Was our universe filled with 'angelic Beings' ...the makings for a glorious Paradise??
Then in the Book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden was a virtual Paradise.
That is to say ...for those of you who believe this. And do you also believe in Heaven?? That would be the third Paradise.
We are created in His image ...with freedom of choice.
We can choose to be grateful and gracious to others. We can choose to be calm, caring, courteous, considerate, comforting, consoling, compassionate, charming, complimentary, cordial, charitable, or cheerful.
We can also choose to be ungrateful and unkind to others. We can choose to be deceitful, dishonest, dastardly, despicable, detestable, disconcerting, derogatory, disheartening, disrespectful, divisive, dismissive, or disloyal.
Now, I'm not trying to be divisive with the alphabet, but if you were going to choose, what room would you want be in ...would you choose the 'c' room, or the 'd' room??
Now, my thoughts are going to go at the speed of light ...well, not really, but it will be about Light. And hopefully, I can reflect on Him, and not refract how anyone views Him.
(Let me say this first, so it does not become assumed that I am saying something else. The statement 'salvation' is often a very emotional subject ...and well it should be if we look at the definition I'm about to present.
There is the Salvation Army ...a charitable organization.
A person may be suffering from a deep depression, then their friend is 'there' for them, and they may say, "You are my salvation!"
But, the definition I am using is probably the most used definition ...and to actually consider it, there has to be a belief in eternal life. Salvation is usually paired up with a belief in Jesus, and does not mean we are saved from Covid, a tooth ache, or from stubbing our toe. It has to do with an afterlife.
But, before we talk about an afterlife, let's talk about this life. Most of us like to imagine what we'd like to have (which the usual assumption is that it includes things we don't have). For those who don't have much, one may think that list would be large ...but, I think that would not be the case. I think those who have much would have a much bigger list, and those who have little may imagine a good meal, a soft bed and pillow, and to be able to endure the entire night in peace.
But, to picture what I've just said, you'd have to have some idea of those who don't have it good. Many of you don't have to have an idea ...you've lived it. And most of you, though you've had it rough, yes, most of you know of someone who's had it worse than you.
Now I don't recommend focusing on negative or bad thoughts, especially if you suffer from depression or have nightmares, but it is not just in those movies which we call 'thrillers' that bad things happen. Why movies like that are entertaining, is a question for another time, yet entertain this thought: Seeing that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)
There has been evil concerning humankind since the beginning of humankind, and still exists today in a big way, whether you personally experience it or not. It is there, and someone is sadly and horrifically experiencing it.
We may ask why, and many of us have asked ...why? At times it seems we are living in two worlds ...actually, perhaps in 7.89 billion different worlds, being as that's the world's population at the end of August 2021, and we often feel we are in our own little world (well, can't speak for the babies, but you get the point). But, in the afterlife there will be only two different worlds ...one with God, and one not with God. And I've often felt, if you want to be with God in the next life, why wouldn't you also want to be with Him in this life??
And the afterlife with God will not be like earth is now ---and the ones who are now starving, sick, or who live in constant fear of violence ---will be full, they will be fully healthy, and they will be in peaceful serenity. They will be saved from having the kind of life that none of us would want to have to endure ...a life many have to endure here on earth.
I believe we all have eternal existences ...and referring to salvation, eternal existence grants the option of an afterlife with God. Most of us who believe this call ourselves Christians, as we believe in Jesus. And salvation is through Jesus, the Letter to the Romans describes God's grace and mercy towards those who've not heard of Jesus, and certainly I am not going to pretend or be part of any delusion about my knowing anyone's personal commitment towards what they have heard or know ...or have accepted.
What I am concerned about is that I don't want to be part of any grand delusion about God. The Bible says that God is "not willing that any should perish" (2nd Peter). Yet, in His righteousness, He will not have us be tormented for eternity, which would likely be the case if He didn't prepare a place for us separate from the willful intent of wickedness and evil.
Yes, God is long-suffering in that He wants to give us a chance. Sometimes intervening does not allow that chance. Many people ask why God doesn't intervene more. They'd like life here on earth to be a bit more like the life He has promised us in the afterlife ...yet, bringing that about too soon would often mean that you or I would not make the cut. Our sin would mean we are not the kind of person fit for an afterlife with Him. But, understanding that Jesus died for our sin fixes that ...though do we understand how that is??
Who amongst you would say there is no wickedness or evil on earth today?? And for those who claim God is the tormentor, then I guess those of you wouldn't want to be with Him in the afterlife ...as you must more clearly trust a life without Him and without His restraint.
