Taken from the book Knowing God, chapter 12.
The Love of God
When we say God is love, the statement means that His love finds expression in everything that He says and Does.
I think to us personally is the supreme comfort for Christians, as believers, in the cross of Christ assurance that we, as individuals, are beloved of God. Whereby the Son of man loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
God so love us that he gave his only son Jesus Christ to be our Savior, and bring us to know and to enjoy Him in a covenant relation.
Knowing this, we are able to apply the promise that all things work together for good to us who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Note, not just some thing, but all things!
Every single thing that happens to us expressed God’s love to us, at every moment and in every events of every day’s life.
Even thou we cannot see why and how of God’s dealings, one thing we know for sure that there is love in and behind it.
God’s love towards sinners
We are undeserved, but God still show grace and mercy towards us sinners where by we sin and corrupt in God’s sight.
God loves people because He has chosen to love them.
Duet 7:8- But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
No reason for His love to be given to save his own sovereign good pleasure.
Even when a sinners repents, there will be exceeding joy
- Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
There is no doubt according to the scripture that such is the love of God.
God’s love formed before creation, in
Eph1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love…
God choice and selection to those whom He would bless and, appointed the benefits to be obtain and enjoyed.
So we ought to give thanks to God
2 Thessalonians 2:13- But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
God’s love to sinners was expressed by the gift of His one and only son Jesus Christ to be our saviour.
1 John 4:9- This is how God show his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
The love measure love of God is the gift of His only son Jesus Christ, to become human, to die for our sins, and so to become the one mediator who can reconcile to bring us to God.
God, who did not spare his own Son, but gave His son for us all.
Most Popular verse John 3:16-
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This is love: not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent His only son as an atoning sacrifice once and for all for our sins.
Romans 5:8- God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So lets give thanks to God for what He has done for us. Through the love and grace of Jesus Christ by dying on the cross and His precious blood, we are redeemed and saved.
Questions to ask you and me included…
Do I ever allow myself to grow cold and half-hearted in the service of the Lord who loves me so?
-Last verse from 1 john 4:11-
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Meditate upon these things and to examine us.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
God Unchanging
Taken from a book Knowing God Chapter 7. My Book Review :)
Two Different World
As we read the bible, we get to read God dealing with people like Abraham, Moses, David and the rest of them thousand years ago.
We also get to read about Jesus Christ doing miracles, arguing with Jews, dying for sinners, rising from death and ascending to heaven.
It all seems very far away.
We even may think it all belongs to the world, not to this world.
It is true that in terms of space, time and culture, and the historical epoch to which they belonged, are very far away from us.
So how can the past links up to the world now?
The link is God himself.
The exact same God whom they had to so in the past thousand years and the same God with whom we have to do now.
God does not change in the least particular and is the truth of God's immutability. (unchangeable, changeless)
1. God's life does not change.
In Jeremiah 10:10, the verse says - But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.
Psalm 102:26-27 - They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
God did not need to be made, for He is always there. He exists forever, and He always the same.
He created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so for the Creator.
-God is already perfect.
-He does not grow old
-He does not gain new powers nor lose those that He once had.
-He does not get stronger, or weaker, or wiser, at time goes by.
The difference between God the Creator and creatures(us) is that we, creatures are mutable and nature admits of change where by we will grow old, will go weaker etc... at times goes by.
Whereas God is immutable and can never cease to be what He is.
2.God's character does not change.
In course of a human life, we change radically, in terms of our taste, outlook and temper. A kind person may turns bitter.
A person's good-will may grow cynical (Distrustful) and maybe callous (Emotionally hardened; unfeeling)
But nothing of this sort happens to God
* He never become LESS trustful, or merciful, or faithful and gracious than used to be.
The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion in sin.
Yet God discipline and punishes the children, he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
The character of God is today, and always be exactly what it was in the Bible.
3.God's truth does not change
We people sometimes say things differently to express to the same topic or a thing, simply because our view changes. We find that we can no longer stand to the words we have said in the past.
We sometimes even recall our words, because we ceased to express what we think.
