In an earlier article we considered the importance of oxygen. Nitrogen is also extremely important, and the Creator has arranged that the air we breathe is more than three-fourths nitrogen and only about one-fifth oxygen. While oxygen is the more important of the two, by itself it would be far too strong for us. So the Creator has wisely combined the two in just the right balance (along with small amounts of other elements) to provide us and all air-breathing creatures with just the right combination for our comfort and health.
In addition to this, if oxygen were present in larger quantities, a fire could probably never be put out, but nitrogen, which does not burn, keeps this from happening. Actually no plant, animal or person could survive without nitrogen.
In spite of there being so much nitrogen in air, our bodies could not survive unless some were provided by another source. Once again we see another wonder of God’s creation, in that He has provided that vegetables, fruit and cereals we eat contribute large amounts. Also, since animals, poultry and fish have it in their bodies, we get an additional supply when they are included in our diets.
Where do plants get this extra nitrogen? Much of it comes from the air and some from the soil through their roots. But one of the spectacular ways is through lightning which brings large quantities to plants, some of it passing on through their roots and into the soil for other vegetation.
Much of the fertilizer and plant food sold by garden supply stores also has a high quantity of sodium nitrate in it, which is a means of providing nitrogen-rich food to the plant. But sometimes a plant can get too much of it. An example of this is a tomato plant that is covered with too much leaf and not enough fruit.
In Psalm 40:55Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalm 40:5) we read, “Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward. . . . If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” As we look at these wonderful works, it should cause us to agree with the psalmist who said, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Psalm 95:67).
Not only should we worship and thank Him for His marvelous works, but more importantly, for His love in providing His Son, the Lord Jesus, as the Saviour for all eternity to all who put their trust in Him.
ML-07/24/2005