Not One Second

You can’t go back one second in time. That’s something that I often think about. It was in the back of my mind recently when our seven grandchildren were running around on our front lawn, as I was about to back my wife’s van out of the driveway. I checked behind the vehicle, then I rolled the window down and asked my grown son if any kids were behind me. They weren’t, so I backed up.

The next morning I found out that a well-known Christian artist lost a five-year-old daughter when his teenage son backed his van up and killed her. What an unspeakable tragedy for the family. It's a horror none of them will ever forget. I'm sure the instant the accident happened, they would have given anything to go back just one second in time.

No doubt the incident shook the faith of some. How could God allow such a thing to happen? Some will even conclude that God must not exist, because of the accident. Yet, being a Christian doesn’t mean that you are immune from the pains of this life. If a Christian is in a tornado, he may be killed, just like a non-Christian. If it rains, he gets wet.

What’s the benefit of trusting in Jesus Christ if we're not protected from the tragedies of this life? I liken it to wearing a parachute in a plane. You experience just as much turbulence as the other passengers. You may even be mocked for wearing a parachute. The flight attendant may spill coffee on you and burn you. But you will see the benefit of wearing it when you jump. One day we all will have to jump--to leave this plane of life and pass through the door of death.

So do as the Bible commands and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and trust Him as you would trust a parachute to save you. Expect a turbulent life. Expect mockers. Just make sure you are ready for the jump into eternity. It can come at any time.

“Isn't it more logical and reasonable to say that your conscience is put there by society--that your parents, neighbors, teachers, and authority figures (police, elected officials, preachers, and others) all play a role in forming your morality as you grow from infant to adult? This is a more sensible explanation, because it explains why different cultures have slightly different moralities.” David W. Irish

David, it is interesting the every culture has a sense of morality, and that no matter how “primitive” they are, they acknowledge some sort of Creator. I am not aware of any past culture that has been found to be atheistic.

However, let’s say that you are right--that it is society and not God that entirely shapes the human conscience. Let’s imagine that a man has been rescued by authorities after 20 years of being raised by wolves. He is found to be intelligent and completely sane, but has had no moral instruction from any human being in those 20 years.

He is cleaned up, given a nice suit, and taken to New York where he is overawed by what he sees. He is still given no moral instruction. When he is left alone, the first thing he does is find a pretty young woman. He rapes and murders her, then he steals her money and is captured while spending it.

In court, his attorney’s defense is that he didn’t know right from wrong--society had given him no moral instruction. Is the judge going to let him go? Of course not, because although the human conscience may be influenced by society, etc., it is not given to us by society. It is given to us by God, so that every sane human being intuitively knows right from wrong. That's why we will all be without excuse on the Day of Judgment.

There is a reason every culture acknowledges God. It's because the knowledge of His existence is manifest through the conscience, as well as through creation:

“ . . . because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:19-21).

A Skeptic's Question About Human Beans

“Just how long are the ‘last days’ supposed to last? … The Bible says that no one knows when the end will come, but then it gives some clues. And the clues it gives are all things that have happened since the dawn of human beans.”

Yes, the questioner did write “beans” instead of “beings,” revealing that he has a strange belief about where we sprouted from, or he’s a big Mr. Bean fan, or he’s just like the rest of us and makes mistakes when typing.

Human beings are prone to err, and the greatest error any of us can ever make is to be wrong about God. The religious leaders at the time of Christ made that mistake continually. They came to Jesus with questions for which they didn’t really want answers. Instead, their intent was to trick Him so that they could catch Him in His words. One such time was when they asked Him about the resurrection. They concocted a scenario in which a woman had seven husbands who died one after the other. Then they asked, “In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” Jesus answered, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?” (See Mark 12:18-27 for the whole story.)

The same answer could be given to 90% of the questions asked by skeptics. According to the Bible, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments" (Psalm 111:10). So a professing atheist who has no fear of God also has no understanding at all of the character and power of God. Even those of us who know Him know only a tiny drop in an infinite ocean of His greatness. He is omnipresent--He dwells everywhere, filling the infinitude of space. Every tiny atom in the universe is displayed before Him. He is omnipotent--nothing is impossible for God. He is omniscient--seeing every thought of every human heart. These thoughts are too much for human brains that can barely juggle a few thoughts at at time, let alone comprehend the greatness of the God who gave us life.

Skeptics also don't know the Scriptures. Most of the verses cited in questions are read with an ignorance of corresponding verses to give them their biblical context.

So, in answer to the question: God’s timeframe is different than ours-- “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past . . .” (Psalm 90:4), and “ . . . with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Pet. 3:8). The Bible tells us that the “last days” began on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:17). We have been in the last days for two thousand years (not much in God’s timeframe). Most of the signs that the Bible speaks of have been around for many years; however, prophecies about the increase of travel and the increase of knowledge are far more evident in recent years. And, of course, the Jews obtaining Jerusalem in 1967 is the fulfillment that started the prophetic clock ticking. How long will the last days will last? God only knows . . . but we are certainly getting close to when the door of His mercy closes.

Love this Comment...

