Ensign: 118 And Rising

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3


AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS                       16 September 2016


Elements. We can't escape them because we and all around us are made of them.


Though if you're like me, your general knowledge of the periodic table of elements (building blocks of matter than cannot be broken down into simpler substances; e.g. hydrogen IS an element, water -- H2O -- is not because it can be broken down into simpler substances) flew out the window after high school. And unless we're specialists in physics, chemistry, or any other natural science, our knowledge of the elements is likely pretty scant.


The atomic number at the top of each element in the table is the number of protons (positively charged particles) in the nucleus of an atom of that element. Hydrogen has 1 proton, helium has 2, and so on ... really, and so on. Like numbers themselves, there theoretically is no upper limit to how many protons an atom can have. In the late 1990s Star Trek: Voyager postulated the existence of a 247th element -- which would be supercharged and likewise super-dense due to its neutrons that comprise its atomic mass. Here on Earth we've only discovered 118 so far.

Ununoctium. Kind of a blah name, but I didn't come up with it. But at atomic number 118, it's also one of two dozen or so (I give myself wiggle room because I've seen different numbers) elements that don't as far as we know occur naturally in nature. In any event, final naming of ununoctium and other discovered elements -- that is, the names our kids are going to learn in science classes -- resides in the hands of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).


By the way, the official designation of ununoctium was confirmed this June by IUPAC as oganesson.

I started this post a few months ago, and time marches on.


THANK GOD I don't have to understand what oganesson is or what it does anymore than I need to understand what hydrogen is or what it does to be able to function in this world! I also don't need to understand salvation or grace or faith any of the other terms we hear so much in church to function within the body of Christ. And here's a secret for those of you who aren't regular church attenders -- you don't have to know either.


We just have to accept them as they are (yes we can), and that it's a loving God Who offers them to us without our having to earn them. We see in Hebrews 11 that faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for; if it's hoped for it doesn't yet exist, right? And since grace is the unearned favor of God and salvation, our restoration to fellowship with God is definitely undeserved even if we could attain it ourselves, we only put an extra stumbling block in our way when we try to understand it all.


Interesting expression, "stumbling block". 1 Corinthians 1:23 refers to the Jews finding the message of Jesus ("Christ crucified", that He had to die on the cross for the sins of the world) a stumbling block, Romans 14:13 tells us not to put a stumbling block in others' way, and other instances in Scripture where stumbling block or even stumble are referred to something that hinders us, something that's not supposed to be there. And if it stays there, whoever stumbles is the loser.


In the case of chemical elements, stumbling blocks are building blocks -- for instance, you and I and every living thing are majorly comprised of carbon (atomic number 6) and we breath a mix of oxygen and nitrogen (atomic numbers 7 and 8). If we're not willing to have someone die or stop them from breathing, how much more willing should we be not to put such a stumbling block in front of them?

Our willingness need to be rising,

David


P.S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with you, and I hope it encourages us too! If it's not or you would just like me to get lost, please let me know. Thank you!

Thank YOU, Lord, that we can come to you in prayer and that we can count on You to provide for all our needs, even when we don't know what they are. And let us come to You in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence and all over the world.


Thank You as well, Lord, for everyone in leadership and service both here and abroad. Thank You for the opportunities we have and the promise of new life through You by Your Son Our Brother, Jesus Christ.


And I pray that we all seek and have a blessed week! Amen.