Tag Archives: God

Making sense of it

21 Wednesday Mar 2018

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There is no meaning to life without there being meaning in life; but meaning in life is generated from one of two sources. It is either something generated from within, or it is something generated from without. Solomon sought to determine meaning to life from the source within (“under the sun”), but he could make no sense of it. He determined that meaning in life can only be understood when there is recognition that life comes from God, and only this way can one make sense of the perplexities of life that man has contributed to and corrupted so badly, and even then he can hardly make sense of it. Nevertheless, the recognition that life came from God is important, but it is only the foundation from which one builds his/her life; the follow-up is to obey the “giver-of-life,” or God.

Many people (most people) assign meaning to life, but they are not sure if the meaning individually assigned is correct, and British philosopher John Powys saw this clearly in his reply to Will Durant’s inquiry; in the meantime, a person does the best one can. In the end, however, one perhaps wonders why he/she even existed in the first place! What is my place in the world? Why was I born at this time and in this place? What did I do to make the world better? Why did I use this standard of right/wrong rather than that standard of right/wrong? Will anyone remember me? What is my legacy? And on and on the questions are asked. Without clarity of knowledge and understanding, the last remaining bit of hope is taken away when life is over because the individually assigned meaning is vanity.

No compelling reason (a word to the wise)

01 Tuesday Mar 2016

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The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil (Proverbs 16:4, KJV). The first half of the proverb is easy enough to understand, but it is the latter half that causes some a degree of difficulty. Let us consider the first half. When the Almighty created all that exist, He created it for himself. There was no compelling reason for Him to do that which He did. From our underneath perspective (as part of the creation), this might be perplexing. Whatever we know concerning that which the Lord did will only be the result of Him saying something about it in the Bible. In the second half of the verse, are we to understand the Lord to have made the wicked for the day of evil? Some have actually used this verse to teach that the Lord made people wicked! This is utterly false, however. Who are the wicked and why were they made for the day of evil? “Evil” in this verse pertains to the day of judgment. Adam Clarke wrote, “He does not make the wicked or ungodly man; but when man has made himself such, even then God bears with him. But if he repent not, when the measure of his iniquity is filled up, he shall fall under the wrath of God his Maker.” RT

Man & God’s Wisdom

08 Friday Jan 2016

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In the grand scheme of this world’s existence, there are competing philosophies. There is a philosophy that says the material universe has always existed. From this material universe that has always existed comes what man knows to be life. In other words, in the long ago there was nothing but inanimate material that corresponded to rocks and dirt. At some time in the past from this inanimate existence (rocks and dirt) came animate existence (or life). How this is explained is never accomplished.

Another philosophy that gives some explanation to this material universe is the belief that the material universe came into existence, but the source of its existence is itself. In other words, at one time in the long past NOTHING existed. This nothing means there was no one thing; there was absolutely nothing (zero, zip, notta) that existed. Suddenly and without explanation, something came into existence. Some call this a “big bang.” There is an inherent problem with this philosophy, however. If nothing existed in the past, since nothing can only “create” nothing, then it is absolutely the case that nothing produces (creates) nothing—and we don’t exist! Complete nonsense, but some actually believe it.

A third philosophy gives explanation to the material universe by saying that, indeed, there was creation by a source, but that source is unknown. This third philosophy is more in accord with the evidence, but there is a strong determination to keep God, especially the Christian God out of the picture.

A fourth philosophy says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis  1:1-2, KJV).

In giving explanation, scientists are just as much controlled by religious fervor as just about anyone else. Their religious fervor in is making certain that whatever explanation is given to explain the material universe and life within it, it can’t be God, especially God as described in Scripture, the Bible. Why such religious devotion? There may be many reasons, but at least one of them pertains to morality. If the Scriptures are correct in its declarations then there is such a thing as right and wrong and, more than that, there is a judgment day coming. People don’t want to be trouble by such ways of thinking.

Near the end of his life, Joshua told the people of Israel they needed to be very courageous and do all the things written in the Law of Moses (Joshua 23:6-7). This exhortation given them is one that, in part, we need also to hear. In this world with the competing ideologies, there are a great many that mock Christians because of their acceptance of a world-view that has at its source Almighty God. “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:19-20).

What a contrast to the “wisdom” man offers!

A Lonely Teenage Girl?

02 Wednesday Dec 2015

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Sometimes the pain in life generates thoughts that astounds and depresses people who hear of them. If that is so, then imagine the one who labors with the thoughts continuously. Recently, a brother shared a discouraging thought expressed on a sheet of paper by one who was (and evidently is) lonely. This loneliness, however, is not what you might imagine. Read what he shared not long ago:

Each November, our congregation puts up a “thankful tree” on a wall.  Over the course of several weeks members are invited to write on a paper leaf something or someone they are thankful for.  They don’t have to sign their leaves.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we have a devotional rather than regularly scheduled Bible classes.

