My journey through the Word: (Genesis 11)

Genesis 11:4-5

The people said, “let us go up into heaven” God said “let me go down to man.” How typical of our humanity to want to ascend to God’s level. We, both in our actions and in our words, often elevate ourselves to the place of God. Rather than submit our will to his will, and rather than do as wisdom says and acknowledge him in all our ways so that we might receive his direction, we take matters into our own hands as if we are omniscient.

It was the devil that stated,

“I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

In the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:13-14, ESV)

Lucifer’s sin from the beginning was rebellion, rooted in the desire to be like God. It is no wonder that when this serpent tempted Eve in the Garden, that he would sow seeds of deception, rebellion, and humanism. He focused her attention on the fact that she could be like God, knowing good and evil. When Eve looked at the fruit of the tree, she noticed three things

1. It was good for food

2. It was pleasant to look at

3. It was desired to make her wise like God

The first two were normal human observations, testimonies to the goodness and kindness of God. The third was a seed of doubt placed by a malicious angel bent on perverting God’s beautiful order. It took root in Eve and she was deceived into thinking she had it wrong, and nothing bad would happen to her. Every other tree in the garden was good for food. Every other fruit in the garden was pleasant to the eye. There was only one thing that separated this fruit from all others. There was only one thing that she noticed, that made this fruit stand out, and it appealed to her. She acted on her desire to be like God and ate the fruit.

What was Adam’s reason? We can really only speculate. However, while woman can claim deception, man cannot. Adam knew the commandments of God, and he also knew the consequences. He was tempted, drawn away of his own internal lusts and enticed by the idea of eating something forbidden to him. He placed himself in God’s stead and lived by his own desire instead of Gods.

Now the devil, who rebelled against God in an attempt to exalt himself as God, has succeeded in sowing seeds of humanism in Adam & Eve. They too desired to be like God and it caused the entrance of sin, and the spiritual death of mankind.

Just like our original parents, we have a tendency to exalt ourselves to the place of master of our own lives. God says yield, and we run the light anyway. God says no, and like a toddler testing boundaries, we say “yes!” The world will tell you that you are the master of your own destiny, but what a morbid destiny it is if there is none greater than us directing it!

There is power in submission. Abraham submitted and God revealed himself as Jehovah-Jireh. Gideon submitted and God delivered a nation. David submitted and defeated the giant. Solomon submitted and exposed the house of Eli. Christ submitted and brought salvation for mankind. Peter submitted and ushered in the church age. Paul submitted and brought this truth to the world.

Oh what wonderful things happen when the people of God are fully submitted. Yet we have so many Christians who try to do things their way. According to the Barna research group, more than 80% of professing Christians do not consider God, nor the Bible, when making major life choices. With such a lack of submission, is it any wonder that the church is fighting worldliness and risks becoming impotent?

Christ asked the question “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8, KJV)”. When even the children of God ignore faith and exalt themselves as Lords over their own lives, where is the hope for faith?

In contrast, God humbled himself when he clothed himself in the likeness of sinful flesh. He came to earth, not as a king, but as a servant. Not only was he mindful of man, but he actually came down to serve the very beings he created. He washed the disciples’ feet in a show of servitude and humility. He gave himself to meeting the needs of the people of earth. He healed the broken hearted, set at liberty those who were bruised. When his people screamed for a king, he refused. When he perceived that they would take him by force and make him king, he retreated alone and humbled himself in prayer. When the time came, he submitted himself to the agony of the cross!

Other gods demand their people die for them. Our Lord came down and died for us. The one who is Lord of all, became servant of all, so that we may know the power of humility and submission.

My journey through the Word (Genesis 8-10)

I've been sick the last couple of days so I am just now getting back to my journey. The Lord is a great God. I've been reading an apologetics book and it reminds me once again of how remarkable God and his word really are. To think that the God of the entire universe would care to know who I am, would take the time to hear my prayers, and would actually shed his blood so that I may know him in return.

