Wise Men Still Seek Him

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matt. 2:2)

One of the toughest questions that skeptics like to throw at Christians goes like this, “What about the pygmies in the African bush who’ve never heard of Jesus? Is God going to send them to hell, because of their ignorance? That doesn’t seem right, especially if they are sincerely following their version of God.”

It’s a great question and perhaps you’ve been stumped by it, but the Bible offers a satisfying answer in the Christmas story. But before we get there, there are some important caveats.

First, God has clearly revealed His creative power, wisdom and sovereignty in the creation. Whether looking up to a star-spangled sky (Ps. 19:1) or contemplating the miracle of a newborn baby (Ps. 139), God is not silent. He has spoken through creation, complexity and conscience, “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” (Rom. 1:20).

This is called general revelation and what it means is that anyone with common sense can deduce from the beauty and order of creation that there is a Creator.

But, humanity’s problem is that we are lost in sin and our default position is in rebellion against God (Rom. 3:11). In reality, it’s not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have seen and heard, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation.

However, God is seeking to save the lost. Christmas is positive proof of that. When we could not get to God, God came to us in the most unlikely way – an infant. Jesus was God’s love gift to the world and the way that all nations could be saved (John 14:6).

This is where the magi come into the picture. They were Gentiles from a distant land, presumably Babylon. As stargazers they studied the movements of the constellations and planets. When they saw the unique Bethlehem star, their curiosity got the best of them. They deduced from their knowledge of astronomy and hints from the Scriptures that God was up to something big. And so, they followed the evidence where it led. Across a desert they trekked, until they ended up at Jesus’ doorstep.

This scene tells us a lot about the nearness of God and the lengths He will go to reach us. Acts 17:27 assures us that God is not distant, “we should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Moreover, Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Everyone who truly seeks after God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself known. I wonder, what “stars,” that is – people, events, miracles, blessings – has God sent into your life so you will seek Him? Know that if you are seeking today, it’s only because you have already been sought (John 6:44).

Often, this question is used by skeptics to keep God at a distance. They think God would be unjust by denying an aborigine entry into heaven. But when we stand before God, we will not be judged on the decisions or works of others, we will be held accountable for what WE did with the light and opportunity we were given. Moreover, God is not on trial here. We are, and He’s not subject to fallen notions of justice.

I often pose this simple question, “If it could be proven to you that Christianity is true, then would you repent and change?” Many times, the answer is, “No.” Which proves at least one thing – most people are on a happiness quest, not a truth quest. But for those searching for the truth, then it’s inevitable – they will eventually end up at Jesus’ feet, just like the wise men.

Hoping for a Chance

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matt. 1:21-23)

Earlier this year, the Mega Millions lottery reached a jackpot of over a billion dollars as people everywhere lined up for tickets. After 29 consecutive drawings without a winner, one Chicago couple with the lucky numbers finally stepped forward to claim their prize. They decided to take the lump sum payment of $780.5 million.

A MarketWatch article interviewed one of the lottery officials who said, “The reason this lottery got so big – the third largest in US history – was because people need hope. In a time of inflation and economic stress, the fantasy of becoming super rich is driving more than half of American adults to play the lottery.”

By the way, the chances of winning that lottery were about one shot in 302 million! Regardless of whether you play the lottery or not, like that official said, its clear that people are hungry for hope.

Someone has said that “Hope is the one thing stronger than fear, because a single ray of light can pierce through the deepest darkness.” Hope is faith in the future tense, a passion for what might be possible.

Hope is also a core attribute of the advent season. As you read thru the Christmas story in the Gospels, hope percolates upward, piercing the darkness, danger and death finally culminating in the birth of the Christ child. The Christmas narrative teaches us that hope isn’t an abstract principle, hope is a person!  

The angelic announcement in Joseph’s dream helped him connect the surreal events happing in his life to the ancient prophecies about the coming Messiah. Specifically, Matthew cites Isaiah 7:14, which at that time was a 700-year-old oracle predicting the virgin birth. Malachi was the last OT prophet to speak to the Israelites some 400 years prior to Joe’s dream. It has been 700 years since Isaiah gave his prediction and 400 of those years were complete silence from heaven, so it’s safe to say the Jewish people had given up hope that God’s word was ever going to be fulfilled. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick…” Century after century rolled by without the slightest whisper from God.

