Post a comment
Do you have any heroes? Last night I sat with 24 of them! Do you know what it is like sitting with the “stars?” It’s humbling and moving. So who were they? NFL football players? Soldiers? Actors? No. These were just ordinary people who are doing extra-ordinary things. They are straightforward people like Carl, a telephone man all his life, who has chosen to dedicate his life to Christ. His steadfast commitment to Christ has changed the world for un-numbered people. Unruly kids who he has taught weekly in Sunday School, who are now walking with the Lord. Adults he has influenced because he never gives up on them. It’s just his way. And he’s only one of the stories. There were 24 of them there last night! Each one committing themselves to the Lord and to some area of service! It is truly phenomenal to be a part of a church where that happens. We praise God for our heroes!
Today’s Scripture reading is 1 1 Samuel 5; Proverbs 24; Luke 24:36-52
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Today’s thought comes from 2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
What are the top three evidences for Christianity? How do we know it is true, and how do we know that what the Bible says about the future will come true? Here they are… #1 the resurrection. That’s THE premiere evidence. If Christ is not risen our faith is in vain… but now Christ is risen from the dead. #2 Creation. If God created the universe then we are accountable to Him… the heavens declare the glory of God! #3 The flood! If there was a worldwide flood, it provides powerful evidence for Christ’s return. The flood last time, the fire next time. Peter uses #2 and #3 as his case for Christ’s return. There is a huge body of evidence that exists demonstrating the reality of Creation that they don’t teach you in the secular classroom. Why would they? To do so would be to admit that there is a God and that they are accountable to Him… so it’s best to dismiss those “crazy creationists.” There are hundreds of good books written about the subject. If you need a few titles, just ask, but let me outline a few reasons why it makes good sense to believe in Creationism and the God of creation. It is a universally accepted truth… anything that exists had a designer and creator. Your house, your birthday cake, a beautiful picture… everything created had a creator. In fact the most nonsensical statement in the world just might be that the “nonexistent universe” created itself! How could something that did not exist develop the brains and the mechanism to make itself? This is what I like to call evolution’s imaginary friend! A second reason I believe in creationism is because everything is running down and breaking down… another universal truth. I’m getting older, my house is aging, my truck keeps breaking down, the sun is getting older… everything in the universe is aging. Everything isn’t getting better, it’s breaking down! That means that at one time it was younger and at its youngest point it was brought into existence. I was born, my truck was built in Detroit, some contractor cut some trees down and my house got built… the sun flashed into existence along with the rest of the universe. But things do not get newer and younger and better. That’s what evolution requires. It requires that everything started on a small scale and grew up into more complex things. That would be like saying my lawn, left to itself will become nicely manicured and weed free! Not a chance. It takes hard work to maintain it and just a few short seasons to destroy it! Not a fertile ground for evolution. Hey, but I’m out of time… more on this tomorrow.
Dear Almighty Creator. I do believe that you created the universe. I stand in awe of the trees of the forest. I am filled with wonder by your rivers and streams. You have made this world a place of unbelievable beauty and diversity! The heavens truly declare your glory and so do I!
It is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure
|
