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There has been a great onslaught
made upon those who would have a simple, trusting faith in God's
written word. We are told it is a crutch for the weak and
feeble. That it is folly, and unscientific.
Those who claim to believe the
Bible concerning the creation account of Gen
1-3 are called believers in
myths, while those who accept that we evolved from a chance
lightning bolt in the sea billions of years ago are credited
with being logical and having common sense.
Those who believe that Noah built
an ark and by it saved mankind in his generation are considered
gullible. Those who are convinced that Christ was born of a
virgin and was resurrected from the dead are considered to be
fanatics. While those who believe that our universe and solar
system are the result of an explosion are looked upon as
enlightened and wise.
It is time for those with a
simple trusting faith to hold our heads up high and seek for a
contest such as David had with Goliath.
What do they have to offer those
who follow their theories? We are animals who came from nothing
and go back to the same. Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we
die.
That's fine if you don't have any
problems and you are unconcerned about life after death and
desire to be free of fear for the coming judgement. But it is
not logical. It is not true to the facts as we know them.
People are hurting because they
don't think there are any answers. If one cannot trust in God
and His word, then there are no answers. We came from nowhere,
and that is where we are going, and nothing matters.
The faith of a Christian is the
greatest of gifts and blessings. It is the avenue through which
all hope, comfort and feelings of peace come. Faith is a great
asset to man and should not be dismissed simply because some
criticize it.
The fundamental problem lies in a
misconception regarding faith itself. If this one difficulty
could be resolved, much that scientists stand on would be
shaken, and people would see that those with faith in God and in
Christ Jesus were the ones with logic and power on their side.
David found this to be true
regarding Goliath, Elijah found it to be true with the prophets
of Baal on Mt Carmel, and Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego found
it to be true regarding Nebuchadnezzer and his fiery furnace.
If you do not know
who these men are and what they proved regarding the logic and
power of their faith, then open your bible and look and you will
find the answers to all your questions.
A WORLD
WITHOUT FAITH
Most people reading this title
would conclude that they will be hearing something about
religion. For in the minds of most, faith only operates in the
realm of religion. Science, history, geography or medicine are
seldom associated with faith.
Just for fun, and to make an
important point, take a moment to meditate about a world without
faith . . .
As a teacher leaves for school in
the morning, she considers briefly the contents of the lessons
for the day. English will be first, then math, then science.
After lunch, she will teach American History, World Geography,
and human anatomy.
As the children assemble to learn
the new material, she begins. Her first task is to impress upon
them the importance of grammar. As she begins to quote the
rules, a hand is raised.
"How can we know that what
you are saying is true?"
The teacher flusters a bit at
this lack of respect, but determines a straightforward answer is
in order. She quotes a noted authority on English grammar.
This however, is unacceptible
because the children have lost their capacity to accept the
testimony of another. That's faith, and that capacity has been
lost.
They want the teacher to bring
the authority to the school with his credentials to prove
himself an authority. They will then allow him to prove what he
is saying is true. Only then will they accept this rule and
abide by it.
She wisely drops grammar, and
moves on to a "safer" subject. Math is a pure science,
surely no one will object to that. She calls on everyone to get
out their multiplication tables. All the children comply, but
after the first one is read a hand is raised.
"How do we know that
9x9=81?"
"Well", the teacher
replies, "the table says it does, I say it does, and all
other teachers say it does."
However, since there is simply no
capacity for such trust in the minds of the students, she is
compelled to prove to them that each answer is correct. This she
accomplishes by putting nine marbles on the desk, and adding by
nines until she reaches 81. By the time she has assembled enough
marbles and proved 9x9=81, the time alloted for math is over.
Science class was a real fiasco
that day. There was no way to prove the existence of atoms and
molecules to the students. She let the class out ten minutes
early for lunch.
During her lunch, the teacher
contemplates the tremendous position faith, trust, and belief
have in the teaching of children. She wonders how she will teach
her remaining classes without this ability, knowing she will
have to prove to their satisfaction the reality of each of the
things she needs to teach. She is not sure how she will adapt
her teaching to fulfill this new condition, but she is
determined to try.
After the bell rings, and all the
students eagerly await the learning of American history, she
begins her lecture. "In 1776 some very important things
occured." Immediately three hands shoot up,
"Take us there so we can see
it."
The class falters, and there is
simply no way for her to continue. How can you prove any
historical point to people who can only operate on their five
senses and who cannot accept the testimony of others? She
decided to skip world geography. There simply wasn't the time or
money to fly the students around the world, and she could not
teach them without doing that.
Human anatomy that day was
centered around the central nervous system. The brain and spinal
chord were to be thoroughly discussed. Although there were
pictures in the book, each student was skeptical that there was
something like that in their head and back. They could see their
heads and feel their backs, but it was a bit much to accept a
brain since they could not see it.
The teacher dismissed the class
that day with a great deal of relief. She had taught them
little, and realized that schools might as well be eliminated,
for without the capacity to believe the testimony of others, and
to accept by faith things that cannot be seen, little can be
taught.
Accumulated learning is useless
without faith, because without faith, no one can accept it. Each
generation would have to learn for itself.
What at does the above story
prove? Everyone in the world uses faith in nearly every realm of
their lives, yet they are taught to reject the only faith that
truly matters and would really make a difference in their lives,
that faith in the Son of God that leads to joy and peace that
the world cannot take away and that will lead one through the
greatest of adversities.
It is only when we see faith as a
means of gaining conviction and assurance in ALL areas that it
takes on the dignity and power that makes it so important to
Christianity. What faith does for us in geography, history, math
or science it also does for us in religion.
The way that faith is accepted in
science or history or geography is the same way that it is
accepted in religion.
