April 1, 2022
A calculation too big to be an accident
"If the overall density of the universe were changed by even 0.0000000000001 percent, no stars or galaxies could be formed. If the rate of expansion one second after the Big Bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, the universe would have recollapsed before it reached its present state." (A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking).
The quote above was borrowed from a book written by Eric Metaxas, Is Atheism Dead, at page 56. We borrow the quote to set the stage for scientists who put their faith in man's "power of reason". Metaxas carefully uses modern day man's "power of reason" (i.e., scientists) to assert that the universe is so "finely tuned" that it was no accident. In the same book, Metaxas postures that what the scientists have finally discovered is what the theologian already knew, and he uses another quote from a well-received scientist in the academy of the learned, to sum it up pretty succinctly: "The discovery of a definite cosmic beginning is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but the theologians. They have always accepted the word of the Bible: In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.... It is unexpected because science has had such extraordinary success in trying the chain of cause and effect backward in time. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountain of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries." [("Is Atheism Dead", by Eric Metaxas, page 34), quoting ("God and the Astronomers", by Robert Jastrow"].
For our little part, we press forward to scale the highest peak of "knowledge, understanding, and then to wisdom". We press forward to understand the laws of nature--to understand the laws of the universe--we press forward to understand the truth of everything seen and unseen. We press forward to know God.
March 23, 2022
JUDGES AND JUSTICE
"He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, 'Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.'" 2 Chronicles 19:5-7.
Truth and Justice are perfectly determined, adjudicated, and administered by the Lord God. And thus, the instruction, as stated above, should be with God's imprimatur to judges in a nation proclaiming sovereignty under Him.
To not follow this guidance leads to evil being called good, and good being called evil.
March 10, 2022
We came across this writing in a pocket size Gideon New Testament, copyrighted in 1968 (1987 Edition), which is worth the read:
"The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you,
It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."
February 4, 2022
"On Earth as it is in Heaven."
Within the Lord's prayer (as recited above) and 500 times in scripture, "Heaven" is mentioned. And when you are in the quiet, in clear conscience, away from worldly matters--we think the soul of every human tries to connect to Heaven.
You may disagree but as death is brought to mind, the focus of Heaven is prioritized to the top of the list.
Figuratively speaking, we think it is built into the DNA.
Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not, it is the greatest thing. If only we could focus on Heaven throughout our daily chores.
February 10, 2022
"And He said to Him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man'" John 1:51
"Heaven will open"--and using simple logic, we can conclude that Heaven is mostly "closed" to the earth. No matter how hard we try, we cannot get to Heaven by any humanly possible way. No aircraft, no spaceship, no vehicle can get us to Heaven. The laws of physics stop at the boundary line between Heaven and the universe that we can physically touch, see, and experience. The only transport to Heaven that we know is that one must believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, buried and resurrected and then you must physically die believing this. That is the only way to get to Heaven. We are on this side and our earthy rational reason consumes and stifles our thinking.