Satisfied in Superstition #2

Sunday, August 19, 2018

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:22,23 KJV).

Why is there rampant spiritual ignorance today?

Mankind had unbridled access to and fellowship with the Creator God until Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. After consuming the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Genesis chapter 3 remarks of Adam and Eve: “[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. [8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

While man’s communion with the LORD God was broken, God nevertheless instituted a blood-sacrificial system by which man could approach Him (see Genesis 3:21–4:8). However, during the next several centuries, mankind drifted further and further from his Creator rather than drawing closer and closer to Him. In chapters 6-8, worldwide wickedness (especially murder) was so widespread that God generated the Great Flood to cleanse the planet of evil. Once Noah’s three sons exited the Ark after the Flood, they fathered the world’s nations (chapters 9-11). Near the end of these first 2,000 years of human history, an extremely important event occurred.

Genesis chapter 10 reports: “[8] And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. [9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. [10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” Nimrod was Noah’s great-grandson, and he was quite wicked. Chapter 11 will demonstrate to us how Nimrod was the leading rebel influential in bringing about the spiritual ignorance of today’s Scripture… and of today….

Bible Q&A #525: “Which hymns are appropriate for us grace believers to sing?

For Students This is Safe

Thursday, August 9, 2018

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128 KJV).

As a new school year dawns, let us awake unto spiritual truth!

Although the autumnal equinox is still over a month away here in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is finally beginning to wind down for most of us. Students—with long faces and deep sighs—have returned or are beginning to return to school. As students return to the classroom, they need to be particularly mindful of the following.

Firstly, learning in and of itself is not a sin. Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Luke was a medical doctor (Colossians 4:14). Daniel and his companions were skilled in science (Daniel 1:4). Adam was the first taxonomist (Genesis 2:19,20). The God of the Bible is never against learning new things—remember, He gave us His Holy Bible so we can have plenty to learn for all of eternity!

Secondly, what the God of the Bible opposes is when we believe/trust ideas that do not seek our best interests, that contradict the way He designed our lives to function. Certainly, we Christians should never go around believing anything and everything heard and seen. Just because the professor, preacher, pope, or president says it is true, that does not make it so. Scientific consensus has been wrong before, religion has been wrong before, politicians have been wrong before. Much of the ideas that permeate our world today are wrong.

Lastly, there are many wonderful, exciting ideas and concepts out there—medical advancements, technological breakthroughs, and so on—but there are equally detrimental ideas that will mess up your life—religious traditions, secular humanism, and other philosophies. Daily intake of the King James Bible rightly divided will cleanse our souls of the filth and foolishness that we hear and see day in and day out in this evil world system. We highly exalt God’s Word, we know it is right “concerning all things,” and we hate and ignore the error.

Have a wonderful school year in our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙂

God’s Precious Thoughts

Friday, August 3, 2018

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17 KJV).

Do we agree with King David?

Today’s Scripture is part of a song that underscores God’s infinite knowledge. He knows our daily routines and actually reads our very thoughts—even future ideas (verses 1-3)! God realizes the words our tongues will utter (verse 4). David speaks of God directing him in life (verse 5). “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (verse 6). Regardless of what he does or where he goes, he cannot escape God’s gentle presence (verses 7-12).

“[13] For thou hast possessed my reins [innermost being]: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. [14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. [15] My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. [16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” We see God’s attention to detail, awareness He had well in advance. The very attributes of our bodies follow the Creator’s scheme. He knew all such intricacies of human anatomy long before there ever was a human body!

In light of all that, David writes more praise: “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee” (today’s Scripture). He is unable to place a value on God’s knowledge. Interestingly enough, he lacked a complete revelation from God. We in the Dispensation of Grace have a finished Bible canon today with 66 Books. David had one-sixth of our Bible (and certainly he did not know God’s mysteries, hidden wisdom, that we now know through the Apostle Paul). Saints, how much more we should thus say, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 🙂

The Awareness of a Temporary Earth

 Sunday, April 22, 2018

“And, Thou, O Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (Hebrews 1:10-12 KJV).

On this Earth Day, let us not confuse the creation with the Creator!

