Information Is Fundamental

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The title of this article is INFORMATION IS FUNDAMENTAL with a picture of DNA binary code future computer technology concept.

At the core of everything is information. DNA carries information in every cell of the human body, as well as in the cells of animals and plants. Without the information in our genes, we could not exist. DNA is a physical molecule, yet it contains information that is not physical. We write words with physical ink on physical paper, but the information in those words is not physical and is far more valuable than the paper itself because information is fundamental.

Ancient Greek Stoic philosophers used the word logos (translated as “word” in English) to refer to the rational principle behind the universe. The apostle John gave that term a deeper meaning when he used it to refer to the One who created all things. John's gospel begins, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He goes on to say that the Word created all things.

When you read the Genesis creation account, you find, “And God said, ‘Let there be light’ ” (Genesis 1:3). The phrase “And God said” recurs in Genesis 1:6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, and Genesis 1:29. Hebrews 11:3 (KJV) tells us, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Words are not visible. Information is not visible. We can put information on paper by writing visible words, but the information behind those words is not visible — yet it is more important than the paper on which it is written.

Information is fundamental, immaterial, and invisible. God is spirit (John 4:24), meaning that he is not material. The cosmic creation event, popularly known as the Big Bang, involved the creation of matter/energy, space, and time. That means the Creator of matter/energy, space, and time must be immaterial and outside of space and time. Matter/energy cannot create itself. God's Word created everything we see as God spoke the universe into existence. The Bible does not specify when God created the universe, what physical processes he used, or how long it took. Since God is not limited by our time dimension, time means nothing to him (2 Peter 3:8).

After the physical creation, God used information to create life, with a DNA code far more complex than any human-made computer code. There could be no life without information to guide the production of proteins necessary for forming living cells and to direct the metabolism that sustains life. Information comes only from intelligence.

The bottom line is that information is built into every living cell. If someone says, “I will not believe unless I can see it,” they are not being honest, because everyone believes in things they cannot see. The Word created all things (John 1:3). At the right time, the Word became visible, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Those who refuse to believe in God because they cannot see him should remember that “the things that are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (see 2 Corinthians 4:13–18).

John 1:1-in the beginning was the Word, etc.

— Roland Earnst

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.