Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/93

Contributor - John Hommersen

Title - Laws Of Science= Laws Of God

Topic - Science

When we talk or read about environmental issues, very frequently we are reminded of the worldings of the laws of thermodynamics. For a clearer understanding of these laws I will try to explain, in a popular way, what they are and their application in our day to day existence.

The First Law of Thermodynamics is what is commonly referred to as the Law of Energy Conservation. It means, in its strictest sense, that no energy is being created nor destroyed. In other words, the total amount of energy in the universe is constant. The question might be asked: "Is this biblical?" Yes, it is. Genesis 2:1-3 it says the heavens and earth were finished and on the seventh day God rested after He had ended His work. Nehemiah 9:6 states: "And Thou preservest them all".

If the total amount of energy is constant, then why the energy crisis? It is a fact that energy is the most abundant commodity in existence but most of that energy is beyond our reach. Let us explore this a little further.

There are many different kinds of energy, of which heat energy is the most important. We will soon see why. Others are: kinetic energy, latent energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, nuclear energy. Most of these kinds of energy may be transformed from one to the other. And that is just what we are doing every day of our lives.

Suppose we drive our car from A to B. When we arrive at B we sit down and think about what has happened. The chemical energy in the gasoline has been changed into heat energy by the combustion process. In turn, this heat energy has been changed into mechanical energy to drive the wheels and this has been changed to kinetic energy the energy of motion.

Another example. Water tumbles down long pipes at Niagara Falls and as soon as it hits the turbine blades kinetic energy is transformed into mechanical energy and this, in turn, into electrical energy. In our homes we use this electricity for cooking and drying, to drive fans and air conditioners, etc. I am sure that you can come up with more examples of the workings of the I first law.

So far so good! Yes, we are freely changing all these energy manifestations around, but there is a penalty to be paid, and this brings us to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

This Law can be defined in many ways, a few of which are: 1. In all natural processes some of the energy involved is transformed into non-reversible heat energy and is no longer available for work. 2. In any physical change that takes place by itself, the amount of non-available energy always increases.

The Second Law then is the law of decay and increasing chaos. Is this biblical? Yes, it is. When we read Romans 8 we come to verse 21: "...because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God".

What then are the implications of the Second Law for our lives? Let's go back to the car that drove us from A to B. 'ne engine is not an efficient engine, not all the heat energy from the combustion process is changed into mechanical energy, instead some is being dissipated in the radiator to prevent overheating; this is lost. Not all the mechanical energy is changed into motion energy because of bearing friction, etc. There are losses through the exhaust system, tire friction on the road, losses through braking the car, wind resistance, etc. Of the ten litres it took to move from A to B, perhaps one litre was needed to move us, the other nine are lost and radiated out into space as irretrievable heat energy. What a waste! And this is not all! 'ne gasoline had to be refined and the car had to be manufactured at a tremendous cost in energy to the environment.

Do you realize that ALL the money you hand over to heat your homes eventually is lost? For no home, no matter how well insulated, will keep the heat inside; inexorably the heat moves from hot to cold, and is lost.

The same happens to our bodies, we lose heat all the time and have to make up for this by eating, our bodies age and finally decay.

Such are the workings of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Now the concept "entropy" is a measure of the amount of energy no longer available for work. Work happens when energy flows from a higher to lower level. Temperature for instance always goes naturally from hot to cold.

Eventually all the energy in the universe will have been changed into unavailable energy. What happens then? We say that the entropy is at its maximum, there is no more useful energy to be had, all processes stop, the perfect universe is dead, it has died the heat death. This is the state of equilibrium and total chaos.

So we move from order to disorder as a result of natural laws made by our Creator. Our evolutionist friends tend to overlook this, as they still proclaim and teach that chaos reigned supreme in the beginning and that we are moving towards order and higher complexity as a natural process.

Yes, the Lord has promised us new heavens and a new earth. Read Peter 3 from verse 10 on: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up". And in verse 13: "But according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells". Think about this and be READY!

Quiz for High Schoolers.

a. What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?

b. What is the difference between cosmology and cosmogony?

c. Why is the Big Bang theory impossible? Give at least three reasons.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.