(Act 14:19-21Act 14:19-21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, had taught many: Gr. had made many disciples
WP-Bible plugin) “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,…”
When people speak today about a “Christian world-view” what do they mean? Typically they mean how you view creationism, your stance on abortion, and whether you have conservative moral values. Unfortunately, over the past 20 years it’s come to describe your political affiliations as well. But really, a “world-view” means when I look at the world, what is the lens I use to understand reality? More pointedly, do I believe in a spiritual reality? Do I believe in a spiritual reality enough to let it affect how I live my life? What is the basis for my perception of this reality? As a result of my perception of reality, what is reality when I look at people? What is reality when I look at my neighborhood and my city? This “world view” will drive whether I have the focus, purpose, and passion to get up from the dust, brush myself off and keep going with the mission God has given me when I am trampled and run over by people or life.
Renewed Thought – My relationship with the Lord defines how I run for the Lord.
Is Jesus the only way to God the Father? He thought He was! He claimed to be! This is clearly a contradiction of the human philosophy that there are many ways to God. When someone claims “all ways lead to heaven” or “there are many ways to heaven,” they are claiming to know more than Jesus Christ. Those who have a “broad mind” believe they have a wider view of God’s Sovereignty than Jesus Christ. Therefore, they must hold to the idea that Jesus was limited in what He knew in regards to Heaven and the path leading to it. But what revelation gives them this knowledge? At end of it all, there is no authoritative source for the “many paths” viewpoint other than man confirming his own self-induced revelation. It is man believing he is more knowledgeable than Christ. If this is the case, then Jesus was clearly deluded in His claims to be God and the way becomes no way. But if this isn’t the case, and those who have a “wide” view are wrong, then they truly missed the narrow way to life and are speeding down the broad road to destruction.
What The French President Doesn’t Know
French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke at a conference of scientists last week. They are involved in building an atom smasher to investigate what the universe looked like right after the “Big Bang.” His comment is extremely telling of the secular spirit that encompasses today’s Europe. Here is a quote from that conference:
According to the French President, the “oldest dream of man” is to comprehend the reason for existence. In other words, we are still trying to figure out “why” existence is. It is a sad commentary on the Europe which once birthed Martin Luther’s Reformation, the Huguenots, and the tsunami of Biblical truth that followed. Sarkozy is putting his faith in man’s science rather than using common sense that there is an intelligent Designer who is capable of making something out of nothing. A society that doesn’t understand it’s purpose or reason for existence is condemned in their minds to wander aimlessly fulfilling biological functions and a patchwork of random events that appear to be a road to the precipice of emptiness. This is the point where all truth becomes relative and morality is defined by man’s observance of himself. If this is the case, then man can never answer the “why” question because it demands a definitive answer.
The answer to the “why do we exist”question is found in Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis 1 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
WP-Bible plugin – “In the beginning, God…
God is the definitive answer to every question that asks about purpose and reason. He simplifies the complexity. He is absolute. He is the supreme Designer. He is the Architect. He is the embodiment of truth. The very one who is all of this loves each one of us individually enough to die as a sacrafice for our sins. We biologically exist because God created. We spiritually exist because we are made in His image. We find our purpose in Him. An open Bible thus becomes more powerful than the biggest atom smasher.
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