God’s promise of the virgin-born Savior wasn’t just on life support, it was practically dead! But here’s the good news of Christmas – when hope in God’s promise was at an all-time low that’s exactly when Christ entered this world. Joseph learned that God is not just a great promise maker, but that he’s a great promise keeper! In fact, this is just one promise out of 300 specific prophecies made in the OT about the first coming of Christ and all were fulfilled right down to the minutest detail!

Talk about odds! Did you know you’ve got a better chance of winning the Mega Millions lottery multiple times than of one man fulfilling hundreds of ancient prophecies? The mathematician Peter Stoner calculated that the chances of one man fulfilling just 48 of these prophecies was one shot in 10 to the 157^th power. That’s a 1 followed by 157 afterward, a number so unfathomable we can’t understand it.

Stoner remarks that physicists tell us there’s about 10 to the 80^th power atoms in the entire universe. So by these numbers you have better shot of hitting a target the size of an atom from across the other end of the universe than you do of fulfilling the Messianic prophecies by chance. The fact that Jesus did all this and more is further proof that He is undoubtedly the unique Son of God.

For those that know Jesus Christ, they are more blessed than a lottery winner. They know the Creator who came to a cradle and went to a cross. Only Jesus can give you a hope beyond this world.  

Where's The Myrrh?

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:11)

I heard a cute story about a boy who was playing one of the wise men in his church’s Christmas pageant. The boy only had one line to say when he presented his gift to the baby Jesus. He was supposed to say, “I bring the newborn king the gift of frankincense.” However, this was the boy’s first acting experience, and he was very nervous. Especially, because he had such a hard time saying, “frankincense.”  

Well, the big night of the performance came, and the boy was sweating bullets. He and his two other magi buddies took the stage and knelt before the manger. The moment came for the boy to say his line, but he when he opened his mouth stage fright got the best of him. He couldn’t get his line out, so he just handed his gift over to Jospeh and said, “Here, Frank sent these.”

Anyone familiar with the Christmas story knows about the gifts of the magi. But you may not know that these gifts were not just gestures of good will, they each had prophetic significance.  

Gold was fitting for Jesus’ royalty, as it was the most precious metal on earth in those days. Remember what the wise said to Herod when they first arrived in Jerusalem? “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? (Mat. 2:2).” These men were king-makers and their gift of gold spoke to Jesus royal lineage to David (Is. 11:1-2; Jer. 23:5-6), no wonder this got Herod’s hackles up.  

Frankincense was fitting for Jesus’ deity. This was a costly, beautiful-smelling incense that was used only for the most special of occasions. It was used in the grain offerings at the Tabernacle and Temple (Lev. 2:2, 15–16). How better to honor the God-man than with a gift associated with the priesthood?  

Myrrh was fitting for Jesus’ humanity. This perfume is mentioned often in Scripture, beginning in Genesis (37:25; 43:11). Mixed with wine it was also used as an anesthetic, and later offered to Jesus on the cross (Mark 15:23). When it was mixed with other spices it was used in the preparation of bodies for burial, even Jesus’ body (John 19:39). Imagine bringing embalming fluid to a baby shower today. How strange indeed. But this gift looked ahead to the cross and tomb. This gift recognized that this little baby was born to die as the Savior of mankind. King. Priest. Savior. Each gift spoke to Jesus’ ministry.

But the story doesn’t end there. If you study an obscure prophecy in Isaiah 60 you see some of these same gifts appear again. Here is the promise, “The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, they shall bring gold and frankincense” (60:3, 5-6).

In this oracle, Isaiah is speaking about a future time when the kings of the Gentile nations will flock to Israel to bestow riches upon her and to honor her king. But notice the myrrh is missing. Why is this? Because this prophecy is about Jesus Second Coming. When Christ returns to the earth, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him to be King of king and Lord of lords (Phil. 2:5-9).

During Jesus’ Millennial reign, He will be worshipped as God and revered as king, but there won’t be any need to bring myrrh. He already died and rose again. He suffered as the Lamb of God, never to suffer the scorn and curse of sin again. “For we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him” (Rom. 6:9).  Hallelujah! What should your response be? Like the wise men we must bow our knee before Christ and offer our wealth, worship, and witness to His service.

The Eve-Mary Connection

 

“In pain you shall bring forth children” (Gen. 3:16).

A few years ago, while scrolling through social media during the Christmas season I came across a stunning piece of artwork which featured Eve and Mary standing face-to-face. The painting conveyed the connection between these two important women and their roles in God’s redemption plan.

