The mind that sees a tool and calls it crafted
The eyes that see a helix and calls it chance
The child that blinks at wonder and sees providence.
Both Images generated with the assistance of Copilot
The Signature of Intelligence: From Stone Age Tools to the Double Helix
Imagine holding a simple stone tool in your hand, its edges roughly chipped to a functional point. There’s no question about its origin. It’s clear that someone, long ago, shaped it with intent and purpose. No one would seriously argue that it came into existence by chance—that wind, water, or random collisions of stones could produce something so obviously designed for a task. Even its crude simplicity speaks of intelligence.
Now, consider the double helix, the elegant structure of DNA that carries the instructions for all living things. It is a marvel of complexity, a masterpiece of order and precision. Its intricacies—billions of coded instructions, capable of replication and error correction—make the stone tool seem almost insignificant. Yet, for many, the prevailing belief is that DNA, with all its unparalleled sophistication, simply "happened" through random processes over time.
This contrast raises a perplexing question: if a simple tool unequivocally points to a maker, how can the infinitely more complex double helix be dismissed as the product of blind chance?
The Bible offers an explanation in Romans 1:19-21, where it says, “People can clearly see what God is like because He has shown it to them. Ever since the world was made, people have seen the amazing things God created. These things show us His power and that He is God, so no one has an excuse not to believe in Him.” The passage goes on to explain that even though people can see this evidence, they often reject it, becoming confused and darkened in their thinking.
This ancient insight speaks to something deeply human. It isn’t that the evidence of a Creator is hidden—quite the opposite. It’s plainly visible in every leaf, every cell, and every galaxy. Yet, acknowledging that evidence leads to uncomfortable questions about purpose, accountability, and the nature of God. For many, it’s easier to explain away creation as a product of randomness than to confront the possibility of a Creator who might ask something of us.
Think about how illogical this is. We celebrate human ingenuity when we see a work of art, a skyscraper, or a complex computer program. We admire these creations precisely because they reflect intelligence and purpose. Yet, when faced with the far greater complexity of DNA—the very code that makes life possible—many argue that no intelligence was involved at all.
This denial, as Romans suggests, is more than intellectual; it’s spiritual. When people refuse to acknowledge the Creator, their thinking becomes muddled, and they lose their sense of wonder and gratitude. And gratitude is the key. When we look at the world around us—the delicate balance of ecosystems, the beauty of a sunset, the breathtaking intricacy of a single cell—the only fitting response is awe and thankfulness.
It’s like standing in a gallery filled with masterpieces and refusing to believe there’s an artist. The evidence of design is overwhelming, from the simplest stone tool to the incomprehensible elegance of the double helix. But seeing it requires humility, the willingness to acknowledge something greater than ourselves.
If we can so easily recognize intelligence in the small things—like a primitive tool—shouldn’t we be even more amazed at the brilliance behind the complexity of life itself? The Bible reminds us that creation is God’s signature, visible to everyone who chooses to see it. To deny that is not merely to miss the truth—it is to turn away from the very source of life and meaning.
The double helix doesn’t just whisper of a Creator—it shouts it. The question is, are we willing to listen?
Join us at Unshackled Faith