Viruses, Storms, and Sparrows
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
The Long Take: Viruses, Storms, and Sparrows
Although I’ve been teaching general biology for almost 20 years, I hold an undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Cell Science. Microbes fascinate me. They comprise a Lilliputian world that existed out of sight and out of mind up until roughly 300 years ago when Anton van Leeuwenhoek looked at pond water through a microscope. Since then, our knowledge of that microscopic arena has exploded as technology has advanced.
I’ve always been drawn to viruses in particular. They are simple. They are efficient. They are unbiased. They are inherently beautiful. Most viruses contain complex geometric structures and shapes that are marvels of micro-engineering. They are also extremely tiny, with a size measuring in picometers (trillionths of a meter). We have little conception of what a trillionth is so here is an example.
The distance between you and the sun is about 92 million miles. With that distance, light (traveling at the speed of, well, light) takes 8 minutes to cover that span. To compare, light could travel around the world 8 times in less than a second. 92 million miles is a very long way. Now, notice where the sun is and take 1/2 a step in that direction. You have covered approximately a trillionth of the distance between you and the sun. Thus, the comparison between one of your steps and the distance from the sun is about the same comparison between the size of a virus and you.
Quick aside: To think that all of this chaos from COVID-19 comes from something as small as a trillionth of a meter really shows how fragile we humans really are. We believe we are the pinnacle of the whole universe, but yet we are being knocked down to size by something that requires a powerful microscope to see. In nature (speaking strictly from a naturalist viewpoint, which I do not hold), there is no good and evil; there is only strong and weak. To quote an old Rich Mullins song, “We are not as strong as we think we are…”
However, even the use of the word “they” conveys an underserving concept of personality. The general consensus is that viruses are not considered to be living organisms. They are packages of molecules that obey basic rules of physics and biomechanics. Each viruses’ specific combination of molecules matches up with a specific part of a specific cell of a specific species (think charging cables with Apple vs Android devices).
A true understanding of the sovereignty of God would believe, as stated by R.C. Sproul, “there are no maverick molecules.” There is not some random hydrogen atom floating out in the expanse of this universe that is beyond His complete sovereign rule. It follows that idea would apply to viruses as well. Although they are acting according to biological and physical laws, it is the direct interaction of God that is allowing those laws to function in the first place. Thus, the action of every virus is being directed and controlled by God in accordance to His perfect will. I understand this raises questions about the problem of evil and how a good God would allow something like the COVID-19 pandemic to occur. I do not have the space to address it here, but I’ve touched on the topic here and some other articles may be found here and here. I commend to the reader to search out a biblical understanding of the providence of God in the face of suffering.
Recall in Mark 4 the narrative of Jesus calming the storm. I, for one, do not do big bodies of water. I love the typical Florida lake, but things where I cannot see the other side are outside of my comfort zone. This is why I have no desire to go on a cruise (even before viral outbreaks). My thought is, if a boat goes down and I can see the shore, I have a fighting chance to make it back. Here, the disciples, many of them seasoned fishermen, are in the midst of a violent storm while at sea that even frightens them. In the ancient world, the sea was the embodiment of the chaos monster, a place of uncontrollable unknowns that could take away life by simply changing the direction of the wind (more on this later). The disciples were bothered by the fact that Jesus was sleeping during all of this. “Do you not care if we perish?”, they asked Him upon His waking. Jesus simply walked up on the deck and declared, “Peace, be still” (read Ps 46 for an interesting connection). And instantly, the waves and wind calmed. The most interesting point of that passage is the fact that the disciples did not embrace Jesus with joy for saving them; they were more afraid. “Who is this”, they asked, “that even the wind and the waves obey Him?” Who controls the uncontrollable? Who has the authority to speak and have millions upon millions of water molecules and millions upon millions of gas molecules instantly obey? As the psalmist provides an inspired Word of God, “Be still, and know that I am God.” God is not speaking a lullaby; He is shouting through the wind and waves of our own life. We fear the creation; we should fear the Creator who has full and absolute control over creation.
A couple of days ago, my boys and I were going on a walk in one of the greenway trails that runs by our house. The trees are starting to produce leaves but the majority of them simply consist of brown twigs and stems. While out, we stopped to observe a cardinal casually hopping and flying about from branch to branch. It was a perfect cardinal, completely decked out in beautiful red plumage with various other colors serving as contrast. I asked my boys what they thought he was doing. My oldest said probably searching for food. I asked if they thought the bird was worried about finding food. My youngest said that God would provide what the bird needs. On the same walk, my oldest found a dandelion and took some time to play with it, letting its “furry” parts soar in the wind.
I was reminded of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ words on anxiety. We are told to look to the sparrow and the lilies, that they do not exist, survive, and thrive apart from the attentive care of their Creator. How much more will that same Creator care for us, those that He calls His own? That same Creator that can control the chaos monster with a single word, bringing peace in the midst of our storms. That same Creator that we should fear. But what is interesting that a proper fear of God allows us to experience the gracious peace of God. John Newton wrote, “T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” The ability to rightly fear God and the ability for God to relieve those fears are both aspects of the grace of God. This is the connection of the blessing in Numbers 6, that the Lord show us His face to be both gracious to us and grant us peace. To have one is to have the other. I think this is why Revelation depicts the part of the new heavens and new earth as a sea of glass: the chaos monster is once and for all vanquished and peace reigns.
So, what to make of COVID-19? I do not know. What I do know is that God is on His throne. The sparrow still soars and the flower still blooms....
This and That
- On a different note, I finished Les Mis. It was one of the the best books I’ve read and the imagery of redemption runs rampant through the novel. I highly recommend it.
- With all the cancellations of athletic events, I wonder if our society may begin to see the idolatry we hold toward sports. Perhaps they aren’t as meaningful in comparison to the value we place on them. Just a thought…
- …however, I do feel for the athletes, especially seniors who are effectively done with their careers. I pray that God will turn their hearts to Him as they are searching for answers.
My Current Intake
- What I’m Reading For Fun: Crime and Punishment - I wrote a paper on character development in this novel my senior year in high school and only opened the book once to get a quote so that I could cite the book in my paper. I owe it to the literary world to actually read the book.
- What I’m Reading For Betterment: I’m working through Tim Keller’s Reasons for God. I would recommend this to any Christian (as well as those struggling with skepticism towards Christianity) as this is a well-reasoned and well-written book that addresses both the heart and head of objections to Christianity.
- What I’m Listening To: I’m currently in a classic rock mood. I do not mean Smoke On The Water type stuff, but a mix of classical music and rock. Think Trans-Siberian Orchestra type music or, if you will, Metallica meets Mozart. Rock me, Amadeus!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Mitch Evans