A forlorn Eve clutches a forbidden fruit in one hand, while her other hand touches the pregnant belly of Mary. The virgin mother smiles as she reaches out to comfort Eve’s grief. A serpent is coiled around Eve’s leg, while Mary’s foot is planted firmly on its head, signaling the creature’s demise. 

I immediately saved the beautiful image to my phone and began to ponder how Eve and Mary are linked together in ways that never occurred to me before.

First, notice that both women had encounters with angelic beings which changed their lives and all of humanity. Lucifer, the fallen angel who became the devil, came to Eve in the form of a serpent. Through doubt, denial and deception he led Eve into temptation (Gen. 3:1-6). She submitted to the Serpent’s lying words by distrusting God.

On the other hand, the angel Gabriel came to a girl in Nazareth straight from heaven’s throne room. Gabriel told Mary the incredible news that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. She submitted to Gabriel’s life-changing news with faith in God (Luke 1:26-28).

Eve disobeyed God and brought about the curse of sin and death to all. Mary obeyed God and gave birth to the Redeemer who would bear the curse of sin and give life to all (2 Cor. 5:21).

Eve’s firstborn son, Cain, took life and became the first murderer (Gen. 4:8). Mary’s firstborn son, Jesus, gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Eve experienced the shame of sin and lost the joy of walking in God’s presence (Gen. 3:8). Mary experienced abundant joy and even sang about the blessing of Immanuel – God with us (Luke 1:46-56).

Eve clothed her nakedness with fig leaves of works (Gen. 3:7). Meanwhile, Mary clothed her miracle child in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger (Luke 2:7).

Eve was promised multiplied pain in childbirth (Gen. 3:16), while Mary was promised the pain of a sword piercing her heart (Luke 2:35), a prophecy of Simeon looking ahead to the cross of Christ. Eve shed tears at Eden’s tree, while Mary shed tears at the foot of Calvary’s tree where Jesus was crucified.  

These two women are like two sides of the same coin. Eve’s distrust of God led her to reach out and grasp the fruit of the tree, but Mary’s faith resulted in the fruit of her womb being nailed to a tree for the salvation of the world. Thus, there is a scarlet thread of redemption connecting Eden and Bethlehem. Even in the dawning chapters of the Bible, God looked ahead to Christmas and Calvary.

“Mild He lays His glory by / Born that man no more may die / Born to raise the sons of earth / Born to give them second birth”

The Thankfulness of Jesus

 

In 2010 psychologist Robert Emmons and his colleagues wanted to know if there was a scientific way to prove the benefits of gratitude. Dr. Emmon’s team devised a study in which they monitored people’s thankfulness in connection with their general health. They divided 1,000 volunteers from ages 8 to 80 into three groups and each group was tasked with making weekly entries in journals. One group wrote five things they were grateful for. One described five daily hassles. And a control group listed five events that had impacted them in a small way.

The results of the study were revealing. Those who kept “gratitude journals” showed some amazing health benefits compared to those who only noted daily gripes. For example, grateful people had stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, more restful sleep, were generally more optimistic about the future, were more generous, more likely to extend forgiveness and had more friends.

Wow! According to medical science, gratitude is good for you! When you study the life of Jesus, you realize that He lived in constant thankfulness to His Heavenly Father. He was thankful when Mary interrupted the party with perfume. When He hugged children and watched blind people look at their first sunsets, Jesus was thankful. When the disciples returned from their first mission trip telling of all the wonderful things God had done, He rejoiced: “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21).

When He broke the five loaves and two fishes to feed the multitudes, He gave thanks for the food (John 6:11). When He saw that His disciples were growing spiritually, He was thankful, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children” (Mat. 11:25).

When Jesus stood at the grave of Lazarus, He wiped tears of grief from His eyes and gave thanks for the miracle He was about to perform (John 11:41-42). At the Last Supper, Jesus blessed the elements of the meal, which were also symbolic of His body and blood, making sure to give thanks for the opportunity to sacrifice his life for the world (Luke 22:19).

If Jesus was thankful, how much more should we be for the thousand blessings that flow into our lives. Max Lucado wrote, “To say thanks is to cross the tracks from have-not to have-much, from the excluded to the recruited. Thanks proclaims, “I’m not disadvantaged, disabled, victimized, scandalized, forgotten, or ignored. I am blessed.” Gratitude is a dialysis of sorts. It flushes the self-pity out of our systems.”

