by Jimmy Jividen

I cannot prove with empirical evidence that God created the heavens and earth. I can however, by logic, show that such is a reasonable explanation for its existence. I believe that He did because the Bible tells me so. I stake my earthly life and my eternal soul upon this faith. I accept by faith that the Bible is the Word of God and is true — 100% true. I take God at His word.

There are a lot of things I do not understand in the Bible. I do not know why water is wet or birds fly. It is just the way God created things. I might suggest some possible explanations, but I cannot know for sure.

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways' declares the Lord" (Isa. 55:8).

There are some things which God wants me to do and I do not know the reason why. I can suggest some possible reasons, but I cannot know for sure. My reason for doing them is not a rational understanding, but a committed faith. I take God at His word.

That’s what faith is all about.

by A. A. Neale

Though it's not politically correct to use military language in religious talk, I'm going to do it today. If a Muslim is reading, here's my disclaimer: I don't want to kill any single human being; I want to overcome Satan's influence in my life and show everyone how to do the same.

Israel was God's physical people in the Old Testament, and as such were blessed physically by the Lord and were given instructions to overcome the other peoples nearby. We don't do that today, for our arms are not carnal, but spiritual and rational (2 Cor. 10:4-5). But the physical battle suggests lessons for the spiritual.

In a physical battle, one man knew how to proceed:

"When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel's best and put them in battle array against the people of Ammon" (1 Chron. 19:10, NKJV).

Joab's battlefield actions are suggestive for Christians today.

1. Know the field. Joab "saw" where the battle line was and could take appropriate action. We need to know where, as a church, the main problems are and deal with them. The battle line can and does move. New issues and challenges arise, overshadowing what were issues 30 years ago. As an individual, my problems and difficulties today may not be the same ones as last year or last decade.

2. The battle is all around us, before and behind. The devil circles us constantly looking for a weak point at which to enter (1 Pet. 5:8). Attentiveness is the watchword.

3. Put the best in the most critical points. This can apply in the body of Christ, where we should put our most qualified people in the mission fields, in the pulpits, in the schools, and in the streets. Personally, it means I should shore up my efforts where I am most vulnerable. The "best" may be hard to measure in a spiritual sense, but we may apply it in the sense of our best efforts and our most effective workers.

Joab was an excellent strategist as commander of David's armies. Jesus wants astute disciples following him as well. It was when he sent out the Twelve to preach that he said, "Behold, I send you out in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16).

I'm thankful for those lessons.

by J. Randal Matheny

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. ...'" (Gen. 1:26, ESV).

At some point before the world began, God decided to make man. As he reached the right point in creation, he said, "Now it's time. Let's do what we set out to do. Let's make a man."

A vital part of man's similarity to God is that he, too, can decide. That will be the theme of the next few weeks.

But God decided to make a man. Why did he do that? There isn't much direct information for that question, only what we pick up here and there in the Biblical text. But in a word, to quote Rex A. Turner, Sr., "God is a social being. He desires to have the company of his own offspring [with] whom he can share his love, his righteousness, and his glory."*

That answer prompts another question: If God wanted company besides himself, is he not sufficient within himself? It's not a given that the Lord NEEDED us, but it is appropriate to say he WANTED us.

Man's sad story is that he always needs God, but often doesn't want him.

But God wants us so much, he decided on a plan, also before the world began (1 Pet. 1:20), just in case anything went wrong and man chose what he ought not. No matter what man chooses, God's choice is greater and extends wider and further in time and eternity. While God doesn't cancel out an individual's decisions, God's decision folds it all into his plan and will and produces good even from man's evil. He doesn't turn man's evil into good, but makes good result when man means evil (Gen. 50:20). Something like the saying, "Man proposes, God disposes." Or as a wise one said, "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (Prov. 19:21).

God loves, and in his desire and decision to share that love, he created a being capable of appreciating it and of responding to him, one able to say "yes" to his love and, though it seems unthinkable, able to say "no" as well.

In every decision of his, in every move he makes, he still seeks someone to say "yes".

What do you say?

*Systematic Theology (Montgomery, Ala.: Alabama Christian School of Religion, 1989), p. 131.

by John Thiesen

From the earliest times of human history, men have sought God. There seems to be in humankind an innate need to look to a higher power and to know the Creator.

In this search for God, people do not have to look far to see that God exists. Nature is a great teacher in this respect: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). God's creative power, benevolence, order; and love of beauty are all painted on the canvass of nature.

However, there are many things about God which nature cannot show us. For example, it does not reveal God's plans for us, nor His will for us. Nature does not tell us what to do to be saved from our sins or how to worship God. It does not reveal God's past dealings with our forefathers; neither does it tell about future things such as heaven, hell, or the judgment day. To know these things about which nature is silent, we need a revelation from God.

Many attempts have been made to find God in various ways, all of which have failed. Some have turned to worshipping nature itself, but that is serving the creature rather than the creator (Rom. 1:25). Others have carved, molded, or engraved images to worship, but these have no breath in them and are unable to see, hear, speak, walk, or to do anything to help the worshippers. Others have tried philosophy and meditation, but these have also failed because "it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23).

At various times in history God has revealed Himself through inspired prophets and apostles by miracles, dreams, visions, and signs. These men of God spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21).

In the fullness of time, God sent His own Son, who is the ultimate revelation of the invisible God. God "was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Tim. 3:16). In times gone by, God spoke to the fathers by the prophets, but now "hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (Heb. 1:1,2).

This revelation has been deposited into permanent, written form in the Holy Scriptures. The Bible contains the history of God's appearances and work in the world, His laws, His teachings, and the life story of His Son and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ the Son of God. When we read, believe, and obey these Scriptures, eternal life will be ours. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name" (Jn. 20:31).

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 19.

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