What is the faculty which causes
us to buy without a qualm and open and eat something that we
ourselves did not put into the bottle or can that it is in?
What is it that causes us to jump
when we see a rattlesnake or black widow spider even if we've
never personally been bitten by one?
What is it that causes us to
accept pills or a shot from a doctor without even asking to see
the bottle they drew it out of and better yet witness them
drawing the medicine out and proving to us it is the right dose?
Why do we accept the existence of
George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Gengis Kahn, Alexander the
great, Julius Ceasar.
Why do we accept the existence of
Black holes and Quasars?
Why do we accept the fact that
the world is round, that Rome, Moscow, China, etc are actual
places?
You know why and I know why!!!
Because the evidence is
overwhelming. Because we are beings who can accept the testimony
of others and act upon it as though we ourselves had found it to
be true. Because it is true.
There are historical and
scientific facts that are impossible for any one to find out by
personal experience. They happened too long ago, or in a place
where no one was. But through testimony and evidence that is
sifted through, people can come to conclusions about what
happened then and write a book about them.
When we read we can become
convinced that they are right, and believe with all our heart
that it really happened. SPIRITUAL ACTIONS . . .REALITIES are
discovered in exactly the same way !
READ &
STUDY
1 Cor 2:9-16 9 But as it is
written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered
into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for
those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us
through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the
deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man
except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one
knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is
from God, that we might know the things that have been freely
given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words
which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches,
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural
man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all
things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For
"who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct
Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (NKJ)
John 6:44-45 44 "No one can
come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will
raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the
prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore
everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
(NKJ)
FAITH
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NKJ)
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(NKJ)
ACTION
James 2:26 For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(NKJ)
They are identical!!!
Thus we see that one of the sad
prejudices that has been placed into the minds of many is truly
a false one. We have been led to believe that religious faith
and scientific faith are seperate entities.
Scientific faith we are told is
to be respected as knowledge, and religious faith is viewed as
superstition. Both are identical. That being true, it becomes a
much easier task to determine the validity of Christianity.
Simply place upon it the same criteria and rigid tests that one
places on any other branch of learning and see if it is logical.
Heb 11:1
expresses well the Biblical concept of faith.
ASSURANCE- that which has actual
existence, a substance, a real being, Faith is that thing in a
human mind that gives actual substance and existence to that
which we have never seen. hence "confidence, firm trust,
assurance.
EVIDENCE- a proof, that by which
a thing is proved or tested" as our eyes prove to us that
there is an object before them so faith proves to us thaose
things that we cannot see.
Faith prompts us to act as though
those things which we hope for actually exist. they give them
substance they give them reality to our mind. Faith causes us to
have conviction and feelings of strength regarding things that
we have never seen.
Hence the biblical approach to
the gaining of faith is an approach of logic and clear thinking
which leads one to conviction and assurance regarding the things
most surely believed:
The following is the Bible means
of gaining faith:
Fact: Salvation is offered to
man. This is the TRUTH of the christians
"proposition".
Heb 10:39 "we are not of
those who draw back unto perdition, but of those who believe to
the saving of the soul."
Evidence & Testimony:
Jn 20:30-31 "Many other
things truly did Jesus . . .
Hearing & learning: Jn
6:44-45 , again.
Faith, Trust, Conviction: Rom
10:17 "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of
God."
Obedience, Action, Zeal: Heb
11:1- 12:5 read of these men
and women of faith . . .
Jas 2:14-26
shows Faith's condition without action.
It does not matter what biblical
proposition one places into the first link of this chain, if one
searches the Bible through with persistence and a real love for
the truth thus fulfilling the third link, he will always find
the second link and will always end up with strength in the
fourth link. That in turn always leads to the fifth link.
God exists. Rom
1:19-20 "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, (NKJ)
consider all the logical arguments that can be made concerning
this one. Any function city. Electrical system, phone system,
water and waste system, computer, watch, camera. Take a human
body and apply the same reasoning to it. No true scientist would
agree to the chance existence of the former. How can any accept
the chance existence of the latter.
Bible is His word. God is all
knowing, all present, eternal, all powerful, and the creator of
heaven or earth. With that claim and with the claim that God is
the author of the Bible, it should be an easy task for someone
to discredit it. One mistake would do it. If a person could find
one mistake in any portion of the Bible, then it would be
discarded. Yet they haven't found it yet. It is prophetically,
scientifically, historically, and doctrinally accurate. Every
word is accurate.
That can't be a work of man. Man
does not make perfect books.
Christ is God's son. Consider
prophecy and eyewitness testimony. The twelve apostles and Paul
provide the greatest of all proofs as to the validity of this
statement. Their fidelity to him up to and including their death
for thier testimony as to his resurrection cannot be denied by
anything less than fraud on their part or deception on his.
Neither fits the facts at all.
They were not bribed. Nothing
physical could have caused them to give up the comfort and joys
of this life except their conviction that they would live in the
next.
As to their being gullible, their
books testify to their wisdom and knowledge. Paul was no fool,
and nothing short of Jesus actual appearing to him on the road
to Damascus would account for his conversion and faithful life
from that day forward till his death for the Lord many years
later.
A foundation concept that needs
to be considered. We offer it to you as a concluding word of
wisdom:
There are certain truths that can
be nailed down and proven to be truth. They are impossible to
deny, and must be believed. Three of them have been listed
above. There are however other things that are not so clear and
are much more difficult to deal with. The proverb is this:
NEVER
ALLOW THE THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO EXPLAIN AND DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND TO HINDER AND CLOUD UP THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN
UNDERSTAND.
There are a lot of things in this
life that we do not understand. They perplex us, but we must not
allow them to overthrow our faith in God.
Consider: Job
40:7 - 42:1-6
Psalm 14:1
"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God."
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