Many people ask where His restraint is, or has been. It is enlightening to read the Book of Judges, how people wanted to do what they feel is right in their own eyes ...and still do.
For those who do believe in Jesus, how do you present Him to others?? What part are you doing to represent Him for who He is ...so that others view Him as One they'd like to follow.
Certainly, I'd recommend that we not represent Jesus as one running for political office, making false promises and pretending He is someone He is not.
So, when presenting Jesus to others, are you able to give confidence to them ...giving them references to what you believe, what you feel they should believe??
And if they sense you don't believe much of what is written about Jesus, then what truly is the basis of your beliefs that you'd want to share with them??
I think that being a Christian would be based upon something tangible ...and since none of us have experienced life during the time Jesus was crucified, we'd have to rely on some records.
Most all of our existence strives for freedom of choice ---whether we campaign for it ---or whether someone else decides for us, giving us no say in the matter. Anyone who reads this is able to freely read it, and freely agree or disagree with what I've said. I often edit what I've said because I disagree with the way I often word things. But, I am trying to word it more carefully here.
Freedom of choice doesn't make us who we are, but it makes us able to choose who it is who can make us who we are. And yes, though I am oversimplifying it, we can choose to allow God to shape us who we are, or we can allow the deceiver to hinder that. That being said, I want to get back to what I was saying.
I know that men were involved with compiling the Bible, and I know that process is presented to us as complex and controversial. Yet, I go back to the conversation about salvation. Since God has clearly and actively put forth His influence in our lives, and the deceiver has also not been merely relaxing ...it seems to me that it is extremely important to God that He gets presented and represented accurately. We can help present Him, but only Jesus can represent Him. And I see no protest from Jesus as to the presentation of God in the Old Testament writings. Quite clearly, I read the Gospel of John, Chapter 5, verses 46 & 47, the speaker being Jesus, as He says, "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But, since you don't believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"
It seems here that Jesus is affirming what Moses wrote ...which includes the first eleven Chapters of Genesis. And twice within those Chapters are written genealogies, not just with names, but also with specific years of lifespan ...putting Adam close to 6,000 years ago.
Many people claim they know of certain styles of Hebrew writings, and call Genesis poetic, merely a story, parable, and even a myth. It certainly doesn't fit the form of a parable, genealogies do not appear poetic, and it seems Jesus clearly dismisses the myth option by what he said in John 5: 46-47. Opposing that verse appears problematic to me, but still there is a strong contention towards saying it is not literal, and that stubborn people like me are making it difficult for young believers because of lack of respect for science.
I read the writings of many scientists, and there is a huge disagreement ...not the consensus that many people would hope there is. Yet, many people appeal to what is termed the 'ad populum' argument ...believing truth resides within what the majority of people think.
And though the majority don't all think alike with much of what they believe, they seem to rally their consensus with what they don't believe ...and that is not to believe that humans were created. The majority have come to believe in evolution.
I've asked some of those people how they view John 5:46-47. And it has much to do with how they view Jesus, and how they view the Bible. Responses varied from saying Jesus didn't know scientific things since much of science wasn't known at the time, and another response said that the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) were reliable, but not so much John.
I realized that there is no limit to the absurdities that are put forth to defend evolution, which most always means the Book of Genesis cannot be viewed as literal.
I think part of the problem for me is that when I had questions about certain things in the Bible, I was told I had to believe it on faith. I was at the point that I did believe by faith, but the questions were then coming from loved ones. I sincerely wanted to answer their questions, but when I asked several spiritual leaders they seemed to be of little help, stating I had to believe it by faith. I said that it was not me, but a family member ...and how can someone believe something by faith if they do not yet have the faith. I knew that it was not the same approach that missionaries used to help instruct unbelievers, so why would we answer that way??
I know much is controversial, and often not a welcome discussion. But, I realized that questions could not be answered at the Scopes Trial, and now nearly 100 years later, those same questions are still not being answered. But, evolution and science is answering questions that overwhelm us so much that we stand in awe of what they say, and not so much in awe of God, whom we should be glorifying.
I was moved to pick up the Bible, and to try not to be influenced by any preconditioned viewpoints. I simply believe in God, I believe God is loving, and I believe that love would certainly be expressed to us by the One who insists on loving us.
It's like saying to myself, "I know it's here somewhere ...I know it was delivered, it's only a matter of sorting through and finding it." And I wholeheartedly believe it is the Bible.
So, I began reading the Bible anew ...and though certain verses seemed to favor a certain view, the total view had to work. I used to work on logic puzzles, and I'd go directly to the 'highest difficulty' one.
