Taking Back Astronomy:
The Ordinances of Heaven and Earth
Taking Back Astronomy:
The Ordinances of Heaven and Earth
[An excerpt: The Universe Confirms the Bible by
Jason Lisle] “The Bible teaches that the universe obeys physical laws—“the
ordinances of heaven and earth” (Jeremiah
33:25). The universe is neither haphazard nor
arbitrary; nature conforms to logical, mathematical relationships set in place
by the Lord.
The laws of physics and chemistry are examples of these ordinances of heaven and
earth. The clockwork precision of the planets as they orbit the sun is due to
their strict obedience to God’s ordinances. The stars and planets are never late
nor are they early. They do not fail to appear in their proper place at the
proper time (Isaiah
40:26).
The laws of nature are consistent and logical, because the Creator is consistent
and logical. We can trust that the same physics which worked yesterday will also
work today. This principle is foundational to the scientific process. The very
reason that science is possible is because the universe consistently obeys
simple mathematical formulae. Furthermore, God created our minds with an
impressive (though finite) ability to interpret the data around us, and draw
logical conclusions. We are therefore able to discover (at least to some extent)
the ordinances of the universe by observation, experimentation, and logical
reasoning. Once we understand the nature of these physical laws, we can use them
to make accurate predictions about the future—such as comPutin 
g the positions of
the planets in advance.
Both earth and the rest of the physical universe (“heaven and earth”) obey the
laws of nature. Many ancient cultures believed that the universe beyond earth
was the realm of the gods. Indeed, the planets were often worshiped as gods. In
reality, the planets are simply created objects which obey the same laws of
nature which we can study on earth. In an incredible leap of insight, the
biblical creationist Isaac Newton realized that the moon orbits the earth
because the moon is pulled by earth’s gravity. The moon “falls” just like any
other object; earth’s gravity deflects the moon’s path through space (see the
in-depth box below). Since the moon has a tangential (perpendicular to the line
from the earth to itself) velocity, it falls “around” the earth rather than
straight down. Newton also realized that the planets orbit the sun for the same
reason; the sun’s gravity keeps them in their orbit. The planets and stars are
not gods; they are mere creations (Genesis
1:14–19) in nature which obey the Lord’s
ordinances…” full text:
The Universe Confirms the Bible by Jason Lisle.
“The heavens declare creation and science confirms it.” Jason Lisle
Taking Back Astronomy:
The Ordinances of Heaven and Earth