Werner Heisenberg received the Nobel prize for physics in 1932 in recognition of his pioneer work in quantum mechanics. His original study was published in 1925-26 followed by his famous "uncertainty principle" in 1927. Simply stated, the principle proposed that, because of the wave nature of subatomic particles, the position and velocity of such particles cannot both be measured at the same time. In other words, if we know the position of a particle, we cannot know its velocity, and conversely, if we know its velocity, we don't know exactly where it is. This is difficult for us to envision since the uncertainty is so small that it cannot be observed in ordinary objects. Only with extremely small masses do the uncertainties become significant. This is because the position and velocity of these tiny particles are predicted on the basis of probability, and Isaac Newton's laws of motion do not apply.
This "uncertainty principle" plays a vital role in our understanding of atomic structure and the quantum mechanical nature of the universe. It is analogous to our everyday lives in that we live in an uncertain world. We have difficulty predicting the future and Newton's laws don't help much in dealing with the weather, or the play and interplay of human emotions, or the vagaries of politics and economics. In spite of how hard we try to lead stable, predictable lives, things just don't turn out the way we plan. "The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-glay" (Robert Burns, Of Mice and Men). So, uncertainty is a way of life for members of the human family. The Bible gives us an insight into the major events involved in the great controversy and of our place in the cosmic struggle between good and evil, and it gives us the recipe for victory and salvation, and it also gives us counsel as to a healthy life style. We know that there is a law of cause and effect, and Newton's third law tells us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction; anger begets anger; love begets love; friendliness begets friends, etc. But in spite of these helps, most things in life are unpredictable and uncertain.
This is not so in the spiritual world. There is no uncertainty about Christ's death and resurrection; there is no uncertainty of God's love for His people; there is no uncertainty in Jesus' second coming and the resurrection of the righteous; there is no uncertainty of a home in heaven and the new earth; there is no uncertainty of the final destruction of Satan and the elimination of the effects of sin. God has given us the assurance of His loving watch care, and that, even though we don't know the outcome of many events in our lives, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). When it comes to God's plans, "We may know the certainty of the word of truth" (Prov. 22:21). In this case there is "no uncertainty principle."
