Perfectly Placed / 精心安置
Dexu Xia
Perfectly Placed
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Job 38:4
Today's Scripture & Insight: Job 38:4–11
Scientists know our planet is precisely the right distance from the sun to benefit from its heat. A little closer and all the water would evaporate, as on Venus. Only a bit farther and everything would freeze like it does on Mars. Earth is also just the right size to generate the right amount of gravity. Less would make everything weightlessly sterile like our moon, while more gravity would trap poisonous gases that suffocate life as on Jupiter.
The intricate physical, chemical, and biological interactions that comprise our world bear the imprint of a sophisticated Designer. We catch a glimpse of this complex craftsmanship when God speaks to Job about things beyond our understanding. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” God asks. “Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?” (Job 38:4–6).
This glimpse of creation’s magnitude causes us to wonder at Earth’s mighty oceans bowing before the One who “shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, . . . [who said] ‘This far you may come and no farther’ ” (vv. 8–11). In wonder may we sing with the morning stars and shout for joy with the angels (v. 7), for this elaborate world was made for us that we might know and trust God
精心安置
我立大地根基的时候，你在哪里呢？-约伯记38章4节
科学家们已经证实，地球与太阳之间的距离恰到好处，使地球从太阳的热能中得到益处。若稍微靠近一点，就会像在金星一样，所有水分全然蒸发；若稍微离远一点，所有的物质就会像在火星一样全然冻结。地球的体积大小也是刚刚好，可以产生适当的地心引力。若是少一点，一切就会像月球一样失重无菌；地心引力若是多一点，就会像木星一样充斥著有毒气体，使生命窒息。
我们的世界是由错综复杂的物理、化学和生物相互作用所构成，一切都是这位创造主的精心设计，都有祂的印记。当上帝向约伯讲述超乎人理解的事物时，我们能一窥这精密的设计。上帝问约伯说：“我立大地根基的时候，你在哪里呢？”“你若晓得就说，是谁定地的尺度？是谁把准绳拉在其上？地的根基安置在何处？地的角石是谁安放的？”（约伯记38章4-6节）
当我们窥见世界受造的奇妙，会禁不住想像汪洋大海也要臣服于这位造物主。当海水奔涌而出，是上帝定了大海的界限，说：“你只可到这里，不可越过”（8-11节）。让我们心存敬畏，与晨星齐声歌唱，与众天使高声欢呼（7节）。这精心设计的世界是为我们而造，好让你我可以认识并信靠这位上帝。
上帝奇妙的创造如何促使你今日扬声赞美祂？
一切精心的设计如何显明有一位创造主呢？
感谢上帝为我们精心创造了这个世界。