The words of human being are unstable.
But not so for the words of God.
The word of God stand forever.
No circumstances no change of His own thinking will prompt him or to amend (to change for the better, improvement) to rectify (to remove or correct faults) in his words.
Psalm 119:89- Your word, O Lord, is eternal, it stands FIRM in the heavens
The word 'firm' in the verse carries out the idea of stability in God's word.
Every word God's says in the bible throughout generations, so long as this world last, it last forever.
John 10:35- The word of God came and the scripture cannot be broken.
4. God's way and purpose do not change
God still continue to bless those whom He love and people who humble themselves.
Hates the sins of his people, discipline and punish us from compromise and disobedience.
Teachers us believers to value God's promised, pray persistently so on before God bestow them.
God's aims, principle of action still remain consistent, God's dealing with his people in the scripture record is still how God deals with us still.
Psalm 33:11- But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations
God's plan are made on the basis of a complete knowledge and control extend to the past, present and future.
Bible, the living word of God.
The first Bible will be the last. God has already planned in the beginning when the world has formed till revelation whereby the believers of God will be lifted to heaven and to be reconcile with Him in his heavenly throne.
God's son does not change
Hebrew 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
-He never change, it still remain true that those people who come to Him will be save completely. And he lives to intercede for us.
Hebrew 7:25- Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Conclusion- So where is the sense of distance and difference between Bible times and believers now?
Remember, God does not change. So let us continue to fellowship with Him, trust His word, live by faith and to stand on the promises of God forever.
Two Different World
As we read the bible, we get to read God dealing with people like Abraham, Moses, David and the rest of them thousand years ago.
We also get to read about Jesus Christ doing miracles, arguing with Jews, dying for sinners, rising from death and ascending to heaven.
It all seems very far away.
We even may think it all belongs to the world, not to this world.
It is true that in terms of space, time and culture, and the historical epoch to which they belonged, are very far away from us.
So how can the past links up to the world now?
The link is God himself.
The exact same God whom they had to so in the past thousand years and the same God with whom we have to do now.
God does not change in the least particular and is the truth of God's immutability. (unchangeable, changeless)
1. God's life does not change.
In Jeremiah 10:10, the verse says - But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.
Psalm 102:26-27 - They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
God did not need to be made, for He is always there. He exists forever, and He always the same.
He created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so for the Creator.
-God is already perfect.
-He does not grow old
-He does not gain new powers nor lose those that He once had.
-He does not get stronger, or weaker, or wiser, at time goes by.
The difference between God the Creator and creatures(us) is that we, creatures are mutable and nature admits of change where by we will grow old, will go weaker etc... at times goes by.
Whereas God is immutable and can never cease to be what He is.
2.God's character does not change.
In course of a human life, we change radically, in terms of our taste, outlook and temper. A kind person may turns bitter.
A person's good-will may grow cynical (Distrustful) and maybe callous (Emotionally hardened; unfeeling)
But nothing of this sort happens to God
* He never become LESS trustful, or merciful, or faithful and gracious than used to be.
The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion in sin.
Yet God discipline and punishes the children, he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
The character of God is today, and always be exactly what it was in the Bible.
3.God's truth does not change
We people sometimes say things differently to express to the same topic or a thing, simply because our view changes. We find that we can no longer stand to the words we have said in the past.
We sometimes even recall our words, because we ceased to express what we think.
The words of human being are unstable.
But not so for the words of God.
The word of God stand forever.
No circumstances no change of His own thinking will prompt him or to amend (to change for the better, improvement) to rectify (to remove or correct faults) in his words.
Psalm 119:89- Your word, O Lord, is eternal, it stands FIRM in the heavens
The word 'firm' in the verse carries out the idea of stability in God's word.
Every word God's says in the bible throughout generations, so long as this world last, it last forever.
John 10:35- The word of God came and the scripture cannot be broken.
4. God's way and purpose do not change
God still continue to bless those whom He love and people who humble themselves.
Hates the sins of his people, discipline and punish us from compromise and disobedience.
Teachers us believers to value God's promised, pray persistently so on before God bestow them.
