Did fire and pine trees co-evolve? According to an article published March 10, 2016 on BBC News, scientists have discovered the oldest-known fossil of a pine tree. The article says: “these oldest pine fossils are preserved as charcoal, the product of fire, suggesting that the co-occurrence of fire and pines is something that’s very ancient, that goes back to the very origin of these first pine trees.” If fire and pines “co-evolved,” why is it not possible they were both created by the same creator?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). As the earth was formed over time God guided the appearance of various life forms that gradually began to appear. One of these was trees.

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so. The land produced vegetation; plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:11,12 NIV). Various types of pine trees were included in the trees that God originally created.

“He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth” (Job 37:3 NIV). Lightning produces fires on earth. Some species of trees, including pines, and other plants are dependent upon fire for their existence. In fact, whole ecosystems, to work properly, seem to be dependent upon fire. These trees, plants and ecosystems were here on earth long before humans came to be on earth.

Based on the discoveries, and subsequent claims, how did these various fire-dependent species of pine trees and fire co-evolve? Did such a “lucky” coincidence “just happen” by chance. There are, in fact, innumerable such “lucky coincidences’ here on earth, as well as the universe. The more we learn about these phenomena, the more we are amazed. There are just too many to be unguided, undirected.

There are no other viable options.

The article can be read here: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35767640