Living Proof of God

LAST WORD On September 7, 1982, I found myself standing before a tree in a mountainous region of Africa. This tree was unlike any I had ever seen. The tree, in its entirety, seemed to be a manifestation of God’s presence. Everything about it was extraordinary— the delicate flowers, the meticulously pruned fruits, the leaves crafted with mathematical precision. Each element silently proclaimed that it had not arisen by chance but was brought into existence by a Creator. While every tree in the world is a marvel of craftsmanship, this particular one, encountered for the first time, made an indelible impression on me. As I gazed upon this unique and beautiful tree, I instinctively murmured, “It feels as though God has inscribed on everything He created in this world: Made by God.” God has imprinted this on all creation, then veiled Himself from human eyes, so that through His works, people might come to recognize Him. Despite His invisibility, His presence in the world is unmistakable. Just as an expert can examine a machine and discern whether it was made in Russia, America, Britain, Japan, China, or Vietnam, so too can one perceive the origin of the universe’s countless natural “machines.” We inhabit a universe brimming with these natural mechanisms, each performing its role flawlessly. This vast and magnificent