God's aims, principle of action still remain consistent, God's dealing with his people in the scripture record is still how God deals with us still.
Psalm 33:11- But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations
God's plan are made on the basis of a complete knowledge and control extend to the past, present and future.
Bible, the living word of God.
The first Bible will be the last. God has already planned in the beginning when the world has formed till revelation whereby the believers of God will be lifted to heaven and to be reconcile with Him in his heavenly throne.
God's son does not change
Hebrew 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
-He never change, it still remain true that those people who come to Him will be save completely. And he lives to intercede for us.
Hebrew 7:25- Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Conclusion- So where is the sense of distance and difference between Bible times and believers now?
Remember, God does not change. So let us continue to fellowship with Him, trust His word, live by faith and to stand on the promises of God forever.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
God's kindness leads you to repentance.
Romans 2:4
King James Version
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
a. Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering: Paul points out that the moralist himself is presuming upon the goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God, which all should have brought the moralist into a humble repentance instead of an attitude of superiority.
i. Goodness may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our past sin. He has been good to us because He has not judged us yet though we deserve it.
ii. Forbearance may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our present sin. This very day - indeed, this very hour - we have fallen short of His glory, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iii. Longsuffering may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our future sin. He knows that we will sin tomorrow and the next day, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iv. Considering all this, it is no surprise that Paul describes these three aspects of God’s kindness to us as riches. The riches of God’s mercy is measured by four considerations:
His greatness - to wrong a great man is a great wrong and God is greatest of all - yet He shows mercy
His omniscience - if someone knew all our sin, would they show mercy? Yet God shows mercy
His power - sometimes wrongs are not settled because they are out of our power, yet God is able to settle every wrong against Him - yet He is rich in mercy
The object of His mercy, mere man - would we show mercy to an ant? Yet God is rich in mercy
v. Knowing how great God’s kindness is, it is a great sin to presume upon the graciousness of God, and we easily come to believe that we deserve it.
b. Men often see the forbearance and longsuffering of God as a weakness in God; they say things like “If there is a God in heaven, let Him strike me dead!” When it doesn’t happen, they will say, “See, I told you there was no God.” Men misinterpret God’s forbearance and longsuffering as His approval, and they refuse to repent.
i. “It seems to me that every morning when a man wakes up still impenitent, and finds himself out of hell, the sunlight seems to say, ‘I shine on thee yet another day, as that in this day thou mayest repent.’ When your bed receives you at night I think it seems to say, ‘I will give you another night' s rest, that you may live to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus.’ Every mouthful of bread that comes to the table says, ‘I have to support your body that still you may have space for repentance.’ Every time you open the Bible the pages say, ‘We speak with you that you may repent.’ Every time you hear a sermon, if it be such a sermon as God would have us preach, it pleads with you to turn unto the Lord and live.” (Spurgeon)
i. Men should see the goodness of God and understand:
- God has been better to them than they deserve
- God has shown them kindness when they have ignored Him
- God has shown them kindness when they have mocked Him
- God is not a cruel master and they may safely surrender to Him
- God is perfectly willing to forgive them
- God should be served out of simple gratitude
King James Version
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
a. Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering: Paul points out that the moralist himself is presuming upon the goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God, which all should have brought the moralist into a humble repentance instead of an attitude of superiority.
i. Goodness may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our past sin. He has been good to us because He has not judged us yet though we deserve it.
ii. Forbearance may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our present sin. This very day - indeed, this very hour - we have fallen short of His glory, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iii. Longsuffering may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our future sin. He knows that we will sin tomorrow and the next day, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iv. Considering all this, it is no surprise that Paul describes these three aspects of God’s kindness to us as riches. The riches of God’s mercy is measured by four considerations:
His greatness - to wrong a great man is a great wrong and God is greatest of all - yet He shows mercy
His omniscience - if someone knew all our sin, would they show mercy? Yet God shows mercy
His power - sometimes wrongs are not settled because they are out of our power, yet God is able to settle every wrong against Him - yet He is rich in mercy
The object of His mercy, mere man - would we show mercy to an ant? Yet God is rich in mercy
v. Knowing how great God’s kindness is, it is a great sin to presume upon the graciousness of God, and we easily come to believe that we deserve it.
