The Gospel of Nitrogen
Everything is made of molecules. Some are small and others bigger. Some are simple and others complex. Proteins are very large and complex
molecules. Proteins are made out of
smaller molecules called amino acids, and Nitrogen is an important part of all
amino acids. However, nitrogen as a part
of an amino acid is an atom. All molecules
are made out of atoms. Other molecules that contain nitrogen are all nucleic
acids (which provide energy and genetic information), and most plant pigments
involved in photosynthesis. Which
implies that plants need lots of nitrogen.
The most common component of
plant fertilizers is in fact one of two forms of nitrogen - nitrate (NO3-)
or ammonium (NH4+) ions—both usable forms of nitrogen for
plants.
With a concentration of about 78 percent, nitrogen
gas comprises the largest component of earth's atmosphere. It has at least a
million times more nitrogen than found in all living systems combined. The bad
news is that all of this atmospheric nitrogen consists of molecules of N2
— that is, two atoms of nitrogen bound tightly together by, what chemists call,
three strong covalent bonds.
Unfortunately, it takes a great deal of energy to break the triple bond.
Because plants can't use molecular
nitrogen (N2), it has to be transformed into one of the two
absorbable ions. When you break the
bonds between the molecular nitrogen, each nitrogen ion is open to attract and
attach other ions and form other molecules.
So, before the nitrogen can bond with other elements like oxygen or
hydrogen it has to become an ion itself.
Let us try to reiterate: the two nitrogen atoms are attracted to each
other, very strongly. Once bonded the
nitrogen atoms cannot bond with anything else, unless that bond is broken. When the bond is broken the nitrogen will
have open spaces to bond with other ions.
Now, notice that the symbol for nitrate has a negative sign and the
ammonium has a positive sign, this is why they are called ions and not
molecules. Both nitrate and ammonium
have open spaces to bond as well.
Back to nitrogen: it requires a lot of energy to
break nitrogen’s triple bond. In His
wisdom the Creator provided several ways to convert atmospheric molecular
nitrogen into usable forms that will dissolve in water so that plant roots can
absorb it. The immense energy of lightning easily breaks nitrogen triple bond,
turning it into nitrates and washing it down in the rain of a good thunderstorm.
Have you noticed how green your lawn is after a noise one rolls through? Even
more important, many types of bacteria convert nitrogen from one form to
another. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to the more
plant-friendly ammonium ion (though it is toxic in large concentrations). Other bacteria, called ammonifying bacteria,
also create the ammonium ion, but they do it by decomposition of plant and
animal matter. Check out the smell of your compost pile. It reeks of ammonia.
Fortunately, another family of bacteria called nitrifying bacteria transforms
the ammonium ion to the safer nitrates. (As you might guess, the cycles are actually
more complicated than what I am describing.)
It is not uncommon for atoms in a “multi – atom” molecule
to behave differently than when they were a mono-atom molecule. As previously mentioned, the bonds in
molecules of compounds are very strong.
The atoms that compose the molecules now yield to one another. They work as one. Whether, in ammonium or nitrate, nitrogen no
longer behaves as nitrogen. For example,
water is not flammable. But, the two
elements that compose water – hydrogen and oxygen - on their own are very
flammable.
This has a spiritual application. Let us go step by step. Before conversion the disciples could not
really bond. Before the crucifixion they
were fighting for supremacy. That ceased
after the 10 days in the upper chamber. Luke described what
happened then, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were
all with one accord in one place” (acts 2: 1).
Ellen White describes the events in the following quote,
“After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of
varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the
gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room 'all continued with one accord in prayer
and supplication.' They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their
own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling
all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity
of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time 'they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.' {7MR 94.4}
There was a definite change in them. This was reflected in all their
followers: “Now the multitude of those
who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of
the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And
with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus. And great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:32, 33, NKJV).
What happened?
When the Holy Spirit began working in them, their bond to Sin or self is
broken. It takes the powerful grace of
God to do this. Now, they have open
space to bond with Christ and with each other.
Christ could not use the disciples in their natural state. They had to become spiritual ions to be able
to bond with other spiritual ions.
So, the disciples laid aside all their personal
ambitions. Now instead of fighting, they
were convicted by the Holy Spirit to die to self. The words of Paul became a reality in them:
“…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind,” and to not think more highly than he ought to think of himself (Romans
12: 2 – 3). God is waiting for us to let
the Holy Spirit do the same work in us.
Raul Diaz
Endnote: Portions of this commentary were taken from
David A. Steen’s book “God of Wonders” page 235.
