Acts & Facts - Institute for Creation Research

FROM THE PRESIDENTCreation EvangelismScripture, which claims to be the writtenaccount of the Creator Himself, revealsa past time when God separately createdeach basic plant and animal type.These complex inhabitants all played a vital role inearth’s early environment. According to His Word,creation was perfect at the start, but suffered ruinationwhen the head steward of creation rejectedGod’s authority over him. Soon a great worldwideflood cleansed the earth of these rebellious humaninhabitants, and all the earth suffered. Today westudy the remains of that once “very good” world,devastated by man’s disobedience.God’s written message is totally trustworthy,for He was there, knows everything, can communicateclearly, and cannot lie. He wants us to knowwhat really happened, and realizes we might cometo error if we try to unravel past secrets withoutHis help. Our Creator has the authority to tell ushow we should live if we are to function properly.He has the authority to set the guidelines for lifeand the penalty for breaking those guidelines. Ifwe live according to His “owner’s manual,” we canexpect to enjoy life more fully than if we chooseotherwise.The fossils testify to a message written instone that is remarkably similar to the one givenin writing by the Creator. However, fossils and theother historical sciences may tell us a lot, but theydon’t provide the details. A complete reconstructionof past events from partial evidence in thepresent is nearly impossible. The forensic sciencescan do much, but they can never provide certainty.In just that way, studying the fossil record onlyprovides clues in our quest to understand the past.The trouble is, we simply don’t know all truth andcan’t accurately reconstruct the past from the fossilsalone. We can only come to a better approximationof that truth as we do our investigationunder the Creator’s authority. Obviously, we cannever discover full truth if we have already deniedtruth. But with His help, we can begin to fill inthe blanksRemember, fossils are dead things, yet thefossil record speaks eloquently of the Creator’sprecise design and of the truth of the Bible’s messageto us. There we are told of His creative power,His judgment of man’s sinful rebellion, and Hisultimate solution to the sin problem. When Adamsinned, God justly declared the penalty of sin tobe death, eternal death. Yet He desired a relationshipwith sinful man, and knowing that man waspowerless to overcome this sentence on his own,God moved to accomplish it Himself. This wasaccomplished by the death of the Creator in paymentfor our sins. Only in this way could God’sholy and just nature be satisfied, and bring manback into right standing with his Creator.God’s plan of salvation is a free gift to anywho confess their sin, turn from it, and accept thegift. He will respond with forgiveness of our sins,restoration of our standing before Him, adoptioninto His family, and eternal life in His presence.Such forgiveness can only be received by faith. Evidencesuch as that preserved in the fossil recordcan be a stimulus to faith, but evidence can neversubstitute for faith.John D. Morris, Ph.D.PresidentCONTENTS4Life6Sleuthing8in the LettersAva Ford, M.D.SuperfaultsLarry Vardiman, Ph.D.Man of Science,Man of God:Louis PasteurChristine DaoA New Theory of10 Climate ChangeLarry Vardiman, Ph.D.13The Contrasting Religionsof Creationand EvolutionJohn D. Morris, Ph.D.Complex Plant Systems:14 Rooted in God’s GeniusFrank Sherwin, M.A.15The Gaps in “The Godof the Gaps”Brian Thomas, M.S.Letters to the Editor16 Radio Log1719A Heritage ofThanksgivingHenry M. Morris IVBook Review: Slaughterof the DissidentsBrian Thomas, M.S.Published byInstitute for Creation ResearchP. O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229214.615.8300www.icr.orgExecutive Editor: Lawrence E. FordManaging Editor: Beth MullAssistant Editor: Christine DaoDesigner: Dennis DavidsonPresident: John D. Morris, Ph.D.No articles may be reprinted inwhole or in part without obtainingpermission from ICR.NOVEMBER 2008 • ACTS&FACTS3