THE AMAZING GIRAFFE

There are many impressive things about an 18-foot giraffe, the tallest of all land animals. Among these is its ability to run 34 miles per hour, sleep about 30 minutes per day, and to go weeks without drinking. However, one of the most remarkable features of the giraffe is its circulatory system. (The scientific information in this article was taken from the January 2009 issue of “Reason and Revelation.”

The giraffe’s brain is eight feet higher than its head. He must have an enormous heart to pump blood hard enough to travel that distance against gravity. It must maintain blood pressure as long as the giraffe’s neck is vertical. This amazing animal is equipped with a thick-walled, 20 pound heart that is able to pump blood eight feet high, creating blood pressure that is about twice that of any other large mammal and as much as three times that of the average human.

What about when the giraffe lowers its head several feet below its heart? What happens to the blood the heart normally pumps to the brain? How does he keep from having brain bleeds or from feely dizzy and passing out every time he bends down and raises back up? The giraffe has valves in its jugular veins that help control how much blood gets to the brain when it has its head lowered. Working with these valves is a network of blood vessels that controls the flow of blood into the head. When the head is raised, the same network counters the danger of blackouts from reduced blood pressure.

Then there is the matter of the lower extremities. Since giraffes stand on their feet most of the day and have such high blood pressure, how do they keep their lower extremities from pooling and swelling with blood? They have a tight sheath of thick skin over their lower limbs that maintains high extravascular pressure. Leakage from the capillaries in the giraffe’s legs is prevented by the pressure of tissue fluid outside the cells. In addition, the walls of the arteries are thicker than those in any other mammal.

Let’s review. The giraffe has:
 A complex pressure regulation system.
 Unique valves that prevent over-pressure when it lowers its head.
 A network of blood vessels that helps stabilize blood pressure as the giraffe moves its neck up and down.
 A heart powerful enough to send an adequate amount of blood eight feet upwards against gravity.
 Arteries in the lower parts of its body thick enough to withstand the high blood pressure.
 Skin tight enough to force blood back upward and keep capillaries in its lower extremities from bursting.
 Oversized lungs that compensate for the volume of dead air in its 10 foot long trachea.
And all of this happened by chance and almost simultaneously? Did the large heart evolve before or after the long neck? When did the valves and blood vessels enter the picture? How many “evolving” giraffes died from blood loss due to bursting vessels in their legs because the blood pressure was too great?

It is indeed true that “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). It is not mankind alone that is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). In other aspects of life we understand that design demands a designer. Why is it that so many have such a hard time accepting the fact that this universe and everything in it was created by a marvelous, powerful God? It is no wonder the psalmist says, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).
--Lamar

LIVING FOR GOD: GROWING

Several weeks ago, we began a discussion of our theme for 2010, “Living For God.” We have done this by looking at the word “living” and how each letter represents a principle to follow in living for God. We must begin by making Jesus Lord of our lives. He must reign supreme in our hearts and minds. We are to Imitate Christ in our lives. He is the supreme role model. We discussed the need to be Vigilant in living the Christian life and preparing for Christ’s return. As Christians, we are to live in such a way that we are a good Influence on those around us. We are to show the world what a Christian looks like. It is vital that we are Not ashamed of Christ. We cannot hide our Christianity in a corner. Today, we conclude this discussion.

GROWING
“(B)ut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). The same apostle writes of the “Christian graces” which are a vital part of the growth process in a Christian (2 Peter 1:5-11). I have previously mentioned the statement made by a tour guide at the Okefenokee Park on one of our visits several years ago. Alligators never quit growing. The only alligator that is not growing is a dead alligator. The same is true of Christians. You are either growing of dying, progressing or retreating. Many seem to want to maintain the status quo, but that is impossible in the Christian life.

Peter also gives us the source of growth. “(A)s newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” (1 Peter 2:2). A newborn baby is dependent on milk for nourishment and growth. If you withhold it from him, he will die. When we obey the gospel, we are born again (John 3:1-5), we are newborn babes. Just at a physical baby needs the constant nourishment of milk, as spiritual babies we need the constant nourishment of God’s word. Let me ask you a question. When does that baby cease needing nourishment? How old do you have to be to stop eating? They type of food changes, but if you stop eating at any age you will die. The same is true spiritually. Regardless of your spiritual age, you still need nourishment; you still need to feed upon God’s word. There is no substitute for the study of God’s word.

Some quit growing. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). They stop taking the proper nourishment and begin dying. If you had a child that was not growing physically, you would seek medical attention. If you are not growing spiritually, you need to find out what the problem is. The same principle holds true for the type of nourishment. What if your child was still taking only milk at 1 year, 3 years, 10 years? Would you not realize that something is very wrong? The Hebrew writer says that those who partake only of milk are spiritually babies, they are immature. Perhaps the reason you are not growing is that you have outgrown milk and need to eat some meat.

May God grant us success in applying these principles as we strive to live for Him in 2010 and beyond.
--Lamar

LIVING FOR GOD: NOT ASHAMED

We continue in our thoughts of the six principles of living for God with the letter “N,” not ashamed. Webster says of “ashamed,” “feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by emotions of guilt, foolishness, or disgrace.” Vine says, “the feeling of shame arising from something that has been done.” I would like to mention five things of which we should not be ashamed.

NOT ASHAMED OF CHRIST
What is our attitude when someone asks if we are Christians? Do we feel too embarrassed to say yes? If someone is ridiculing Christ, do we stand up and speak up for Him or do we remain silent? Jesus says in Mark 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” If you are ashamed of Christ, there is only one result. He will be ashamed of you. If you will not confess Him before men, He will not confess you before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33).

NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Imagine you just received some great news. You were accepted into your first choice for college; your kids (or grandkids) received a full scholarship for college; you received a promotion you have been working very hard toward; you inherited a large amount of unexpected cash. How long would it be before you told someone? You have received even greater news: how mankind can be saved from sin. How long has it been since you told someone?

NOT ASHAMED OF FELLOW CHRISTIANS
You are living in 1st century Rome. You are in town one day and you see Paul in chains being escorted by Roman soldiers. How do you respond? Do you walk up to him and greet him with a handshake or an embrace? Or, do you hide around the corner and hope he doesn’t see you or say anything to you? “The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;” (2 Timothy 1:16). When a fellow Christian is being persecuted, do you act like you don’t even know them?

NOT ASHAMED OF SUFFERING
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16). How about when it is you? You are being ridiculed, tormented, persecuted because you are a Christian. Do you succumb to the pressure and deny Christ, or do you stand with conviction and confirm that you belong to Him?

NOT ASHAMED BEFORE CHRIST
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). When Jesus returns, will you run away in shame and try to hide? It doesn’t have to be that way. We can face Him with confidence and rejoice at His coming. We can do that by abiding in Him, living for Him, and preparing for Him.
--Lamar