discovering how it works and of what it is comprised, the question still remains: Who is the creator and the controller of these incredible forces? Did it all come about by unintelligent chance or was there intelligence involved? If so, whose?

…In him (Christ) all things hold together (Colossians 1:17 NIV).

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

A model of the hydrogen atom might be made by taking a bowling ball to represent the nucleus. Then place a pea, representing the electron, 10 miles away from the nucleus. The amount of space in between is startling. The ratio of the actual space occupied by these swirling particles called electrons and the nucleus is about the same ratio as the space occupied by the earth and the sun to space of a sphere with a diameter equal to the distance from the earth to the sun.

In other words, the atom is mostly composed of space, and matter is composed of atoms. Thus, man is mostly composed of space—or nonphysical substance, if the actual matter in a human body could be compressed into a ball, it would be smaller than the head of a pin. Considering the vast amount of space within each atom in proportion to the exceedingly small size of the protons and electrons, atoms should be able to pass through each other. Even steel is mostly space. All matter is primarily constructed of space so that the actual matter is really composed of literally invisible particles. Consider the following verse.

… We know that the world and the stars—in fact, all things—were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen (Hebrews 11:3 LB).

Since atoms are mostly composed of space, why can’t they pass through one another? It isn’t the actual atoms which keep a person from walking through a wall, but the invisible forces surrounding the atom. These powerful forces prohibit passage of other atoms. Jesus was able to walk through walls after His resurrection. He has power to overrule the binding force of the atom. Maybe someday we, too, shall know the secret, when we are changed in the “twinkling of an eye …” (1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

Jeremiah declared long ago that man will never completely search out and understand the foundations of the earth (matter) and the measurements of the heavens (Jer. 31:37). Man will continue to probe and search, and will make some discoveries. The planned “supercollider” in Texas was estimated to cost $8.5 billion and would have been 54 miles in circumference. This circular instrument would have given colliding protons an energy of 40 trillion electron volts. The power would have been so great as to be able to break through the invisible force surrounding the atom and open up (or split) the atom. This would enable scientists to investigate the structure of the atom, as well as particles inside the atom not yet understood.

Man has unraveled the atom by probing into its nucleus, discovering the protons and the neutrons. But what infinitesimal element yet lies undiscovered inside the protons and the neutrons? This atom-smasher, the “supercollider” could have revealed more about the fundamental components of matter.

It appears that the evolutionists’ theory of a “Big Bang” may have some validity after all; however, they simply missed the timing of its occurrence, instead of taking place at the beginning of creation, it may take place at the end of time. … All these things shall be dissolved … (2 Peter 3:11).

The Word of God states that at the end of the world all things will be dissolved or “unloosed.” Scientific research regarding the atom reveals that all God would have to do is remove the binding force from the atoms, and the whole earth would blow up like a giant atom bomb. The “supercollider” experiments would have created tiny fireballs 400 million times as hot as the sun as a result of smashing electrons into one another at almost the speed of light.

The realm of physics serves to demonstrate how God could destroy the world in an instant if He chose to do so. God created the universe in a brief moment; and in a brief moment, He can destroy it.

Tucked away in the most elementary, infinitesimal part of creation, there is a force unequaled by any other. All that is necessary for God to “pull the plug” is that He remove the binding force holding the atom together. Instantly, this creation could vanish in an atomic blast.

The Bible speaks of a future supernatural intervention of the Creator in His creation in which He will destroy the present creation and form a new one—new heavens and a new earth where only righteousness dwells and which shall continue without end. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea (Revelation 21:1). For behold I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind (Isaiah 65:17). But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).

The words of 1 Corinthians 1:20, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” could not be more accurate in the light of the evolutionary delusion regarding the end.

One evolutionary theory proposes that the end will be as follows: The universe will continue to expand indefinitely, and the stars, in time, will consume the vast supply of hydrogen. Star formation will slow and then stop, and the last stars will blink out, bringing an end to all activity in the universe.

Some evolutionists have a more optimistic belief. They believe there is enough matter in the universe to halt the expansion; and that the onrushing star-filled galaxies will eventually slow to a stop, then begin speeding back through space until they crash together to re-form the primordial atom. Then the giant atom will explode again, sending its fragments flying outward to re-create the cosmos and life itself in an oscillating, never-ending cycle.

One evolutionist, Greenstein, hasn’t made up his mind as to which theory he believes is correct. However, his statement substantiates the truth of 1 Corinthians 1:20, “ … Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” Greenstein said, “I find a certain pleasure and honor in belonging to the universe of stars, of these events that have created the materials of which the earth and I are made.”

Some suggest it is better to have been living for a season, even for a moment, than not to have lived at all. No wonder there is such despair and hopelessness in the world today, with “educated” men making such absurd statements. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalms 53:1).