Proverbs 20.27 says, the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly. We previously discussed the reality that the spirit of man is like nothing else found anywhere else in creation. God himself is a conscious being and created man in his image and that includes the conscience. Whether it's an ape, a bird, a worm, a tree, or a flower, those living animals and plants do not ponder the deeper things. The ape processes very basic thoughts related to finding food, self-preservation, finding a mate, and other such things, but the ape never thinks about his existence and asks, why am I here? Who am I? Is there a God? What happens to me after I die? The same is true for birds and worms and trees and flowers. The fact is, the only creation found in the universe that has such thoughts and even has the capability of such thinking is man, human beings. Someone might mention angels and angelic beings, but these are heavenly creatures created outside of the universe. They can and do visit us within our universe, but they originate outside of the universe and they're not subject to the laws of nature. In all of what we call nature, in the natural world, which is subject to the fall of Adam, and is found to originate within this universe, only human beings have this ability to think upon things related to what we would call self-existence, our relationship with our creator, the afterlife, and so forth. And that's the gist of our proverb. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. This proverb reminds us of our special place in creation and our special relationship with the Lord God who created us. We're not just animals. Scientists may choose to categorize human beings among what they call mammals, but that's a man-made designation that may serve a purpose in the study of biology. But the real reason for lumping man in with all the other so-called mammals is to make students believe that we're no different than those animals. were just evolved to a higher order or some sort of thing like that. But our proverb is reminding us that such Darwinian superstitious hogwash is nothing less than wickedness. Lumping man with animals denies the special relationship man has with our Creator and denies the important responsibility we have in light of that relationship. And therein lies the reason for Darwinian philosophy. And yes, Darwin wasn't a true scientist, but was a philosopher using scientific data to present his godless, Bible-denying philosophy. Science, the true, observable, factual version of science, cannot deny this special reality of man's conscience and self-consciousness. They try to explain it away, then they lump human beings in with mammals and connect them to primates in order to deny our responsibility toward God and His law, to deny the reality of sin, and to downplay the effects of the fall on the human race. And they ultimately want to deny Judgment Day and the reality of heaven and hell. And for that reason, they try to undermine the Bible because it teaches us all about these things. And when a human sinner approaches the Bible with respect, believing that it is God's word, those words cause each sinner to search deep within what our proverb calls the inward parts of the belly. and come face to face with the reality of God. Hebrews 4.12 explains this, for the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And the Bible uses the word heart and the belly in similar terms. It's the inward man. And 1 Thessalonians 2.13 adds that the word of God effectually worketh also in you that believe. So believe God's word and it will change you. Believe the gospel and it saves you. It is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe according to Romans 1 16. And only human beings have that capability to believe with their heart and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.