When God created the worlds, He clearly had the protection and provision for the human race in mind. The universe in all its wonder reveals that there is a Creator God. Studying space science introduced me to this wonder and led me to believe in this God Who cares.

A Marvelous Universe

When I was 12 years old, my family moved from Hong Kong to the U.S. Desiring that I attain a high level of education, we settled in California where I eventually did graduate study in the field of electrical engineering at the University of California. My upbringing had been to believe only in scientific facts. My father did not follow any religion and did not believe there was a God. Thus, I felt comfortable studying science and technology and found it intriguing.

In my first job, working as an engineer, I gained a strong background in space and technology. A few years later, as an engineering specialist, I entered the workforce of the world’s largest maker of commercial satellites, advancing to the position of space environmental specialist and managing an entire department. At NASA, I worked on spacecraft that traveled to outer space, to destinations such as Mars and Jupiter. Through my work, I gained insight into the science of space environment and came to appreciate that the universe we know is marvelous—a creation of Almighty God. Today, working as a consultant for a satellite manufacturer, I have come to appreciate God’s creation at a deeper level.

Consider the Earth’s Atmosphere

God created the universe in an amazing way, especially Earth and its features that support human life. The appropriate distance between the Sun and the Earth sets the right temperature for us to live. The Earth’s tilt of 23.5 degree sets the four seasons for plants to grow for our consumption, as well as the temperature changes that we appreciate. The five layers in the atmosphere provide oxygen for us to breathe, filter out harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, regulate temperature, and prevent large temperature fluctuations between day and night.

We cannot survive in terms of temperature even at a high altitude of the lowest atmospheric layer. The higher the altitude, the more radiation there is. Even at altitudes where airplanes fly, we can receive significantly more radiation than on Earth, particularly near the poles. Thus, God’s creation allows us to exist on Earth in a safe environment.

The spacecraft I designed had to be able to operate in many harsh space environments. I needed to monitor the space weather, giving special attention to meteorite storms because meteoroids can impact satellites at a very high altitude. When a meteorite showers in the sky, it is the moment a small piece of space debris enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up. This creates a streak of light in the sky. God protects us from outer space debris while at the same time giving us a spectacular nighttime show.

Atomic oxygen can be harmful to certain satellite material if the satellite stays at the upper atmosphere for a long time. High energy UV radiation from the Sun breaks apart oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere through a process called photodissociation, splitting the molecule into two individual oxygen atoms. Atomic oxygen plays an important role in the formation of the ozone layer which protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation.

During a solar storm, large amounts of charged particles (charged radiation) emit from the Sun and can damage spacecraft. It can cause catastrophic damage to humans, if not protected. The charged particles ejected from the Sun expand out as solar wind. When that wind slams into the Earth's upper atmosphere, it interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field. The field lines create an invisible shield to deflect the particle radiation. The effect of this shield can be observed in an aurora, due to the charged particles’ interaction with Earth's magnetic field and channel towards the poles, where they collide with gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere, causing the gases to ignite and emit light in different colors. This is also called the northern lights, known as aurora borealis. Similar lights can be viewed at or near the South Pole as well. Thus, God protects us with this invisible shield against charged radiation while giving us a beautiful lightshow at high latitudes.

The Earth's magnetic field provides humans with the method of using a compass for navigation. Due to recent scientific research, we now know that another function of Earth’s magnetic field is to serve as an invisible shield against harmful particle radiation from the Sun. Again, this is due to God’s ingenious design.

When we observe the universe, we perceive marvelous examples in God’s creation of His protection and provision for the human race. The Bible states with clarity in Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Everything in nature has been formed by the clear intention of God, the Creator. Thus, no one has an excuse for not recognizing the creative work of Almighty God.

God’s Love Through Jesus

Love of God’s creation was one of the reasons I came to believe in God—but the primary reason I came to faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was the love of God reflected in God’s people (Christians). Shortly after I graduated from the university, while I was working full time during the day and attending graduate school at night, I was invited to various Bible study groups. I attended one during lunch at work, and another on Friday nights at a church near my university.

The people I met in both Bible study groups were genuine, caring, and kind. The love that powered them was the love from Jesus. They shared with me that we all are sinners and cannot meet God’s standard. God is righteous and cannot accept sin. So, He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place, for our sins, so that we can be united with God again. Jesus' love and the love shared by my Christian friends moved me to faith in Christ.

Meaning of Life

Through study of the Bible and observing the lives of my Christian friends, I came to understand the true meaning of life. It is not having a college degree, a good job, or a lot of wealth. I obtained my college degree, had a good job, achieved my goal, and should have been content. But the very short time of contentment did not last long. I started to search for the purpose of life. John 10:10 states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Satan is a thief and a deceiver who tricks us into believing that life revolves around worldly, material goods and fame—while denying the existence of God. After I realized that John 10:10 was the truth, my eyes and heart were opened, and I followed Jesus. The new life I experience is one of joy, peace, and hope, and is truly fulfilling—whereas material goods and fame can never be.

Belief in God and Scientific Facts

There is no disagreement between science and belief in God. God is a Spirit, and we worship Him in spirit and in truth. God created the universe, including all the science in it. He is almighty and can do miracles in ways that our limited scientific knowledge cannot understand. God is most concerned about each person’s spiritual and emotional well-being, as we see in the way He has provided for all our physical needs in the universe. When you humble yourself and search for God, He will open your eyes and heart. He will accept you as His child when you turn to Him and accept Him as your God and Savior. You then will experience abundant life!

Frankie Wong is currently a part-time engineering consultant, and a church elder at Grace Gospel Christian Church.