Vacuum Cleaner Lungs

Genesis 2:7
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

The air we breathe has always been filled with dust particles. And whether it is dust blown off the ground, smoke particles, or tiny particles of fabric or even paper in the house, these particles find their way deep into our lungs.

In His wisdom, our Creator has provided us with tiny, but effective “vacuum cleaners” in our lungs that collect and remove the particles that enter the lungs. These “vacuum cleaner” cells are actually a specific type of macrophage. They work in the deepest part of the lung, reaching out with tubular extensions to engulf any particle in much the same way that an amoeba eats. This “vacuum cleaner” essentially eats the particles it finds, and every one of these “vacuum cleaner” cells can clean an area forty times its own size.

Scientists say that they still do not fully understand whether certain particles, like poisonous heavy metals, affect the working of these cells. They suspect that certain particles may prevent these “vacuum cleaners” from effectively doing their work.

Though science has known about macrophages for over a century, scientists are only just beginning to learn how these cells actually clean the lungs. We can be very thankful that we have a Creator Who is not only clever enough to think of our need, but wise enough to know how to design a solution.

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank You that You have created so many mechanisms to help keep my body healthy. Help me to be as concerned about my health as You are so that I may enjoy the life You have given me and be in better condition to serve You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Notes:
Illustration: The human lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. Gray’s Anatomy.