Does your happiness depend on what you drive? Wear? Deposit? If so, you have entered the rat race called materialism. You cannot win it! There will always be a newer car to buy or a nicer dress to purchase. And, since the race is unwinnable, you are setting yourself up for unhappiness. Define yourself by stuff, and you’ll feel good when you have a lot and you’ll feel bad when you don’t.

But Jesus shows us to be thankful for eternal things. What you have in Christ is greater than anything you don’t have in life. He gives us a love that’s unconditional, grace that’s always amazing, hope that springs eternal and salvation that cannot be lost by our own failures. The more thankful you are, the more God will work in your life. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. He uses your thanksgiving as an instrument of power in your life. So, take a moment now, and tell God everything you’re grateful for.

God and Government

 

Pollsters tell us that more Americans voted in 2020 – 154.6 million – than in any other presidential election in history. About 67% of eligible voters cast ballots that year, but that still means a third did not. That amounts to about 80 million people who stayed home. According to My Faith Votes, an organization who studies voting patterns among Evangelicals, they estimate that 25 million Christians who are registered to vote, typically fail to participate in elections.

That’s pretty amazing when you think about the potential those votes could have in swaying the outcome of an election – even if there’s chicanery like there was in 2020.

As a pastor, I’ve heard many comments and criticisms from people over the issue of faith and politics. Some say, “Christians shouldn’t be involved politically, because its dirty and worldly.” Others say, “You pastors shouldn’t talk about politics because we should keep matters of the State and Church separate.” Still others are more fatalistic, “It doesn’t matter how I vote; nothing is going to change.”

But what does the Bible say? Christ has called us to be salt and light in the culture (Matt. 5:13-16) and that doesn’t end the moment we step into a voting booth. We dare not neglect our privilege to elect the leaders who best represent biblical principles. The choice not to vote is still a choice, and evil prospers when God’s people say and do nothing.

Jesus has commanded us to influence our culture rather than isolate ourselves from it. Salt is a preservative. It may not prevent decay, but it can delay it! God has given Christians in democratic countries a unique way to “salt” our world that Christians in other times and places did not have. So, Christians should work to select leaders who will govern according to God’s principles.

But political change is not our ultimate goal. The Christian’s highest calling is to bring people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Earthly governments can either hinder or facilitate this. Personally, I would rather live in a country where we have the freedom to fulfill the Great Commission than to live in one like China or Iran where Christians are imprisoned and killed for their faith.   

But we’re not called to save America. We’re called to proclaim the Gospel. What our country needs most is a genuine revival wrought by the Spirit of God. We need the same spirit of contrition that the Ninevites had in response to Jonah’s prophecy. They humbly cried out: “Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish” (Jonah 3:8–9).”

And don’t forget how many times in the Bible, the Lord providentially placed His servants in places of political influence. Jospeh was prime minister over Egypt (Gen. 41). Moses often contended with Pharaoh to “Let my people go” (Ex. 7). Nehemiah was cup bearer to the Perian monarch who petitioned that he be given permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 2). Esther saved her people from annihilation by speaking to King Ahasuerus. In the NT, John the Baptist preached to Herod (Matt. 14:1-11), Jesus interviewed Pilate (John 18) and Paul told his testimony to Agrippa (Acts 26). Clearly, from these examples God wants His people to involved in government where and when they are given the opportunity.

Ultimately, we know that no matter what happens in the coming election, God is sovereign over nations (Dan. 2:21). Don’t let the donkeys and elephants make you forget that you belong to the Lamb!

The Central Chapter of the Bible

 

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Ps. 118:8). 

We all have our favorite psalms that we run to for comfort in times of distress, worship and prayer. Recently, I have been in awe of Psalm 118, which if you’ve never studied in-depth, is worth your time.

First, consider these amazing facts. Pslam 118 is called by scholars “The Center of the Bible.” The longest chapter of the Bible falls just after this center chapter - Psalm 119. The shortest chapter of the Bible falls just before this chapter - Psalm 117. There are exactly 594 chapters before Psalm 118, and exactly 594 chapters after it. When you add the number of chapters before Psalms 118 and those after, the sum is 1,118. And the verse at the very center of the Bible is Psalms 118:8.

