The Wonders of God’s Creation
Do you know that your body has more than 5,000 parts? The Lord God, who created us, made each part for a particular purpose, and they work together in harmony as they did when He created Adam. We understand how important some parts are, such as the heart, lungs, digestive system, etc., but perhaps you have never heard of a very important part of the brain called the hypothalamus which is about the size of a man’s thumb. Let’s take a look at it.
The hypothalamus realizes you need food before your stomach is aware of it. So it sends your stomach a message, as though it were saying, “It’s time more nourishment was getting into this body. Tighten up your muscles to make him hungry so he’ll eat some food.” Without such a message, your stomach wouldn’t tell you to eat something.
The same is true of your heart. When you are afraid, working extra hard, running or nervous, a message is sent to it, “Beat faster and get the blood flowing more quickly into this person’s veins.” Your hand held over your chest at such a time would tell you your heart is doing exactly as told. At the same time your lungs are told to bring in more oxygen, which is why you find yourself breathing harder under such conditions.
It is important that your body stay at 98.6°F. even if the weather is roasting hot or freezing cold. The hypothalamus is right on the job about this too. Let’s suppose you are outdoors in the sun and uncomfortably hot. A message immediately goes to your blood vessels, “Tighten up a bit and don’t let the blood go through too fast!” The heart gets similar instructions, and the sweat glands are told to get to work to help cool the skin. Then, too, the stomach is told to make you thirsty so a new supply of water can replace the evaporating sweat. If the day is cold, just the opposite messages are sent and, among other things, the sweat glands close up to keep necessary water inside you, while the blood is told to flow more quickly to help produce heat.
If there were more space we could go on and on about this remarkable hypothalamus and how a loving, and wise Creator has placed one in your body to take care of these and hundreds of other duties as well.
In the days of David, the Psalmist, people did not know about such things, but he recognized how wonderfully God had made him and wrote, “I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully [amazingly] and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works.” Psalms 139:1414I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14). Have you ever thanked God for His wonderful care over you?
ML-02/28/1988