I worked afternoon shift and would get home well after midnight, and everyone would be asleep, but I'd still be restless from work ...so I'd get out the puzzle book. I have to admit that the highest level puzzle actually seemed to hurt my brain, as I had to keep all the information in my head, and though one part seemed to work, it didn't work together as a whole ...yet, I knew there was a true answer. And everything had to work together ...the same being true of the Bible.
Everything taken together, there had to be a creation of the angels, which really wasn't made clear ...though other things were clear, and I had to work from there. It's like entering a room, the world being a room ...reading the first Chapter of Genesis.
But, suppose I enter a classroom size room, and describe what I see: There are 32 desks, and one table and a chair at one end. Each of the 32 desks holds one notebook, a ruler, a pencil, and an eraser. The table is empty, except for a goldfish bowl in the center of the table. On the floor, to the left of the chair is a small paper-clip. On the wall behind the table is a sticky-note that reads, "Discuss the first chapter of Genesis." Near the door of the room, to the right of the table is a sleeping cat. I must not have noticed the cat at first because as I entered the room, the swinging door must have hid the cat from my view. As I move to the other side of the door, I notice that though one eye is closed, one eye of the cat is open, seemingly looking up in the direction of the fishbowl on the table.
The first Chapter of Genesis describes plants, and birds, and also fish ...then also man and woman. But, no mention of the angels. Oh, by the way, in the classroom ...did I fail to mention there was an elephant in the middle of the room, standing on one of the desks?? No, I would not fail to mention that.
Likewise, the reason I feel that angels were not mentioned is because that was a previous creation ...seems like it had to be. And the 'in the beginning' was our beginning ...at the point of a do-over. I have to remember, there was an angelic rebellion ...and if that happened in this new beginning, it would certainly seem that it would be like 'the elephant in the room', necessitating its mention. And the second verse of the Bible fits well with a condition of how things would be after God had dealt with the rebellion ...removing the light, and surrounding everything in a deep dark watery standstill.
How is this?? Can't it be that simply the Bible is for us, 'our' beginning??
That second verse says that earth is without form ...but, it is mentioned to be, or to have been. And the water is already there. Exodus 20:11 speaks of how God made the heavens and the earth in six days ...could it be they were created in six days as we know them today, but before that we don't really know what there was, yet perhaps some habitation for the angels.
Now, let me stop myself here, as it could be said I'm making things up. Yes, verses can be quoted that seemingly refute what I'm saying ...and it's good to look into those verses, but not to the extent of ignoring many other verses. I don't have the perfect understanding, but I know ('logic puzzle man') that it's difficult to make some things fit ...but, they must fit.
I have four brothers, and three of them ran the hurdles in high school track. I know that it is easier to clear a lower hurdle than it is to clear a higher hurdle ...though with low hurdles you have to run farther.
You know I will run long with my conversation, but I don't believe I have to clear the higher hurdles. And though in track the number of hurdles is the same (ten of them), though I don't feel I'm cheating here if I also feel I don't have to jump as many hurdles.
I believe God created humankind ...no, I don't believe humans evolved. And I think it may be very interesting for some of you to date rocks, but though it is very relevant to other subjects, I don't believe it is relevant to what I'm saying at this point.
I'm not talking about whether God made a home for the angels, I'm talking about our relationship with Him ...and that He created us in His image.
And for reasons too numerous to mention here, I believe God created men and women outside the Garden of Eden, and then He formed Adam as a special representative to 'put' in the Garden. And as I said before, I don't believe it was so much of a test for Adam & Eve to not eat one fruit, as it was a test for the deceiver not to consume the thoughts of one couple when he had an entire audience outside the Garden.
I've heard people say that God caused all of our present (and past) calamity because He planted a tree in the middle of the Garden where He knew Adam & Eve would be continually tempted ...and that it was an unfair test. Yes, I would agree that God knew Adam & Eve would fail, but I believe it wasn't so much a test for Adam & Eve ...as I've just said, I believe it was a test for the deceiver, referred to as the serpent.
But, this is not what many people are arguing about. There is a new 'in the beginning' that is disturbing ...it is the beginning of deception, and the tearing down of what I believe God has for us, by step-by-step building a case for doubt.
They say it is the believer's own fault that younger people in their midst fail to also believe (and to a certain extent, that may be right), but it doesn't really seem that they care so much about that failure ...and I do care. The young people today have much more of a challenge than I did while growing up. And it's not the young people, but rather it's those who are teaching the young ...things I was never taught. Today we are told we should discount the validity of the Bible ...or more commonly, that we should merely view it as poetry, or just a story of a certain people desperately trying to validate their own history.
What is to be gained by a failure in the faith of the Bible??
