Category: Creation Science

Do We All Worship the Same God? #3

Monday, November 5, 2012

“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat” (Psalm 115:4-7 KJV).

Two common misconceptions are: (1) everyone worships the same God, and (2) everyone will eventually make it to heaven. Today’s Scripture answers both with a resounding “NO!”

Creation declares that there is a Creator God, His “eternal power and Godhead,” and we are all “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). We all know that God exists (however, we can choose to pretend He does not exist and ignore Him; verses 21-32).

Also, regardless of religion and/or denomination, we all commit sin, and we know that we will be held accountable to God for our unrighteousness. “Because he [God the Father] hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus Christ] whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). When the Apostle Paul spoke with Roman official Felix of this “judgment to come,” even pagan Felix “trembled” (Acts 24:25).

Each and every person is born with the general knowledge that there is a God, and that he or she has sins that offend Him. Those sins must be resolved. Thus, religion attracts mankind, who attempts to use religious performance (rites, rituals, ceremonies, prayers, et cetera) to make up for those sins.

Today’s Scripture describes the gods of the world religions as inanimate. They cannot speak, see, hear, smell, hold anything, or walk. How can they help us with our sins? They cannot! The Bible declares that in order to deal with our sins, we must rely on the Almighty God of the Bible, not the weakly idols of the world.

Why Am I Here?

Sunday, October 14, 2012

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:18 KJV).

Although philosophers and religious “scholars” still stumble over the age-old question, “Why am I here?,” God’s Word settled the matter long ago.

Creation is not the result of some random, mindless, cosmic explosion billions of years ago, as scientists often tout. Our universe exists with “divine design in mind”—this is particularly true of Earth. Today’s Scripture explains that, in addition to creating the heavens (outer space), God also created planet earth “not in vain.” God had a special purpose for Earth. It is no accident that mankind lives here, as opposed to other celestial bodies.

We exist because the triune Godhead (God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ], and God the Holy Spirit) wanted to share with us the love and fellowship they shared with each other before creation (John 17:5,24). In the person of Jesus Christ, the triune Godhead would manifest itself to mankind, a unique race of creatures whom the Godhead appointed to rule over Earth (Genesis 1:26-28). But, why Earth?

When God placed the first man, Adam, on earth, God was preparing to establish His kingdom on earth (Matthew 25:34), where He Himself would live with mankind: “For the LORD hath chosen Zion [in Jerusalem]; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it” (Psalm 132:13,14). Unfortunately, Adam sinned, postponing that earthly kingdom for 6,000 years now. God formed Earth, not to simply give us a home, but to one day make Himself a home (Christ’s Millennial Reign on earth). “He formed it to be inhabited”… by Himself! Amazing!

Friends, we are not accidents. We exist for God’s glory, not for our own glory. God wants us our faith, our trust, to rest in His Holy Word, the King James Bible, the record of how He paid for our sins, and thus restored His fallen creation unto Himself.

Where is God?

Saturday, October 13, 2012

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” (Acts 17:24,25 KJV)

Are you searching for God? In today’s Scripture and its subsequent verses, the Apostle Paul identifies where the real God is.

In the context, Paul is in Athens (verse 16). While standing on Mars’ Hill, he speaks to all Athenians, but especially to its Greek philosophers (verses 18ff.). These Greeks are very religious, as evidenced by their altars and devotions, but they do not know the God of the Bible, the Creator of heaven and earth: Paul notes their altar that reads, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” (verse 23).

Paul corrects their thinking. Unlike inanimate idols, the real God “dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands” (today’s Scripture). Contrary to popular belief, a church building is not “God’s house.” The Bible says God does not dwell in manmade structures! We Christians, not buildings, are “an habitation [dwelling place] of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). Furthermore, we worship God, but not by carving statues and not by bowing before altars, as pagans do.

Throughout the world are God’s written Word, the Holy Bible, and His people, Christians, who teach and preach the Holy Bible. Through these two means, God makes Himself known to the world’s lost people. If any person in the world wants to know JEHOVAH, “the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9), he or she can know Him. God is not hiding from anyone. In fact, Paul, in the context of today’s Scripture, says “…all nations of men… that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” (Acts 17:26,27).

As English-speaking people, we can come to know God through the King James Bible. First, we must be willing to listen to what He has to say in it!

Tremble, Thou Earth, at Thy Creator’s Presence

Thursday, October 11, 2012

“Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” (Psalm 114:7 KJV).

Psalm 114 provides a glimpse of God’s power over creation.

“When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of water” (Psalm 114).