The central verse of the Bible challenges believers to put their confidence in the Lord rather than the things of this world, which offer only temporary safety. Its rather amazing that the core of the Bible reminds us that our lives had better be “centered” on the Lord or else our faith is misplaced. It’s as if this Psalm is asking us, “Who or what is the central pillar holding up the structure of your life?”   

Notice the term “refuge” in 118:8. That makes us think of a shelter from the storms of life or a fortress from the attacks of an enemy. Worldly people put their trust in their riches, their accomplishments, science and technology, the government or their own righteousness to give them security. But the Bible reminds us that none of these institutions will last. Earthly riches are susceptible to rot, robbers and rust (Mat. 6:19-20). Man’s best works are as filthy rags compared to God’s glory (Is. 64:6). The philosophers and sages are intellectual beggars whose lectures have as much substance as soap bubbles floating in the wind (Ecc. 1:16-17). Empires rise and fall and the names of their mighty kings are forgotten (Dan. 2:21), while man-centered religion is like drinking from a broken cistern (Jer. 2:13).

Also of note in Psalm 118 is how it prophetically points to Jesus. This psalm was often sung by ancient Jews during the Passover celebration and many scholars think it likely that Psalm 118 is what Jesus sang with the disciples on the night before his crucifixion (Mat. 26:30). Recall, that Psalm 118:26 was recited by the adoring crowds on the day Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem (Mat. 21:9). On Sunday, they championed Him, but by the end of the week, the same crowd cried “crucify Him.”

Indeed, Christ was the “stone which the builders rejected” according to 118:22. The Lord quoted from this verse in reference to himself after teaching the Parable of the Tenants (Mat. 21:42).  Peter also quoted this verse in relationship to Christ – pointing out the irony. The discarded stone that the Jewish people saw as flawed and useless, has now become the chief cornerstone in the grand masterpiece of the Church (1 Pet. 2:4-7). Right now, God is building a grand cathedral of redemption from the refuse of the world.

Psalm 118 not only looked to Calvary and the church age, but also ahead to Christ’s conquest. Upon Jesus’ return He will destroy the nations of the earth at the climactic battle of Armageddon, which verses 118:10-11 allude to. Then we will witness His victory procession as Jesus enters the gates of Jerusalem to rule and reign for 1,000 years of unparalleled peace and prosperity, “19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord” (see also. Ps. 24:7-10). On that awesome day, the church shall sing the chorus of Ps. 118:23-24, “This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Learn to Discern

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

A few years ago, I made a trip to Washington, D.C. and along the streets were all kinds of vendors. Snack shacks, t-shirt huts, and presidential memorabilia were lined up like a curbside bazaar. One man had a table set up that advertised, “Rolex watches—Great Deals!” He wasn’t kidding, for only $50 I could own a replica of the Omega that James Bond sports in the movies.

The well-dressed Indian man behind the counter assured me that these watches had a lifetime guarantee and that if I ever had trouble with one I could just send it back to the manufacturer. I was already suspicious, but I really knew I was dealing with a fake when I examined the watch face and noticed the spelling of this particular brand—R-O-L-E-X-X.

In the marketplace of spirituality there are numerous fakes, knockoffs, and counterfeits. It has been said that Satan is not a creator, but a great imitator. For every one of God’s truths, Satan has concocted ten counterfeits that look right, sound right, and feel right. This is why knowing true Biblical doctrine and developing the discipline of discernment is so vital.

Discernment is the skill of being able to tell the difference between good from evil, fact from fiction, black from grey. Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not just knowing the difference between right and wrong. It’s being able to tell the difference between right and almost right.” Discernment looks beneath the surface and reads between the lines.

A Christian without discernment is like a submarine in a harbor plowing full speed ahead without radar or periscope. Or a loaded 747 trying to land in dense fog without instruments or radio. Lots of noise, a great deal of power, good intentions, until . . . bam! Disaster.

John tells us to “test” the spirits to see if they are from God. In the original language that word “test” comes from the world of pottery. In fact, the English word “sincere” comes from two Latin words: sine (without) and cera (wax). In the ancient world, dishonest merchants would use wax to hide defects, such as cracks, in their pottery so that they could sell their merchandise at a higher price. More reputable merchants would hang a sign over their pottery — sine cera (without wax) — to inform customers that their merchandise was genuine.

