Magnets

Strong & Courageous

Nov 10,2017

Magnets

I recall as a young boy about 6 or 7 years old of discovery of magnets. I was so amazed at the ability to attract metal objects; it was quite magical to my young mind. I also recall the discovery of having 2 separate magnets and how fun it was to have them “clank” together by the attraction of a magnetic field. It was also very cool to arrange the magnets with the poles aligned so that they would repel each other with a strong force. I remember pushing them so hard that one of the magnets would flip over and then the force would bring them back together again. I would do it over and over, repel…clank repel…clank, repel…clank.

So Bob, why are you talking about magnets on this Strong and Courageous Blog? It seems to be far from the topic.

Well I am very glad that you asked that question. The reason is that I would like to look at magnetic fields from the perspective of design. Little did I know as a young boy that the existence of a large magnetic field is required for any life to exist on planet earth.

Magnetic fields are invisible to the eye, but they are definitely there. Much like the wind, Billy Graham has famously said, “I can’t see the wind, but I can feel the effects of the wind.” I would say that humanity can’t see a magnetic field, but we are alive because of the effects of a magnetic field.

The reasoning goes like this. The earth has a liquid portion of its core that is made up predominately of iron. Combine this with the rotation of the globe and you have the creation of a magneto which emanates a magnetic field from the South Pole to the North Pole. The alignment of the earth’s magnetic field is also critically important because it is the repelling properties of this field that protect all life from harmful plasma rays emitted by our Sun. This field also provides the explanation for the beautiful Arora Borealis. (northern lights)  

So, not only is the distance between the earth and Sun critically fine -tuned for life, there is also the additional layer of our magnetic field repelling harmful radiation as well. The combination that the earth just happened to have a molten core that creates a magnetic field and we just happen to be the right distance from the Sun becomes more pieces of evidence for a “goldilocks and the three bears” scenario. Everything has to be just right for life to exist.

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. (Hebrews 3:4 ESV)

Links:

Earth's Magnetic Shield