The Entropy of the Organism
Colossians 1:16-17 states, "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This passage not only emphasizes that God is the ultimate creator of everything in existence—both physical and spiritual—but also that He sustains and upholds the order of the universe.
The phrase “in him all things hold together” suggests that the structure and stability we observe in creation, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies, are maintained by God’s will and purpose. This is similar to how natural laws, such as thermodynamics, govern the behaviors and processes within creation, ensuring consistency and order. Just as entropy and energy flow create predictable patterns in nature, this verse points to God as the ultimate force ensuring that everything remains cohesive and purposeful. In essence, God’s sustaining power is what allows the universe to operate in a reliable, orderly way, affirming that scientific laws are not in opposition to divine order but rather a reflection of it.
The entropy of a closed system can never decrease—a fundamental principle of the second law of thermodynamics, and one often misrepresented. Some argue that "life defies this law" by suggesting that biological processes, such as the formation of organized structures like proteins or memories, reduce entropy in a way that seems “miraculous” or exceptional. This interpretation, however, stems from a misunderstanding. Life does not defy the second law because life systems are not closed systems; they continuously exchange energy and matter with their surroundings.
No verified, reproducible case of an actual “miraculous exception” to the second law exists. In every instance, including biological systems, the law holds when we consider the entire system—including its environment. The second law applies to closed systems, or to open systems when they are evaluated along with their surroundings.
Take a supercooled liquid as an example: it can spontaneously form a mix of crystals and liquid. The crystals have lower entropy than the original liquid molecules, but the process releases heat, which increases the total entropy of the crystal-liquid mixture beyond what it was as a homogeneous liquid.
Similarly, consider a seed growing into a tree. The structure of the tree represents a local decrease in entropy compared to the disorganized materials within the seed. However, as the tree grows, it absorbs sunlight, water, and nutrients from its environment, and releases water vapor, oxygen, and heat back into the surroundings. These exchanges increase the entropy of the environment, ensuring that the total entropy—accounting for both the tree and its surroundings—rises over time. The tree’s growth does not violate the second law but exemplifies it, as the organized complexity within the tree is balanced by increased disorder outside of it.
Whether in crystallization or biological growth, there are no miraculous exceptions. Every system obeys the second law of thermodynamics when the system and its surroundings are considered as a whole. Local decreases in entropy are entirely compatible with a global increase, illustrating that life and order do not challenge thermodynamic principles but rather operate within them.