Flat earth.

Wasn't it scientists who believed the earth was flat?

They soon found the truth out didn't they? Screwed that theory. Evolution is next.

(Lauren)

Sexual Desires

“Why did God give us sexual desire if it's a bad thing? Even if you only lust over your spouse, you would most likely have felt lust for them before you married. After all, lust plays a big part in our choice of marriage partner. So why did God set us up to fail?”

You seem to be confusing lust and sexual desire. God did give us sexual desire and it’s not a bad thing. In fact it’s a good thing. How else would we be attracted to a prospective spouse, and why would we even procreate if there was no “desire”?

So, what then is the difference between sexual attraction and lust? One dictionary says that “lust” is “uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness.” Or to put it another way, lust is pornography of the mind.

How then do we know the difference between "looking" and lusting? The answer is to listen to your God-given conscience. It will tell you . . . if you have a mind to listen. There's nothing wrong with simply seeing someone and having the automatic thought that she's attractive. But that's different from then formulating sexual thoughts about that person to lust for her. In case you're having trouble hearing from your conscience, here's another clue to help you: How would you feel if your spouse were doing that behavior? Would you mind it if she was entertaining lustful thoughts for other men, having sexual fantasies about someone other than you? We often have a hard time seeing wrong behavior in ourselves, but have no trouble seeing it in others.

So God isn’t the one to blame for "setting us up to fail." To believe that would be like a criminal saying to a judge, “Judge, I raped that woman, but it really isn’t my fault. God made me with sexual desire so it's His fault.” If that won’t hold water in a court of law, it’s not going to be a valid defense on Judgment Day.

Look at how serious lust is in God’s sight:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:27-30).

However, our real problem isn’t lust. That’s just one large branch of the tree of our sinful nature. If we want to avoid the damnation of Hell, we have to (with the help of God) take an axe to the root of the tree, and that can be done only through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.

You may have skipped over the words “damnation of Hell,” but that is a good motivating factor to repent. Let me put it another way. If I said to you that you need to give up chocolate, you would probably be horrified. However, if I proved to you that if you ate any more chocolate, it would kill you, you would then have a strong motivation to give it up, despite it being so palatable to your taste. So give the issue some serious thought. It’s your choice…and it’s your eternity.

It Will Take More Than an Old Book

“I don't understand at all how Christian doctrine is proof that Christianity and the Christian God is the ‘right’ one. It will take a lot more than an old book to convince me that the God of Christianity is the one true God. In order for one to use or trust the Bible as evidence of anything, belief that the Bible is the word of God is necessary. Using the Bible as evidence when trying to convince someone who doesn't believe in it...well, it's not exactly compelling.”

Set aside your thoughts of "an old book" for a moment, and listen to the claims of the gospel.

I have four gifts for you: 1) The original Mona Lisa. 2) Ten million dollars. 3) The keys to a brand new Lamborghini. 4) A parachute. You may only choose one gift. Before you choose, here’s some extra information. You have to jump 10,000 feet out of a plane at any moment. Obviously, that immediately changes things. If you have a brain, the parachute is the one you would choose.

Think of the four great religions: 1) Islam. 2) Buddhism. 3) Hinduism. 4) Christianity. Which one should you choose? Before you make a decision, here’s some extra information. You are going to pass through the door of death and face a Law that is far harsher than the law of gravity. It says that hatred is murder, lust is adultery, and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.

So which one will you choose? Obviously the one that deals with your greatest problem. Islam can’t help you. It’s based on good works and doesn’t offer forgiveness of sins. Muslims can only “hope” that Allah will be merciful and not send them to Hell. But they don’t know what will happen until after they pass through death.

Hinduism can’t help. All it offers is the hopelessness of possible reincarnation. It doesn’t address the issue of sin. Neither does atheistic Buddhism.

However, Christianity offers a parachute. It says to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” It promises to save you from the Law of sin and death.

That’s how you know which one to choose--the one that offers the compete solution to your greatest problem.

Is My Conscience Broken?

“The thing is, Ray, I have a perfectly functional conscience. It nags me when I don't give time and money to charity, it demands that I tell the truth when telling a lie would be more convenient, it (for the most part) holds me back from saying cruel-yet-witty things even when I dearly want to . . . And yet, oddly enough, my conscience has absolutely nothing to say on the subject of my atheism. Now why is that, Ray? Is my conscience broken, or is your definition just bogus?”

This is a very good question because it brings out a very good point. You are acknowledging that the conscience addresses you in the area of morality. It excuses you of selfishness (failing to fulfill the Law that says you should love your neighbor as yourself--giving to charities, being kind, etc.). It accuses you when you lie--violating the Ninth Commandment. This is because God has written “the work of the Law” on your heart, so that your conscience will accuse you of transgression of that Law (see Romans 2:15).

However, the reason your conscience has nothing to say about your atheism is that atheism is not a moral issue. It’s an intellectual issue. If I were to lie or steal, my conscience would scream at me. But if I said something that was intellectually stupid, like one and one make five, the conscience remains silent. The same applies with the foolishness of atheism.