My good friend Alex asked me the following question, and I thought others might also wonder about the same issue.
"I am curious as to your position on the creation of a new single cell life form in America. On the News I heard that a professor had succeeded in taking 300 individual genes from other species and reprogrammed them to create the first ever man-made (And NOVEL) life-form."
Dear Alex,
Peace be with you friend, it is good to hear from you again. I don't recall having heard about the particular research you mentioned, however, it does not surprise me at all, as it is just a simple matter of knowledge. There are animals, which can already grow new limbs and tails, but we humans haven't even learned how to accomplish that simple task yet. However you look at it, it is truly just a matter of knowledge, and putting that knowledge to work. Cancer is a decease that destroys the cells in the body, and could be easily prevented if we only knew how. Again it is just a matter of having the right knowledge. One of the characteristics of knowledge is that it always seeks what it does not yet understand. Many seek a God whom they do not yet fully understand, but as they search, their knowledge verifies the reality of an almighty creator. In understanding a simple life source we begin to see the wondrous handy work of the great Master who created us all.
Alex, I believe the human is nothing more than a simple beast or animal with God given knowledge, which has raised us above the other creatures on the earth. If our knowledge is allowed to grow, I'm sure we too could create another animal one day, perhaps even another human. It is truly just a matter of time and a matter of having the knowledge to do so. Given unrestrained knowledge, I believe we could eventually go beyond the creation of simple humans, and even create an everlasting spirit or soul. I'm sure this would require us to go beyond your "300 individual genes".
However, God told us in the very beginning that He would prevent that from happening as He warned us when Adam first eat of the tree of knowledge. You see, God already knew where our self-acclaimed knowledge would eventually lead us, and our evil flaws cannot be tolerated beyond the bound of this earth. The lustful evil nature within our hearts must be removed if we are to be allowed to continue in the heavenly kingdom. Our human knowledge must see the truth, reject the lustful nature of human animal, and fill ourselves with the loving nature of the Father, which has overcome all evil.
To help us to better understand, we need to remember that God created many trees and plants to sustain mankind in the Garden of Eden, among them were the tree of knowledge, and the tree of Life.
(Genesis 2:9)
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, as well as the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
We hear much about the tree of knowledge, but we often overlook the passages in the Bible where God puts limitations on our ever learning how to achieve eternal life. The tree of life has been put beyond the hands of mankind as can be seen in the following scriptures.
(Genesis 3:22-24)
(22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: (23) Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. (24) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
That flaming sword will prevent the human from learning how to achieve eternal life by our own means. Mankind's inability to completely reject evil, and seek only goodness is the flaw that cannot be tolerated in the eternal kingdom of the Father. So left to our own devises, no human would ever pass through the flaming gate to eternal life. But the Father had mercy on us, and gave us a way to overcome our own evil, if we have the knowledge, love, and understanding to accept it. The Father sent us His only begotten Son, Jesus, to show us how we must live, and what we must do to in order to be acceptable in the Father's kingdom. The Father has promised us that if we will except the gift of His only begotten Son, then He will send us a new spirit which will fill our souls and turn us into a new creature, one truly worthy to pass through the flaming gate.
So you see Alex, we not only could create a totally new life source, it is required that we do so if we are ever to enter the eternal gates of heaven. Alex, what we cannot yet accomplish, the spirit of the Father can come into our lives and change this sinful beast, into a wonderful loving creature of the Father. The Father was our way into this life, and He alone is the only way out. Human knowledge will fail us, but the wisdom of our creator will never fail us, we need only to have the wisdom to ask for His help.
Alex, can you understand why I love Jesus so much, He is my hope, He is my Savior, He is the love of my life. How foolish would I be to reject the one who came to save me. No, it took this old fool too long to learn the truth, and I will never go back to the darkness and doubts of mortal men ever again. I have a savior burning brightly within me, and I received Him by just simple asking Him to come into my heart, change me, and save me from myself. He is not fooled by human words, He only answers to the pure in heart. The Bible says it much better than I can, (Matthew 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
So Alex, we should not be surprise that man tries to mimic his Father, and given enough time, and the love of Christ within us, we too can do miracles. But never forget that man's pitiful knowledge is foolishness with the Father. When I think about the great power of the Father, I look up into the heavens and am reminded that when Jesus returns, the sun, the stars, and the entire universe will be just rolled away like a scroll. Just think of all of the power in the sun and all the stars in the universe, yet the Lord will just push them aside like a simple scroll of paper, and the whole world will see Him coming in a great flaming cloud.
Alex, as you can see I am not at all surprise that man is beginning to understand his simple beginnings. I wrote an article on this very subject some time back called "Mada & Namow, Man's Creation!", I hope you will go back an reread it, I think it will make a lot more sense to you now. If you are interested, you can find it at - http://www.oocities.org/Athens/9522/Mada.html
I hope I have answered your concerns, but if not, please let me know and we will try again. Alex, it is our love for Jesus, which saves our souls, but do we have the knowledge to understand such a simple plan? Seek Jesus with a pure heart, and He will find you. Peace be with you friend which can only come from knowing the Father who created us all.
One final note Alex, who created the "300 individual genes" you referred to in your question? No matter how far back we search, we still end up at the feet of Christ.