I was recently given a DNA test kit from Ancestry.com as a Christmas gift and decided to use it. I spit (quite a lot) of saliva into a small test tube, carefully packaged the contents in a pre-stamped, pre-addressed box, and sent it away to the Ancestry lab to be tested. About 3 weeks later, I received my results via email which included the following results concerning the ethnic origins of my ancestors
England,Wales&Northwestern Europe 75%
Ireland and Scotland 18%
Sweden 5%
Finland 1%
Cameroon, Congo, and Southern Bantu Peoples 1%
Another interesting feature of this test is that it links you with others who have taken the test, and shows how you are related to them. Some of my cousins have taken this test as well, and by processing my DNA, the scientists who work for Ancestry were able to tell me who was my relative and exactly how we were related. I could verify many of my “cousin matches” myself, as I know them personally. Of course, we all are related because we all come from one man and one woman, Adam and Eve (Genesis 1-2, I Corinthians 15:45, Genesis 3:20).
Ancestry states on their website that they use their technology to test all 23 chromosomes that make up our DNA. They determined the ethnic regions that my ancestors came from by testing my DNA with that of people who live in those countries now. Although the world was different centuries ago as far as who lived in each country goes, Ancestry evidently has determined that groups of people who live in specific areas today have certain DNA markers that match one another. Evidently, some of my DNA markers match those of people currently living in Great Britain, Southern Europe, Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of Western Europe.
It was interesting to see what ethnic regions my ancestors came from as well as seeing who among the group that has taken the DNA test were related to me. What was most amazing was seeing God’s handiwork being displayed before my eyes! God created us in such great detail that a mere drop of saliva has all of the information necessary to tell us about those who came before us as well as those who are closely related to us. Our bodies are so intricately made that even the smallest part has an important function. As Christians, each of our bodies is the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19). God took time to make sure that we were made in His Image (Genesis 1:27). Seeing how complex and detailed a small amount of my own saliva was, made me even more thankful that God loved me even before I was born and allowed me to be born upon this earth to return His love and follow his commands (Jeremiah 1:5; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Matthew 22:37)!
It was interesting to see the results of my DNA test. I would have been pleased with any ethnic origin that this test would have presented for my ancestral background as all races and nationalities are equally important in the sight of God (Acts 17:26). What this test did not tell me, is something that I already knew; that I am more than just this body that serves as a temporary shelter for my soul and spirit as I navigate this wonderful life that has its challenges at times. The most important part of me is my soul, and that cannot be shown in my DNA because it is in my body but not of my body. And that is how our lives as Christians must be. Like the soul is in our bodies but not of our bodies, we, as Christians must be in this world in order to teach and save the lost, but not of the world, meaning that we should not give into the worldly temptations of sin (John 15:19).
My DNA test results gave me a good indication of what my earthly body is composed of as it relates to DNA information, and that is amazing! What amazes me even more is that after this body wears out and withers away, my spirit will return to God Who made it, and my soul will live for all eternity in the presence of the One Who made it! Praise be to God Almighty!