The above psalm is a brief narrative of God delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage, and her subsequent journey to the Promised Land. Notice at least three instances where the LORD demonstrated His power over creation:

  • Verse 3a: “The sea saw it, and fled” refers to God miraculously parting the Red Sea so Israel could pass on dry ground (Exodus 14:21,22).
  • Verse 3b: “Jordan was driven back” portrays God miraculously damming the Jordan River when Israel’s priests stepped into it, allowing the nation (following the priests) to enter into the Promised Land, due north of the Dead Sea (Joshua 3:7-17).
  • Verse 8: “[God] Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters” recalls God miraculously causing water to gush forth from the rock, quenching Israel’s thirst (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13). Interestingly, Psalm 114 alone—not Exodus and Numbers—identifies that rock as flint.

As the psalmist inquired, what “ailed” (troubled) the Red Sea, and the Jordan River, to do what they did? It was their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ! They obeyed His commands. The whole earth—especially the “mighty” mountains, hills, rivers, and seas—trembled in reverence of their mighty Creator.

And yet, for us, “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). WOW!

Walking in the Spirit #1

Thursday, October 4, 2012

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24,25 KJV).

Now that we have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, we have a new identity, which should impact our lifestyles for God’s glory.

Saints, from conception, we had an identity in Adam. Imagine, when we were still forming in our mothers’ wombs, God exclaimed, “They look so cute and innocent, but I know better!” As King David wrote, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). This identity in Adam caused us to sin, and thus we lived in rebellion against God and His will for our lives. We could not help but sin, for it was our very nature.

So, on Calvary’s cross, when Jesus Christ died, we died to sin, too. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20a). Today’s Scripture explains that, as Christians, we “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” The “flesh” here is the old sin nature, our old identity in Adam, and it was put to death at Calvary: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him [Christ], that the body of sin [our Adamic nature] might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).

But, God did not leave us dead. When He resurrected Christ, He also raised us: “that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (verses 4b,5). We have a new identity in Christ, and this new identity will produce “newness of life.” “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh [physical body] I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Saints, we do not have to serve sin: we can walk by faith in our identity in Christ, and let Christ live in and through us. 🙂

My Kingdom is Not of This World? #3

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36 KJV).

What did Jesus mean when He spoke today’s Scripture?

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Within these two realms, God also created governments: “For by him [the Lord Jesus Christ] 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” (Colossians 1:16).

God also made creatures to occupy those offices of government: He formed the angels to rule in heaven for His glory, and mankind to rule on the earth for His glory. One of God’s chief angelic-like creatures, a cherub named Lucifer, rebelled against God by wanting to rule for his glory: Lucifer proclaimed, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14b). This title “most High” means “possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19,22). Essentially, Lucifer (Satan) purposed to usurp all of God’s authority, in heaven and in earth.

Satan was able to recruit a portion of God’s angels to follow him in his rebellion in heaven (Ezekiel 28:18; Matthew 25:41). When God placed man on the earth, man was to rule earth for God’s glory (Genesis 1:26,28). Unfortunately, man (Adam) willingly chose to relinquish his God-given authority to Satan, by sinfully following Satan in his rebellion against God (Romans 5:12).

Today, the governments of heaven (Ephesians 6:12) and earth (2 Corinthians 4:4) are in rebellion. Earth’s governments are corrupt because Satan is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). In fact, Satan tempted Christ with a proposal: if Christ would worship him, Satan would give Him the world’s governments (Matthew 4:8,9; Luke 4:5-7).

In today’s Scripture, when Christ claimed His kingdom was “not of this world,” He meant that His kingdom would not originate from the evil world system underlying today’s governments. His reign would restore earth’s governments to God (Colossians 1:20).

Inexpensive Yet Priceless

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

“I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162 KJV).

For little to no cost, we can obtain the priceless Word of God.

Recently, I was browsing through a store, and I found King James Bibles (Old and New Testaments) for only US$1! In fact, I have seen them sold for a fraction of even that meager price! I could not help but tell myself, “Millions of dollars are wasted each year on worthless books. Imagine how many of these King James Bibles that revenue could buy!” (King James Bibles are even distributed for free.)

There are many books in the world, but only one is truly priceless, of immeasurable value. God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is the Creator’s mind on the printed page: “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Why is the Bible priceless? “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9).

The Holy Bible is truly priceless because it alone contains the precious words of God. All other books are written by men, whose minds are finite and whose hearts are flawed (with sin). Contrariwise, the prophet Isaiah reminded Israel that our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, thinks on an entirely different plane than we do—a plane that exceeds ours! Just as we struggle to comprehend the height of “the heavens” (outer space) above earth, we attempt to fathom the methods and manners (“ways”) of God and the “thoughts” of God.