That’s what we must do every day, especially in the digital age when we are constantly bombarded with information and fake news. Does the conspiracy theory video we’re watching hold up to critical scrutiny? That catchy tweet from a celebrity preacher sounds good, but it is biblically based? The sensational headline we clicked on has lured us in, but what is the writer’s real agenda?  

Satan is so tricky and here’s the thing about deception: you don’t know you’re being deceived until its too late! Remember that 99% of rat poison is healthy food, it’s the 1% that kills. Just so, a Devilish lie can contain a kernel of truth, that has been corrupted and distorted slightly. How do we develop discernment? Read the Word every day. Memorize it even. Think critically. Break ideas down and compare them to the Bible. Be like the Bereans. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).   

Mental Health and the Church

A recent study by Mental Health America found that 50 million adults are suffering from a mental illness, and more than eleven million have serious suicidal thoughts. These mental health issues can manifest in myriad ways – depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, and gender dysphoria. 

Ruth Graham seemed to understand this before many in the church did, when she wrote years ago “There’s a pain in every pew and a hurt in every heart.” The church has been slow to understand and respond to the epidemic of mental illness that plagues this nation.

There are a few reasons for this. First, medical science has just in the past few years began to understand the link between mind and body. It wasn’t that long ago, that depression was called “a case of the blues” and PTSD among soldiers was referred to as “shellshock” or “combat fatigue.” We are only beginning to understand how these maladies result from chemical imbalances in the brain or trauma.

Second, is the false notion in the church that somehow Christians are supposed to be immune to these infirmities. Many of us have shaken hands with a friend at church and when asked “how are you doing?” we deflect and say, “I’m good,” when in reality our world is falling apart. Who came up with stupid “Christianese” mantras like “Too blessed to be depressed?”

Moreover, when you search the Scriptures, you discover people whose lives were mentally frayed. Did you know that some of God’s choice servants hit low points in which they despaired unto death?

Moses cried out to the Lord in Num. 11:15, “I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” 

Elijah was so fatigued and fearful that he retreated to a cave and asked to die (1 Kings 19:4).  

In the crucible of suffering, Job wondered why the Lord allowed him to be born at all (Job 3:11). 

Jeremiah was called “the weeping prophet” for a reason and he wrote a whole book expressing his anguish called “Lamentations.”

And when we are distraught, we run to the Psalms for comfort where David’s raw emotions erupt, “My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long?... I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping” (Ps. 6).

I think we would do well to stop with the fakeness of “putting on a happy face” when we go to church. Sometimes it is a struggle to even show our face on a Sunday. Sometimes the pain is so great it’s difficult to sing hymns. Sometimes all we have to offer to God is broken pieces and burdened minds.

Don’t get me wrong, there is joy in the Lord and church should be filled with His praises. But at the same time, we can’t keep pretending when people in the pews are struggling in silent desperation. That’s why the Word calls us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

What’s the answer? I’m not a psychologist or doctor, I feel so ill-equipped to deal with people’s problems. The only thing I know to do is point troubled souls to Jesus. There was no body more deranged and mentally unstable than the demoniac Jesus encountered in Mark 5. He howled at the moon like a werewolf, lived among the tombs and practicing cutting. And yet, when Jesus cast out the Legion of demons torturing him the Bible says, “And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind” (Mark 5:15).

Don’t miss that last part – “in his right mind.” Doesn’t the Bible call Jesus “wonderful counselor” (Is. 9:6)? Jesus can do what pills and programs can’t. If you are depressed, tortured or confused, Jesus can heal the wounds that no one can see. If you are a Jesus-follower and there are days where you feel like you’re hanging on to your last shred of sanity, it doesn’t mean you are not saved or “less than.” What it means is that you will have to rely on God to carry you through in ways that others may not. But leaning on Him more is no lack of faith. It’s a declaration that He is sufficient.

Questions

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me” (Job 38:1-3).

A few years ago, several stories emerged in the news media about an 8th grade graduation test from 1912 that somehow turned up in the archives of a Kentucky museum. In its heyday this test was called the “Common Test” and it was administered to students all across the Bluegrass State. How students performed on this test determined if they would move on to high school. The exam spanned eight subjects: spelling, reading, arithmetic, grammar, geography, physiology, civil government and history.

Some sample questions were: “A man bought a farm for $2,400 and sold it for $2,700. What percent did he gain in profit?” “Diagram the following sentence—The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.” “Name in order of their sizes the three largest states in America.” “What is liver? Where is located in the body and what is its purpose?” “Who invented the Cotton Gin? “Name two presidents who died in office and the last battle of the Civil War.”