b. Men often see the forbearance and longsuffering of God as a weakness in God; they say things like “If there is a God in heaven, let Him strike me dead!” When it doesn’t happen, they will say, “See, I told you there was no God.” Men misinterpret God’s forbearance and longsuffering as His approval, and they refuse to repent.
i. “It seems to me that every morning when a man wakes up still impenitent, and finds himself out of hell, the sunlight seems to say, ‘I shine on thee yet another day, as that in this day thou mayest repent.’ When your bed receives you at night I think it seems to say, ‘I will give you another night' s rest, that you may live to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus.’ Every mouthful of bread that comes to the table says, ‘I have to support your body that still you may have space for repentance.’ Every time you open the Bible the pages say, ‘We speak with you that you may repent.’ Every time you hear a sermon, if it be such a sermon as God would have us preach, it pleads with you to turn unto the Lord and live.” (Spurgeon)
i. Men should see the goodness of God and understand:
- God has been better to them than they deserve
- God has shown them kindness when they have ignored Him
- God has shown them kindness when they have mocked Him
- God is not a cruel master and they may safely surrender to Him
- God is perfectly willing to forgive them
- God should be served out of simple gratitude
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Precious are WE.
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked. "Who will like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple up up the $20 dollar bill.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
Well he replied, "what if I do this?"
And he dropped it on the ground
and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"
Still the hands were into the air.
My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what i did to the money,
you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.
It still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground
into a dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that comes our way.
What feels as though we are worthless.
But no matter what has happened and what will happen,
you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased,
you are still priceless to your Creator and those who love you.
The worth of our lives comes not in What we do or what we know,
but by WHO WE ARE
and WHOSE WE ARE.
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow,
nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet, you heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?
-- Matthew 6:26 --
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Sacrifice!
I went to see and supported my cousin Meiling and our church brother James in a play at one of the church. After the play, There this Youth Pastor called Pastor Andrew came to share his unusual sad expierence that he had gone through each year.
he shared one of the true story with us that was held in Phillippines. It was out in news paper as well in Phillippines. Is sad to hear the news, you may say that the driver was crazy and out of his mind to do that. But that was how God sacrificed His only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for the people on earth. Whosoever believe, shall be Saved and have this gift FREE that is Eternal life.
I copied the story from Yu'an's blog. Pls read!
once he went with a friend to philippines..
and one day the friend asked him along to visit a man..
this man was just an ordinary man like the rest of the pple..
he was probabbly just rather frail though..
this man had a story..
he was a bus driver and he ferried children to and fro from sch each day..
he had a 6yr old son..a very cute and lovable little child, whom he loved alot..
this little boy also loved his dad alot..
this man told his son that he would send him home from school everyday when he fetched the afternoon shift to school..
he told his son to stand on one side of the road, the side where the padi field was, to wait for him...
one day, the brakes of the bus gave way and the man was unable to stop the bus at all..
he had 2 choices, one of which was to turn left, but the 40 children in the bus would thus lose their lives..
the second was to turn right, where his beloved son was standing, but the bus would be able to stop and the 40 children would be saved, as the bus would be slowed down by the padi field...
he didnt know what to do..
but at that moment he knew he had to save these 40 kids..
he saw his son by the road waving and calling out to him..
and at that instant he turned right into the padi field, killing his son on the spot..
but the 40 children survived..
it was all over the news..
with tears in his eyes, the man told the pastor, "this was the right thing to do"
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ)
Whosoever BELIEVE shall not PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE. Amen!
he shared one of the true story with us that was held in Phillippines. It was out in news paper as well in Phillippines. Is sad to hear the news, you may say that the driver was crazy and out of his mind to do that. But that was how God sacrificed His only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for the people on earth. Whosoever believe, shall be Saved and have this gift FREE that is Eternal life.