We sing various hymns and chorus of praise and thanksgiving.  We pray.  We have a congregational reading of Psalm 107 interspersed between the songs.  And we have our elders read from the leaves at four different points in the devotional.

This year, one leaf I did not have read aloud made the following comment:

“I’m thankful for murderers.  Not because they kill people.  I hate that, but just because they set a certin balence in the world.  They make it to where we don’t over-populate.  It’s called saving the animals and the economy.”

It is printed in a “female” hand, like that of a teenager.  It is unsigned.  I do not believe it is a bad joke.  I suspect I know which one of our teen girls wrote it for she has always looked at the world sideways and comes from a troubled family.

Regardless of “who,” the content is troubling and well illustrates how the world has a greater influence on the thinking of some of our members than the Word does.  The challenge is how to minister to those of our members who are still falling for Satan’s invite to take a bite of the fruit of the “tree of knowledge”.

 

Loneliness can be felt when one is not loved or liked. One can feel lonely when there is a feeling of abandonment or there is much conflict at home. What is the meaning or purpose of one’s life?

The trouble in the lives of some families simply can’t be described. I have been fortunate in my growing up years wherein thoughts like the one expressed above never entered into my mind. I was not unlike other teenagers, but these kinds of thoughts were foreign to me.

As a preacher and an elder how can I help?

As a parent how can I help?

As a grandparent how can I help?

As a peer how can I help?

I don’t have a particular answer. I know what helps me, and I am convinced that what helps me will help one who thinks like this. Is there something physiologically wrong with her? Perhaps. Is there some psychologically wrong with her? Perhaps. Maybe both apply. If so, then medical attention might be required.

On the other hand, spiritually speaking, the Lord has the only solution available to man (both males and females) that will help one in this life and pull them through and into the life God has prepared for those who love Him.

 

Wisdom’s Origin

03 Monday Aug 2015

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Is wisdom found among those living in this world? According to Job it is not (Job 28:12-28). Let us be sure to understand Job’s point, however. Job recognizes that wisdom is in this world, but the wisdom that is in this world is not a wisdom within man to generate. In fact, there is nothing in man that is able to generate wisdom – that is, a wisdom that understands what is really significant about this world and one’s travel to the next.

To be sure, many in this world have the word “wise” ascribed to them by others. In worldly matters there may be some wisdom. The wisdom they ascribe, however, is only a perceived wisdom. What will that wisdom do for them? In the end it will do very little, even if it has done much for them in this material world.

It will do little because the wisdom of the world looks upon the wisdom of God as being nothing but silliness and wishful thinking. These same people who arrogantly dismiss the Lord’s wisdom have no wisdom to help them with the prospect of death and what is on the other side. In their final breath they are screaming out how wrong they have been.

Though there is in man no inherent wisdom that is able to change a man profoundly, as Job recognized, the wisdom that does change man in a profound way is that wisdom that is of the Lord. “And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding'” (Job 28:28, ESV). RT

There Is A God And You Are Not Him

28 Thursday Mar 2013

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It had been said that Friedrich Nietzsche (German philosopher of the 19th century) once remarked: “There cannot be a God because if there were one, I could not believe that I was not he.” Nietzsche was the son of a Lutheran minister, but later in life shed himself of his father’s religion and, ultimately, became insane (Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Vol. 5, p. 505).

His sentiment is exactly the sentiment of a great many who believe in God. They don’t think it in so many words, but they do live it. These people are known as “practical” atheists. A practical atheist is one who lives as if there is no God, though there is belief that He exists. A practical atheist does not accept the notion of eternal accountability with regard to the way he (she) lives life. This approach to life encourages one to think God will see through personal failings and, in His mercy, save just the same. They have, in effect, become their own god because they judge themselves (and others) in a way that accords with one’s personal preference.

The Scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV).

God and Responsibility

03 Thursday Jan 2013

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Letter editor,

“Those of us that don’t believe in God, know the good or bad that comes to this nation is solely the work and responsibility of humans.”

In moral debate the terms “good” and “bad” are going to either be meaningless or not. If God does not exist, they are meaningless terms because the valuation that both terms represent is solely determined by the individual; what is “good” for one may be “bad” from the perspective of another. With such an approach there is no real way one can know.

On the other hand, since God exists, the terms “good” and “bad” can be measured by a standard that is transcendent of man, a standard of valuation that does not reside or originate with man.

The debate over the propriety of homosexual marriage is a case in point. To the atheist, agnostic, skeptic, and nominal believer in God, the desire for meaningless terms as part of our debate is the norm. The valuation of determining homosexual behavior as “good” is then confused because with no God there can be no ultimate determination of what is actually good. As soon as the idea of God is granted, then the debate moves from the sphere of man to the discussion of God’s will.

Since the Lord has revealed himself on the matter, and he has declared homosexual behavior to be “bad,” it is also the case that homosexual marriage is likewise “bad.”

Thus, the moral breakdown of society can be directly attributed to man’s rejection of God and the usurpation of his own will. This is seen not only in his own immoral behavior, but also with regard to who he supports in public office.