So how would you do? Need to hit the books again? When the test was administered to adults and high-schoolers today, most could not pass it. Are you smarter than an 8th grader from 1912? Perhaps, one of the most daunting series of questions is found in Job 38-39. Since his suffering began Job had sought an opportunity to put God on the witness stand and ask Him some questions. Instead, Job is put in the hot seat and cross-examined by God in order to show him how weak, ignorant and limited his understanding of the universe really is compared to God’s omnipotence and omniscience.

God bludgeons Job with a series of 77 unanswerable questions from different scientific disciplines – cosmology, oceanography, meteorology, zoology and more. Not once in God’s monologue, does the Almighty answer any of the questions Job posed earlier in the book about why he was suffering. When God was finished blasting Job all he could do was sit in stone silence. “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further” (40:4-5). Job was humbled—the suffering stripped him of the physical props in his life while God’s interrogation stripped him of his pride.

Like Job, I’m sure each of us have some questions we’d like to demand of God, especially when it comes to the nature of suffering. There’s nothing that produces questions like when we are afflicted, or when someone we love dies, or when we witness heinous evil that goes unpunished. But after meditating on this scene, I am reminded of three truths. 

First, God owes us nothing. God is not obligated to explain Himself to finite, fallen creatures. Second, perhaps God keeps us ignorant of the reasons for our suffering because we are incapable of comprehending the answer. God’s ways are higher than ours (Is. 55:11). How can the finite understand the infinite? We might as well try and explain calculus to a dog. 

Third, when we suffer God doesn’t reveal His grand design, He reveals Himself. God spoke to Job from the whirlwind, which was the same storm that wrecked his life in the beginning (1:19). The vehicle that God used to bring suffering and great dread into Job’s life was also the means that God used to reveal Himself. And such is the nature of suffering. It’s the thing we dread the most that will teach us the deep things about God. 

There will always be questions this side of eternity. Faith is trusting God and leaving room for the mysteries of life. As Augustine said, “Better that I find you God, and leave the questions unanswered, than to find the answers and not find you.”   -DM

Red Heifers Arrive in Israel

Last week some interesting news broke from Israel - five red heifers arrived by airplane at Ben Gurion International Airport. This was a day of celebration for The Temple Institute, a Jewish organization in Israel whose focus over the past 30 years has been to establish the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

Why are these animals so important? Because Jewish priests serving at the Temple must present themselves in a state of ritual purity before they can perform their duties. Numbers 19 records the incredibly intricate details for this purification process which requires the ashes of a red heifer.

“Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come…and it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered…the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. And the heifer shall be burned in his sight” (Num. 19:2-5).

If you keep reading this passage it says that the only way the priests could be cleansed from impurity was to be washed with water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer, but not any red heifer would do! She must be young, less than 3-years-old with no defect, on which no yoke was ever placed.

According to rabbis, only nine red heifers were ever found in the entire history of Israel, so it goes without saying that they are extremely rare and valuable. For the past decade, the Temple Institute had been searching and trying tirelessly to breed a perfect red heifer specimen. They were unsuccessful until last year when they came into contact with a Texas rancher who had figured out a way to breed five. A team of rabbis from the Temple Institute flew to Texas to inspect the calves last year and deemed them worthy of meeting the biblical requirements.

So why should Christians care? Because these events hint at prophetic significance. The Bible predicts that during the future Tribulation period, there will be a Jewish temple standing in Jerusalem. In Rev. 11:1 John is told, “Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there.” Daniel, Jesus and Paul all prophesy that at the midpoint of the Tribulation period, the Antichrist will enter this temple, desecrate it and declare himself to be God (Dan. 9:27, Mat. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4).

The Temple Institute has been diligently working to make the third temple a reality. Many of the utensils, such as the golden menorah, the priestly garments and vessels used to store the blood of sacrifices, have already been created. A computer database of the eligible priests has also been put together, complete with their genealogical records. And now one more critical piece for resurrecting temple worship is within their grasp – the red heifer. Now all they need is a piece of land on the Temple Mount upon which to build.

How exactly the Jews will be allowed to rebuild in the most hotly contested piece of real estate on earth, we don’t know and the Bible doesn’t say. But prior to 1948 it looked like it would be impossible for the Jews to ever have their own nation, but look what God did on the world stage. We don’t know how God will fulfill His Word, but believe it friend - every jot and tittle will come to pass.

