A forest fire rages. Thousands of acres burn.  How is the forest to survive?

The Bible proclaims, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead (divine nature B.H.)…” (Romans 1:20).  Evidence of Intelligent Design is seen in the created order.  Let’s examine His planning for forest fires.

Many conifer trees (such as pine, spruce, cypress and Sequoia) are designed for regrowth after a fire.  Seeds of these plants are protected in the cones. These trees produce a certain portion of their cones serotinous, or sealed with resin.   The cones open, releasing the seeds, after being exposed to high temperatures (the kind of heat produced by fire).  Note: some angiosperms (such as the eucalyptus) also have similar designed in their pods.

A man, I know, visited Yellowstone National Park after a great fire, several years ago.  He was amazed to see the abundant growth in areas that had been scorched.  He was told of serotinous cones. What a design!  God provided a way for reforestation to occur.  While other plants regrow in a burned area slowly though wind and animals transporting the seeds, God has provided a means to expedite regrowth –  thus,  speeding the return of animals to the area.

Did this just happen?  Did it happen by chance or random mutation?  Did it not take a mind for such design?  But, trees have no mind.  There must have been a mind, an intellect for such a design to be in place, for if there is design there must be a designer.  The Bible says, “every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4).