Michael Faraday, Spiritual Dynamo

Every time you switch on a light, start up a computer or turn on a television, you do it because of discoveries related to the work of Michael Faraday. In a swimming pool you will be guarded from disease because of liquid chlorine in the water: this is because Michael Faraday first liquefied chlorine. Faraday built the very first electric motor and later the first generator and transformer of electricity. This was to change long distance communication across the earth leading to the ability to talk to astronauts far out in space. His work on electromagnetism is included in Melvyn Braggs' book on 12 books that changed the World. But Michael Faraday also suffered from a disorder known as dyslexia. This meant that he had difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols. Faraday however, overcame this problem to become one of the greatest public lecturers in history. The interesting thing is that alongside all the amazing discoveries and brilliant experiments there was something more important in Michael's life. He deeply loved and followed the Lord Jesus. On one occasion after a brilliant public lecture he had given at the Royal Institution, the house "rocked" with enthusiastic applause. The Prince of Wales rose to congratulate the great Professor. The thunders of applause however, were followed by a strange silence. Everybody waited for Michael Faraday's reply, but the lecturer had vanished! Where was he? Faraday had slipped away to a prayer meeting. Faraday believed that his great purpose in life was to read, as he put it, "the book of nature ... written by the finger of God". Few people in history have read that book more accurately and applied it more helpfully.

Publisher: Christian Focus
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781845501563

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Derick Bingham was the teaching pastor at Christchurch, Belfast. He was also an Adjunct Professor of English Literature at the John Brown University and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts. A popular author and well known public speaker Derick passed away on the 6th of March 2010 following a long battle with Leukemia.

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For my boys, it was exciting to read about a scientist who served the Lord. Generally, our Christian biographies revolve around theologians and missionaries. Its really interesting to read about the way God works in other vocations and areas of life as well. Michael Faraday was not a missionary, but his discoveries and work improved the everyday lives of common people. My children both commented on the fact that they loved reading about a scientist. I am a fan of Christian Focus Publications’Trailblazers series for middle grade children. At the present moment, they have 33 biographies available. We own nearly every one, and we have read about half of them. Through reading about the lives of men and women who loved Christ, and who dedicated their lives to His service, my boys and I have all been inspired to follow Him in our own lives. Its truly amazing to see the way God works through the lives of ordinary individuals. Danika Cooley