I copied the story from Yu'an's blog. Pls read!
once he went with a friend to philippines..
and one day the friend asked him along to visit a man..
this man was just an ordinary man like the rest of the pple..
he was probabbly just rather frail though..
this man had a story..
he was a bus driver and he ferried children to and fro from sch each day..
he had a 6yr old son..a very cute and lovable little child, whom he loved alot..
this little boy also loved his dad alot..
this man told his son that he would send him home from school everyday when he fetched the afternoon shift to school..
he told his son to stand on one side of the road, the side where the padi field was, to wait for him...
one day, the brakes of the bus gave way and the man was unable to stop the bus at all..
he had 2 choices, one of which was to turn left, but the 40 children in the bus would thus lose their lives..
the second was to turn right, where his beloved son was standing, but the bus would be able to stop and the 40 children would be saved, as the bus would be slowed down by the padi field...
he didnt know what to do..
but at that moment he knew he had to save these 40 kids..
he saw his son by the road waving and calling out to him..
and at that instant he turned right into the padi field, killing his son on the spot..
but the 40 children survived..
it was all over the news..
with tears in his eyes, the man told the pastor, "this was the right thing to do"
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ)
Whosoever BELIEVE shall not PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE. Amen!
Although in many other churches have this play as well or you had seen it many times.
I pray that each time as you see this video, you will be reminded that God is always there for you to save and help you. May you reflect upon Jesus Christ, what He had done for you.
God Bless!
Video was taken from 'God Tube', Not 'You Tube'.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The difference between Science and God
recently this email has been passing around to lots of people. I received twice and i find it worth reading it and the argument between the professor and a student are quite interesting. Can use it to share the gospel.
The DIFFERENCE
--------------------------
Science and God
'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his
new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a
moment.
'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you
can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if
you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He
doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even
though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of
water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'
'Er...yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student : 'From...God...'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there
evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything,
correct?'
'Yes.'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to
the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:
'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?'
The student: 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his
question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in
Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you
use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen
Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or
smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus
Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable
protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that,
son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem
science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a
question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.
The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat,
mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we
don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below
zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is
no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have
or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it.'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as
darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night
if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the
absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright
light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have
Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to
define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able
to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is
flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student
explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good
God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something
finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a
thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much
less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life
is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive
thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they
evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young
man, yes, of course I do'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he
realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work
and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you
not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the
Commotion has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other
student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class
who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into
laughter.
'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain,
felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No
one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no
brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain,
how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the
student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I
guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists
with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We
see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at
least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.
It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe
the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when
man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold
that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there
is no light.'
The professor sat down.
The DIFFERENCE
--------------------------
Science and God
'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his
new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a
moment.
'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you
can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if
you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He
doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even
though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of
water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'
'Er...yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student : 'From...God...'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there
evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything,
correct?'
'Yes.'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to
the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:
'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?'
The student: 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his
question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in
Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you
use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen
Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or
smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus
Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable
protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that,
son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem
science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a
question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.
The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat,
mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we
don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below
zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is
no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have
or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it.'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as
darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night
if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the
absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright
light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have
Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to
define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able
to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is
flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student
explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good
God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something
finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a
thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much
less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life
is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive
thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they
evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young
man, yes, of course I do'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he
realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work
and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you
not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the
Commotion has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other
student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class
who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into
laughter.
'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain,
felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No
one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no
brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain,
how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the
student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I
guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists
with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We
see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at
least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.
It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe
the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when
man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold
that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there
is no light.'
The professor sat down.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Trust His Timing, by Tom Norvell
One of the features of my new mobile phone is a clock that allows me to
see the time in multiple time zones, set an alarm, use a stopwatch, and
time an event. When I take a walk, I usually set the timer for about
fifteen minutes short of the length of time I want to walk. That way, I
can decide the route for the last part of the walk. For instance, if I
plan to walk for an hour, I will set the time on my phone for 45
minutes. Invariably, I will check the timer a number of times before
the alarm sounds.
Is this thing working?
Did it sound and I did not hear it?
Has something malfunctioned?
