Modern medicine is ever looking for new methods to investigate, diagnose, and treat the illnesses that plague mankind. Up until recent history, the only way to observe problems with internal organs was through invasive surgery. Then came the wonderful discovery of X-ray, which could be used to look at and photograph these organs. Bone fractures, kidney stones, tooth decay, and intestinal malfunction are examples of areas where X-rays are used in diagnosis. X-ray fluoroscopy gives motion pictures in real times of body functions, and it became so popular that it was even used to fit shoes. Though X-ray proved to be a very useful tool, it was discovered that an overdose of radiation could be dangerous and even fatal, so laws were passed to restrict its use to medical uses only.
So the search continued for safe, non invasive procedures, and the answer came in the form of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This marvelous invention produces the image of a cross-section of the body by using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The NMR phenomenon is exhibited by various atomic nuclei (esp hydrogen) when placed in a strong magnetic field in which they absorb energy from specific high frequency radio waves. The measurement of the magnetic moment of the nuclei is useful in medical research.
Another recent medical tool is Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT scan). This instrument employs X-rays to produce pictures of a single plane. The process is useful in the diagnosis of disorders of soft tissues including the brain. In another procedure called Nuclear Imaging the blood is irradiated with an injection of a radio isotope of thallium, and the radiation from the blood can be detected by using a huge million dollar camera. The pictures showing the functions of valves, blood circulation, and muscle action can be used to detect heart malfunction.
These marvelous inventions have provided a tremendous advance in non invasive medical diagnosis, but they are puny compared to God's Character Imaging Recorder (CIR). "God knows every thought, every purpose, every plan, every motive...As the artist transfers to the canvass the features of the face, so the features of each character are transferred to the books of heaven. God has a perfect photograph of every man's character" (My Life Today, p 291). What a recorder that must be! Those character photographs are accurately and indelibly preserved in heaven to be restored to each person in the resurrection. This character photograph is the spirit or personal identity of a person (6 BC p 1093), and it cannot be changed after death (TM p 430). What a solemn thought it is that not only our actions but all our thoughts and motives are continuously being recorded in "God's CIR."
