Sir Isaac Newton had a friend who, like himself, was a great scientist; but he was an infidel. Newton was a devout believer, and the two men often locked horns over this question, though their mutual interest in science drew them much together.
Newton had a skilled mechanic make him a replica of our solar system in miniature. In the center was a large gilded ball representing the sun. Revolving around this central ball were smaller balls fixed on the ends of arms of varying length. They represented Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, in their proper order. These balls were so geared together by cogs and bolts as to move in perfect harmony by turning a crank.
One day as Newton sat reading in his study with his mechanism on a large table near him, his infidel friend stepped in. He was scientist enough to recognize at a glance what was before him. Stepping up to it he slowly turned the crank. With undisguised admiration he watched the heavenly bodies all move at their relative speeds in their orbits. Standing off a few feet, he exclaimed: "My! What an exquisite thing this is! Who made it?"
Without looking up from his book, Newton answered: "Nobody!"
Quickly turning to Newton the infidel said: "Evidently you did not understand my question. I asked who made this thing?"
Looking up now, Newton solemnly assured him that nobody made it, but that the aggregation of matter so much admired had just happened to assume the form it was in. At this the astonished infidel replied with some heat; "You must think I'm a fool! Of course somebody made it, and he is a genius. I'd like to know who he is."
Laying his book aside, Newton arose. Placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, he said: "This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know. I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and maker; yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker! Now tell me: by what sort of reasoning do you reach such an incongruous conclusion?"
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands... but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." Acts 17:24-3124God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:24‑31).