What a marvelous God we serve!

Genesis 8 - 10

Genesis 8:1

The Bible says “But God remembered Noah (ESV).” How comforting it is to be reminded that in our most difficult times, God remembers us. When our world seems flooded with adversity, the one who is our strength knows exactly where we are. He made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. Likewise, if we endure, he will inevitably make his spirit blow across us and renew our strength. For those who wait upon the Lord truly will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not get weary. Sometimes life seems so overbearing. We are drowned by the floodwaters of difficulty. But even in the midst of turmoil, when we feel alone and in a desolate land, we can rest assured, and take comfort in the knowledge, that God remembers us.

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Genesis 9:9-17

God is a covenant making God. I’m not sure that many Christians today understand the importance of this simple fact. No other God of any religion can claim to be a covenant making God. The Hindu gods do not make covenants. Shiva lives only to destroy. The god of the Muslims does not make covenants. Allah fears that such behavior would diminish his absolute authority and make him subject to the very humans he created.

The God of the Jews & Christians has no such fear. Why? Because HE is the one true God. His love compels him to covenant with man like a bridegroom to his bride. He doesn’t fear losing power, because he cannot lose power. He doesn’t fear losing authority, because he cannot lose authority. He doesn’t fear becoming subject to mankind, because he will never face that possibility.

This simple, yet profound, attribute of God reveals his monopleuric character in that he is willing to descend and make a covenant with mankind, a race of beings so much lower than himself. Not only is he willing to stoop to our level, but his covenants are dipleuric in that we have free choice of whether or not to enter in. No other religion gives such a choice.

God never wanted a robot bride. He values freedom of choice. He wants us to love him by our own will. He has made with us a covenant that we can freely enter into, in order to declare his love for us. He does not fear becoming subject to us, rather he willing put on flesh and became a servant to mankind.

Allah refuses to make a covenant because he is unwilling to lower himself to our level. Jesus Christ, Lord of ALL, willingly came in the image of like sinful flesh, so that he could model servitude. Imagine, the God of the entire universe, being so humble in his majesty that he would become servant to the very beings he created. Allah & Shiva loath such thoughts, it is beneath them. Yet God made it reality. He formed a covenant with man so that we may be saved. He condescended so that we may ascend. How beautiful the idea of God’s covenant really is. He is the only God willing to have a real relationship with us.

Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend - Ravi Zacharias

"If this conversion is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians?" Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend is Ravi Zacharias' answer to this question. If you know anything about Ravi Zacharias then you recognize that he is a leader in the field of Christian apologetics. He has proven his mastery of the scriptures, and of apologetics, once again in Beyond Opinion. This book is a thorough, provocative, and insightful guide into what Christians believe, and how those beliefs can be defended against some of the greatest challenges in our world today.

In Beyond Opinion, Dr. Zacharias invites notable apologists, such as Stuart McAllister, Alister McGrath, Amy Orr-Ewing, Joe Boot, and others, to share their insight on such subjects as postmodernism, atheism, Islam, philosophy, evil and suffering, and other common challenges presented against Christianity. Together Dr. Zacharias and his team present a complete picture of modern apologetics, and challenge Christians to not only know what they believe, but to also live it daily. He suggests a new vision for 21st century apologetics. An apologetic governed by the desire to win people, and not arguments. This focus is emphasized throughout the book and in part two the reader is given guidance on conversational apologetics that they can use in standard conversation.

I found this book to be very interesting, and educational. While it was written by scholars, it is at a level most can comprehend. It gives very practical and Biblical answers to tough questions, and shines light on relevant topics that Christians are facing every day.

In a world where faith seems to be under attack, and God is becoming more and more subjective in the public sector, it is a blessing to have a clear and certain sound. Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend is a Clarion call in a chaotic world. I highly recommend it for any Christian who truly is interested in always being ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”