Today, people worldwide celebrate “environmental awareness.” According to the secular, naturalistic worldview, our planet and its sun could last many more billions of years. They claim that we have done so much damage to our planet—climate change, overpopulation, deforestation, pollution, et cetera—that we must change our attitude toward “mother earth” and change our lifestyles before we destroy her and civilization as we know it! You can sense the zeal in their message, can you not? While these people are sincere, they are wasting all of their time, energy, and resources on a temporary planet.

Let us be very clear that the Lord Jesus Christ placed man on the earth, especially the Garden of Eden, to “dress it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to take care of the Earth: he was God’s representative, God’s king, who had a divine commission to rule this planet for God’s glory (Genesis 1:26-28).

It was not long, however, before Satan distracted mankind from understanding God’s purpose for him. Adam began to focus on himself: like Satan, he began to “worship and serve the creature more than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). Thus began man’s continual downward spiral into spiritual ignorance. He would continually worship himself, as we well know today.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that, because of sin, this creation will pass away. The Lord Jesus Christ, however, will live forever. Why worship that which is temporary? It makes no sense! The Lord Jesus Christ gave you life, not the pagan goddess “mother earth.” Environmental awareness? Indeed, be aware that our world is temporary, as God will one day create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1).

How to Know Your Purpose

Friday, April 6, 2018

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (Colossians 1:16,17 KJV).

Friend, have you ever wondered how to know your purpose?

A noted atheist, who has since expired (!), conceded, “One can’t prove that God doesn’t exist.” Nevertheless, fervently gripping his worldview, he boasted, “But science makes God unnecessary. The laws of physics can explain the universe without the need for a creator.” Really? Has science made God “unnecessary?” Can the laws of physics show us that our universe originated without a Creator? Why, what wishful thinking he entertains! (Does physics explain the origin of consciousness? Of logic? Of memory? Emotions?! Morals?! Ethics?!)

Being a scientist for many years, I can guarantee (!) you that science is not as “settled” as its worshippers would have the general public believe. Despite the various experiments conducted over the course of decades and centuries, we still know an extremely small fraction about our incomprehensibly massive universe. What little we do know (or think we know!) involves constant refining, rejection, and disagreement. Science is merely a tool, not a god. It is limited and flawed too—chiefly because it relies on human nature, which itself is faulty (accidental errors, deliberate lies, impaired senses, et cetera). Since man manufactures all lab equipment, such equipment malfunctions to reflect its builder’s defects. Therefore, rest assured, save in the deluded mind, science will never overthrow God!

According to today’s Scripture, God created heaven and earth for a purpose. We see that He structured a government to operate in both realms. He intended to fill those administration offices with creatures—angels and people—to then carry out His will in their respective spheres. We, you, friend, are not here by accident!! Holding to a strict “empirical” view—“I must see it to believe it!”—is imperfect. You can observe and test to learn “how” the universe works, but the “why” will never, ever be answered using scientific means. To answer the purpose question, we must use spiritual eyes.

How to Know God

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:19-21 KJV).

Friend, have you ever wondered how to know God?

Many today are allegedly “looking for God.” After “soul-searching,” they uncover nothing but disappointment. Visiting “church,” they find nothing but confusion. Appealing to scientists and philosophers, they realize nothing but disagreement. Glancing at society, they discover nothing but evil. In light of the disappointment, confusion, disagreement, and evil, they throw up their hands in defeat and plead ignorance: “It is impossible to know for sure if there is a God!” Those most damaged in this faulty approach reach the well-known conclusion, “There is no God” (or, its softened variation, “There is probably no God!”).

Doubtless, God exists. Firstly, today’s Scripture says a physical creation demands a Creator be behind it: observing the universe allows us to see He is intelligent and orderly. Secondly, Romans 2:14,15: “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)….” Every person possesses a conscience—a system of standards and norms that evaluate (good / bad) and regulate behavior (do / do not do). We also see that the Creator has established right and wrong; we naturally have some sense of truth and error (although sin and our unique cultural upbringing modify it).

Alas, maybe we blatantly reject this most basic knowledge. Ungrateful of the Creator God and His provisions given us, we do not worship Him. Entertaining empty thoughts, our foolish heart becomes darkened. Despite our claims, we have no interest in discovering and knowing God. But, then again, what if we do?

Selfless!

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to live for the benefit of others, not ourselves.