In today’s Scripture, the psalmist confessed that he “rejoiced at [God’s] word, as one that findeth great spoil [treasure].” The psalmist understood, as we (hopefully) do, that God’s Word is to be rejoiced over, that it should be delighted in, and the object of our joy. When we consider Who inspired and wrote it, and how He preserved it through time so we could study it today in this devotional, we join the psalmist in declaring, “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” 🙂

Diligent Versus Slothful

Monday, September 3, 2012

“The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious” (Proverbs 12:27 KJV).

Today, we in the United States celebrate Labor Day, a day to remember our hard-working citizens.

Beloved, when God placed the first man, Adam, on earth, Adam was not to loaf around, doing nothing: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to cultivate the land (that is, be a farmer and a caretaker, to prepare it so God could come down and dwell with the human race on earth). Originally, Adam’s work was easy, but once sin entered, farming grew more difficult, even as it is to this day (see Genesis 3:17-19).

The book of Proverbs (12:24; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15,24; 21:25; 22:13; 24:30; 26:13-15) says much about slothfulness, or laziness. “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle [motionless] soul shall suffer hunger” (19:15). Proverbs 26:14 provides an amusing, vivid description: “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.” The only movement the door and the slothful make is rotating about a permanently fixed point: some hinges and a mattress, respectively.

In today’s Scripture, we read about the “slothful man” who relies on someone else to hunt game to provide his food, and the “diligent man” who works hard to obtain his own “substance” (possessions, wealth). What a contrast! Proverbs 13:4 amplifies: “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat [prosperous].” And Proverbs 21:25 expounds further: “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”

According to 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, the Apostle Paul rebuked lazy members of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:28 concludes: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

Saints, let us not be lazy, for God’s Word says working is a “good thing!” 🙂

Sifting Through the Silliness

Monday, August 20, 2012

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV).

Seeing as to I am returning to college today, we admonish ourselves: “Have an open mind, but use it not to vacuum!”

It is almost six years to the day that I began college to study environmental geology (the study of the earth and its natural processes). I can testify firsthand that, in a realm where God’s wisdom (the Holy Bible) is deemed “foolishness,” man’s idiocy is (unsurprisingly) termed “scholarly.” Frankly, some of the most absurd, vulgar, and blasphemous statements I have heard and read in my life were encountered in the college setting!

Today’s Scripture instructs us to “prove all things,” to test (verify) everything we hear, see, or read. “We search [study!] the scriptures daily, whether those things [are] so” (Acts 17:11). Once we use the rightly divided King James Bible to identify teaching that is “good,” we “hold fast” (seize, possess) it, and NEVER relinquish it. Any teaching to the contrary is sifted out, and mentally relegated to a permanent, inferior status.

We Christians should have an open mind, but we are not to use our intellect as a vacuum cleaner. We do not “suck up” everything, believing anything and everything. God’s Word has established parameters and principles, and it would be utter stupidity to ignore them as though we knew better, as though we were God.

To college students just beginning the first semester, and to high school students considering college, you would do well to memorize today’s Scripture and repeat it to yourself through your collegiate experience. Your young mind is pliable, meaning that it is easily persuaded. Thus, God’s Word admonishes us to be careful what we believe. In college, you will learn a lot of interesting information, teachings that do not contradict the Holy Scriptures. Yet, you will also hear, see, and read a lot of nonsense. You need to be able to use God’s Word rightly divided to discern (judge) that which is good, and filter out that which is garbage.

I wish you all the best for the upcoming school year! 🙂

Why Animals Fear Man

Saturday, August 18, 2012

“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered” (Genesis 9:2 KJV).

Today’s Scripture explains why animals flee from and/or attack encroaching humans.

In the beginning humans and animals lived together harmoniously. Actually, God brought to Adam all the fowls of the air and all the beasts of the field so that he could name them (Genesis 2:19,20)—yes, that would include dinosaurs! Humans and animals were originally herbivores, meaning their diets consisted strictly of plants (herbs, nuts/seeds, fruits, vegetables, et cetera), not flesh (Genesis 1:29,30).

But, once Adam sinned, the diet of man and animals changed. Here, in today’s Scripture, Noah and his family have survived the Great Flood, and they are now exiting the ark. God’s instructions are: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 9:1). This is basically what God told Adam and Eve some 1,600 years earlier (Genesis 1:28), but now God adds a stipulation: Noah can eat flesh.

The LORD tells Noah in Genesis 9:3: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” Mankind can now eat any creature: he has to first catch or trap it! But, to make it fair, God instilled within animals the mechanism to flee from us humans, and to attack us when we invade their habitats. Here is one example of where science disagrees with the Bible: scientists (wrongly) classify man as a “higher evolved animal,” whereas God’s Word differentiates between humans and animals.

Today, we do not observe Israel’s kosher food laws (Colossians 2:16). We can eat any animal we choose: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4,5). You can eat any and every animal, but first you must catch it! 🙂