Thus far, the alarm has never failed to work. I have never walked an
extra hour by accident. The device has never failed to perform as it is
designed to do. Yet, I still have a feeling of distrust in the clock.
The same thing happens as I walk through life, trying to live on God's
time-table.
I have read the instructions from His word about trusting Him. I am
listening to God, praying for His will to be done. I believe that He is
working even though I cannot see it. I know that the Father is in
charge. I know that nothing will happen that escapes His view. I know
that He cares for me. I know that the Lord has always dealt, and will
always deal, with me according to His justice and goodness. However,
there are still times when I have difficulty trusting His timing.
I have discovered three realities about trusting His timing.
I have learned that His timing is always right!
First, trusting His timing is sometimes hard. There are times when I
eagerly lay my cares down, but then I decide not to wait for God to
work and pick them back up again. There are other times when my
concerns must be ripped from my hands. My doubts and fears take over:
What if He does not listen? What if He hears the wrong thing? What if
He chooses to act in a way that I do not like? Or worse, what if He
chooses not to act at all? I have swallowed hard when He responded with
"No," and I have laid awake at night wrestling with His answers that
appear to be, "Not now."
Second, trusting His timing is sometimes easy. There are times when
waiting for God to work His plan is easy. Laying my concerns at the
feet of the Lord and leaving them there comes naturally. I have
experienced answered prayer soon after making the request. I receive
his "Yes" with joy and gratitude. I receive His "No" with patience and
trust.
Third, whether easy or difficult: I have learned over life and from His
word, that the Father's timing is always right.
Solomon said it this way:
He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has
done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV).
You may be in a waiting time. Waiting for the answer. Waiting for
direction. Waiting for peace. Waiting for hope. Waiting for healing.
Waiting for victory. Doubt and uncertainty may have set in. You may be
left with questions and fears.
Whatever is the focus of your wait, trust His timing ... it is always
right.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
see the time in multiple time zones, set an alarm, use a stopwatch, and
time an event. When I take a walk, I usually set the timer for about
fifteen minutes short of the length of time I want to walk. That way, I
can decide the route for the last part of the walk. For instance, if I
plan to walk for an hour, I will set the time on my phone for 45
minutes. Invariably, I will check the timer a number of times before
the alarm sounds.
Is this thing working?
Did it sound and I did not hear it?
Has something malfunctioned?
Thus far, the alarm has never failed to work. I have never walked an
extra hour by accident. The device has never failed to perform as it is
designed to do. Yet, I still have a feeling of distrust in the clock.
The same thing happens as I walk through life, trying to live on God's
time-table.
I have read the instructions from His word about trusting Him. I am
listening to God, praying for His will to be done. I believe that He is
working even though I cannot see it. I know that the Father is in
charge. I know that nothing will happen that escapes His view. I know
that He cares for me. I know that the Lord has always dealt, and will
always deal, with me according to His justice and goodness. However,
there are still times when I have difficulty trusting His timing.
I have discovered three realities about trusting His timing.
I have learned that His timing is always right!
First, trusting His timing is sometimes hard. There are times when I
eagerly lay my cares down, but then I decide not to wait for God to
work and pick them back up again. There are other times when my
concerns must be ripped from my hands. My doubts and fears take over:
What if He does not listen? What if He hears the wrong thing? What if
He chooses to act in a way that I do not like? Or worse, what if He
chooses not to act at all? I have swallowed hard when He responded with
"No," and I have laid awake at night wrestling with His answers that
appear to be, "Not now."
Second, trusting His timing is sometimes easy. There are times when
waiting for God to work His plan is easy. Laying my concerns at the
feet of the Lord and leaving them there comes naturally. I have
experienced answered prayer soon after making the request. I receive
his "Yes" with joy and gratitude. I receive His "No" with patience and
trust.
Third, whether easy or difficult: I have learned over life and from His
word, that the Father's timing is always right.
Solomon said it this way:
He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has
done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV).
You may be in a waiting time. Waiting for the answer. Waiting for
direction. Waiting for peace. Waiting for hope. Waiting for healing.
