The Order of the Organism - The Biophysical-Biblical Basis
In the Christianity, God is the ultimate source and sustainer of all order, a truth reflected throughout creation. Scripture reveals God’s intentional design, proclaiming that He is “not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Every aspect of life’s complexity and energy flow through living systems is a testament to God’s sustaining power and presence.
Life on Earth illustrates this divine order through the flow of energy. Plants, for instance, capture high-quality energy from sunlight—a direct provision from God, as Genesis 1:3 recounts, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” This light fuels photosynthesis, allowing plants to convert low-energy molecules like carbon dioxide and water into high-energy carbohydrates. In doing so, plants don’t simply consume energy; they absorb ordered energy that enables growth and complexity. Psalm 104:14 highlights this process, saying, “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth.” Here, God’s presence is active in sustaining plant life, transforming simple substances into organized, life-sustaining matter.
Similarly, humans and animals rely on this ordered energy flow to function. Even at rest, the human body requires a steady input of structured energy, about 100 watts or 100 joules per second, to sustain basic functions. The carbohydrates and nutrients we consume, originally formed by plants, provide us with a portion of the divine order embedded in creation. As Acts 17:28 reminds us, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” By consuming the organized structures made by plants, humans and animals engage in a continuous exchange of energy and order that reflects God’s intricate design.
This energy transformation, or free energy transduction, underscores how the biosphere—an interconnected system of plants, animals, and humans—maintains its order. Each step in this chain draws upon and distributes the structured energy that originates with the Sun, sustained by God’s provision. It aligns with Colossians 1:17, which proclaims, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Life does not create order independently; it captures and reconfigures the order that God placed in creation, embodying His presence in every process.
Thus, God is present in the order and function of all organisms. From photosynthesis in plants to the metabolic processes in animals, His sustaining power pervades every living system. As Psalm 139:13-14 states, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Each life process—whether cellular or ecological—reveals the intricate, ordered handiwork of God, a continual reminder of His presence in the details of creation.
God creates order. Flow of energy through a system can leave behind increased order. This is life's big trick. Plants consume order. Animals consume order. Life captures order. This order trickles through biosphere in an intricate set of processes as free energy transductions.