“Sin” perfectly summarizes human nature: the middle letter of “sin” is “i” (also, “Lucifer” and “pride”). A sinner is, by nature, self-centered and self-willed. That is what makes human nature so drastically different from God’s nature. God’s whole controversy with man is that man does not live like He does: God designed man to reflect His life but man (namely, Adam) willfully chose to rebel and make a new lifestyle for himself and his ancestors, namely us (sinful living).

In stark contrast, as today’s Scripture indicates, Christian living is all about Christ living. How did He live on Earth? In total submission to His Heavenly Father’s will! Verses 6-8 capture His mentality: “[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Romans chapter 15 amplifies: “[1] We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. [3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written [Psalm 69:9], The reproaches of them that reproached thee [Father God] fell on me [Jesus Christ].” Christ set aside His own desires and obeyed Father God’s will, all the way to the cross of Calvary (see Hebrews 10:4-13; cf. Matthew 26:39-44)!

When God Himself lived in human flesh, He was anything but selfish. Likewise, dear brethren, we follow Jesus Christ’s pattern—seeking the best interests of others, and not ourselves. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24).

See!

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to see that which is not seen.

Since we are flesh-and-blood creatures, we quite naturally focus on—and unhealthily emphasize—everything we can see, taste, smell, hear, and touch. Basically, we adopt the (secular/unsaved) worldview of, “Empirical evidence is the only reality!” “If it cannot be seen, it cannot be real” is an extremely shallow understanding of reality in and of itself. For example, can we smell love? Do we see air? Can we touch a thought? Do we hear the color green? Can we taste light? Certainly not! These are all fallacious premises. Those concepts must be approached in special ways, or they will not be perceived. Green is not heard but seen. Thoughts are not touched but heard.

Similarly, to experience what God tells and offers us, we do not exercise our five senses. There is something beyond our physical eyes, physical ears, physical noses, physical hands, and physical tongues. This is where the spiritual world lies. Now, just as we understand every creature in the physical world is not benevolent, so we understand that malevolent creatures exist in the spirit world. Whatever they are though, good and bad, we can perceive them if we exercise our spiritual senses.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Through the eyes of faith, we see that there is more to our existence than this life. Whatever we are facing, good or bad, this world is “temporal” (today’s Scripture). Our “light affliction,” our “minor difficulty,” is limited; it is subject to time constraints, temporary. If you keep reading into chapter 5, the verses immediately following today’s Scripture, you will see through the eyes of faith a small glimpse of the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” awaiting us!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is the ‘Apocalypse?’

Three Third Chapters

Monday, February 12, 2018

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Genesis 3:9 KJV).

Adam fell into sin, but God has an answer!

Genesis chapter 3, the fall of man: “[9] And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? [10] And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. [11] And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”

Romans chapter 3, the forgiveness of man: “[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Ephesians chapter 3, the Body of Christ: “[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;…. [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”

When we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour (Romans), we escape our separation from God because of Adam (Genesis) and we are joined to Him via the Church the Body of Christ because of Christ (Ephesians). Simple!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What are the ‘posts’ in the Book of Esther?

Just Be Thankful!

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21 KJV).

Drop the attitude; show some gratitude!

Turn on your television, read a newspaper, scroll through social media sites, talk with others. Everyone is “offended” about something—even the silliest of matters. Unable to keep their mouths shut and their pens down, they bicker, “This is outrageous,” “That is offensive!” We naturally crave such garbage information too. Professionals, parading as “reporters” and “journalists,” are paid enormous sums of money to rile up the public. Attention-seekers eagerly jabber incessantly about something blown way out of proportion. We hear about “my feelings,” “my body,” “my rights”—it is me, me, me, ME, MEEEEE. (How we also love to wallow in self-pity, friends!)

How did society wind up in such a wretched predicament? Today’s Scripture in context: “[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

They first removed any thoughts about the Creator God. Never forget: when we refuse to think about God, when we reject His thoughts, He gives us over to our preferences (read to verse 32). That is how much the God the Bible loves free will. If you want empty thoughts and a foolish and darkened heart, have them (like most)!

Perhaps, though, just perhaps, you are not interested in being like everyone else. Great!!! Today’s Scripture says that God, not you, is God. Believe that. God is the most important Person in the universe—not you! Moreover, be thankful that He has given you life. Remember, He does not owe you anything! 🙂