Waiting for victory. Doubt and uncertainty may have set in. You may be
left with questions and fears.
Whatever is the focus of your wait, trust His timing ... it is always
right.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Turning Point
When I first met Joe, he was a hard-drinking man. Some of his neighbours saw him as a trouble-maker. My initial efforts to help him were completely unsuccessful. He said he didn't want anything to do with Christ or Christians because he had seen too much hypocrisy in the church.
A short time after his wife's death, Joe surprised many people by coming to a church service. He received a cordial welcome and started to attend regularly. We put no pressure on Him to become a Christian but trusted the Holy Spirit to do His. About four weeks later, on a Monday morning, he rang our doorbell, came in , sat down, and said, "Pastor, the first time I met you I told you how rotten I thought everyone else was, but now I see how bad I am. Last night I got down on my knees and asked Jesus to save me."
Joe's life was transformed when he stopped making excuses and admitted his own sinfulness. That was also true of the wayward son in today's reading. When he hit bottom, he said, " I will arise and go to my father, and will say to Him, 'Father, I have sinned (Lk. 15:18)
The turning point for all of us comes when we acknowledge our need and accept God's offer of forgiveness.
Forgive me, Father, for my sins, the many wrongs that I have done; help me to turn from evil ways and follow Jesus Christ, Your Son
Father, I have sinned against heaven..., and am no longer worthy to be called your son Luke 15:21
A short time after his wife's death, Joe surprised many people by coming to a church service. He received a cordial welcome and started to attend regularly. We put no pressure on Him to become a Christian but trusted the Holy Spirit to do His. About four weeks later, on a Monday morning, he rang our doorbell, came in , sat down, and said, "Pastor, the first time I met you I told you how rotten I thought everyone else was, but now I see how bad I am. Last night I got down on my knees and asked Jesus to save me."
Joe's life was transformed when he stopped making excuses and admitted his own sinfulness. That was also true of the wayward son in today's reading. When he hit bottom, he said, " I will arise and go to my father, and will say to Him, 'Father, I have sinned (Lk. 15:18)
The turning point for all of us comes when we acknowledge our need and accept God's offer of forgiveness.
Forgive me, Father, for my sins, the many wrongs that I have done; help me to turn from evil ways and follow Jesus Christ, Your Son
Father, I have sinned against heaven..., and am no longer worthy to be called your son Luke 15:21
Thursday, January 17, 2008
"Look At Me"
It was one of those split-second exchanges between a 16-year-old girl and her father, but it spoke volumes. While he was out of town, she had broken her curfew and stayed out too late with her boyfriend. Now she had to talk to Dad about it. Embarrassed and afraid, she sat quietly looking down at her hands in her lap while the discussion went on. She apologized and they decided on a suitable discipline.
"Look at me," Dad said. She didn't want to, but she did. Instead of a hard look of displeasure, she saw tears and a look of deep love. She threw her arms around him, and they both knew that everything would be all right between them.
To keep everything right between us and our heavenly Father, we have to seek His face(Ps. 27:8). We may feel guilt, disappointment, anger or hurt towards God. But that is when we must respond to His invitation to look to Him especially if fellowship has been broken.
Our greatest concern should be the fear of loosing a close relationship with Him. Our greatest delight should be seeing His face in the Word and through the wonderful privilege of prayer. That way we will have the assurance that everything is all right between us.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, ... then I will forgive their sin. 2 Chronicles 7:14
"Look at me," Dad said. She didn't want to, but she did. Instead of a hard look of displeasure, she saw tears and a look of deep love. She threw her arms around him, and they both knew that everything would be all right between them.
To keep everything right between us and our heavenly Father, we have to seek His face(Ps. 27:8). We may feel guilt, disappointment, anger or hurt towards God. But that is when we must respond to His invitation to look to Him especially if fellowship has been broken.
Our greatest concern should be the fear of loosing a close relationship with Him. Our greatest delight should be seeing His face in the Word and through the wonderful privilege of prayer. That way we will have the assurance that everything is all right between us.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, ... then I will forgive their sin. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)