On one hand, I am told that Moses didn't write any of the Bible, then I am told I am not interpreting correctly what Moses aimed to communicate. How is it that I could possibly interpret incorrectly what someone wrote when I am told that person didn't write it?? Yes, what is to be gained by a statement like that?? Perhaps what is to be gained is good standing in a majority group ...an acceptance into a group that is often not loving. After all, what do they have to lose ...they will still be accepted by a loving God, as long as it can be said that Jesus died for us.
But, by saying Moses didn't write any of the Books of the Bible, and then also saying Jesus only knew what the Books instructed ...yet, going further to even say Jesus didn't really say what the Bible says He said, it leaves many who are yet to believe a bit confused. And certain unbelieving intellectuals scoff at the belief, while presenting their own intellectual expertise in an area.
The confusion becomes so great that one doesn't know what to believe, they just know it feels more comfortable standing with the majority ---not so much power in numbers ---but, rather being shielded from the onslaught of potential past experiences when the shoe was on the other foot.
Sean McDowell relates a story of how a young lady stood before her peers and was applauded for her boldness in telling him off. They were both playing the acting role, but neither of them were letting anyone else know it. Sean was secretly pretending he was an unbeliever and she was pretending to be a believer. Later she admitted to Sean that she was thankful for his defense of the unbeliever, stating she was one. Sean had explained the role he had been playing, but asked why she pretended to be a believer. She said it was because when she had told him off and everyone applauded, she never wanted to be the one he was pretending to be (being laughed at). So, it really depends where you find yourself ...and both sides are often less than polite while ridiculing the other. And Sean pointed this out ...making a great point of believers not making fun of those who are not believers (even if they are making fun of you).
And I guess that's why people may want to be on the side of the majority ...because it is often unpleasant not being so. But, there are also other reasons too. People have bad experiences, and they can't get the answers they feel they need, especially if those around them are also not confident with providing discussions, let alone answers ...so, they in fact are left alone, without the motivation to read about anything. They just give the answer that would require the least follow-up, and most satisfaction of the peers presently around them.
Of course, this is only one of perhaps thousands of reasons ...but, perhaps a little bit of insight is better than none.)
Before I slow down and get back to earth, let me say that the angelic realm had a clear understanding about who God is ...though with freedom of choice, their vision of how each angel fit in somehow became an unsatisfied role. And there was a rebellion.
That paradise became a very chaotic place ...but, make no mistake, God was in control. And the next place became a very humble place called Earth. But, a planet can not be prideful, nor humble ---it is the choice of those who reside there ---anywhere they may be.
The choice had to exist on Earth too (the Garden of Eden) ---yet, this time, instead of acting like we are all adults and can choose to do what we want (sort of like what we read about in the Book of Judges, and seemingly where society is now going) ---sorry, I got ahead of myself. Back to the Garden of Eden ...this time it would be different. We were to look to our Heavenly Father, and be His children. And Adam & Eve had to leave their Paradise ...though God gave them hope and loving guidance.
Both of those Paradises had choices being made within Paradise. But, with the third Paradise (Heaven), we make our choice outside of Paradise ...in a veritably non-Paradise, with a much clearer vision of how wicked things can be (whether we experience them or not, we still have undeniable knowledge of those horrific experiences others do go through). And how does that affect us???
Are we uncompassionate, not caring what happens to others, nor concerned what harming effect we have upon others.
Now, this last point can easily be entirely misrepresented. This week I read an article about how each person is special, and should have the privilege to be happy ...it is not a new argument presented as a supporting point of view towards gay people (which this month they are parading with pride). Yet, it continually gets presented in the way of personal feelings and rights, while ignoring or not acknowledging the feelings or rights of others who are violated at the expense of defending another's rights. The argument enters into the abortion debate, and more recently it has became more bold in the defense of transgender choices, often mentally and emotionally abusive without providing the support that is needed. And physically, there is violent mutilation that is not even given a voice to cry of the abuse.
And by saying this, what I am really saying gets relatively dismissed, and my viewpoint becomes a label without even truly listening to me ...and I am the one labeled as uncompassionate, and my views are said to be harmful.
Yet, that seems to be where we are headed. Isaiah 5:20 ---"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
And Genesis 6:5 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
And I view this surgical manipulation of young teenagers as truly evil. I worked in a Mental Institution with teens, and there are so many things that can be done to help troubled and confused youth ...but, not this! And to think they view schools practices from the past as abusive, such as a teacher taking a paddle to a student's bottom ---yet, today they see it as okay to promote and advise children who need emotional help, to recommend radical irreversible surgery. And I see that as evil, as they see it as good.
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