All this points to another prophetic sign that indicates events are moving exactly in the direction God said they would as the world nears the return of Jesus. Until He comes, we can rejoice in Heb. 9:13-14 which assures us that the sacrifice of Jesus is superior to that of the red heifer: “For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” -DM

Jesus and Elton John

 

British pop legend Elton John is no stranger to the provocative, just look at some of his wild fashion and his openly gay lifestyle before there was a modern LBGT movement. John also has a colorful opinion of Jesus. He said in separate interviews that “Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man” and that Jesus would “be in favor of gay marriage.”

It makes you wonder if he was going for the world record for the most heretical statements in one breath. As outlandish as it might sound, there are many LBGT affirming churches today that aren’t far from the same message as “The Rocketman”. It’s a sad and strange day when the preacher and the pop star are saying the same thing about Jesus to support their sin. In fact, I recently heard a man defending the gay lifestyle say, “Well, Jesus never condemned homosexuality, so Christians shouldn’t either.”

How should we respond to that claim biblically? First, it is true that Jesus never condemned homosexuality in the Gospels, however He certainly never condoned it either. Those making this argument are actually committing a fallacy known as the “argument from silence.” That’s when someone wants to make case based on what’s NOT been said, which requires no evidence at all.

Are we to believe that any action is permissible unless Jesus specifically forbade it? The goal of the Gospels was not to give us a comprehensive list of sinful activities, and there are many obvious sins that are not found in the “red letter” sections of the Bible. Kidnapping, for example. Jesus never specifically said that kidnapping was a sin, yet we know that stealing children is wrong. Drug use is another one.

Second, it’s clear that Jesus affirmed the Genesis model of marriage and sexuality between one man and one woman. In Mark 10:6-9 and Matt. 19:4-6 Jesus quoted from Genesis, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Third, Jesus condemned ALL sexual immorality which falls outside the confines of God’s intended design in marriage. In Matt. 15:19-20, Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” Sexual immorality here in this verse is an umbrella term which would include – adultery, fornication, homosexuality, porn and any other sexual sin. Moreover, these specific sins are condemned and listed in other passages (see 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Rev. 21:8, Rom. 1:24-31, Lev. 20:10-13, and Gen. 19).

There is simply no way the LGBT lifestyle can be supported by the Bible. With that being said, there is a tendency in the church only to hammer down exclusively on homosexuality, when all forms of sexual perversion are equally sinful and destructive. We would do well in the church to remember we all stand equally condemned as sinners, even if our sexual sin of choice isn’t homosexuality. At some point, we’ve all looked lustfully upon another and according to Christ that makes us adulterers at heart (Matt. 5:28).

God loves the homosexual. Jesus reached out to the five-times divorced woman at the well who was shacking up with another man (John 4). The Lord has the power to set free and save the porn addict. If you are trapped in a sexually immoral lifestyle – it’s time to repent, turn to Christ and be cleansed. The love, healing and fulfillment you are seeking is found only in Jesus. He will save you from yourself.

Is Evangelism Harder Today?

 

“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” (Mat. 10:14)

In 1957, Billy Graham held his longest running crusade ever in New York City. The meetings began on May 15 and ended on Sept. 1 – extending a total of 16 weeks! Over that summer, 2,397,400 persons attended the meetings and 61,148 made decisions for Christ. The crusade kept gaining momentum, so it was moved from Madison Square Garden to Yankee Stadium (when the boys in pinstripes weren’t playing), and finally culminated in Times Square with an estimated 125,000 in attendance!

Thinking back to that summer 65 years ago, it seems impossible that something like that could happen in America today. Especially, when you consider that church attendance in the US has hit record lows. According to a recent Gallup poll, “Americans’ membership in houses of worship continued to decline in 2021, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup's eight-decade trend. In 2021, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.”

As many experts have noted, we are now living in what has been called a “post-Christian” society, one in which Christianity is no longer the dominant religion and where most of the culture is secular.

This got me thinking – if Billy Graham lived today and tried to have a crusade in NYC in 2022 would he have the same results? Maybe, there’s no way we could answer that question, but we can definitely say that American culture is much different now than what it was in 1957. Back then, school days were started with prayer and Bible reading. Back then, church attendance was at an all-time high. Back then, people believed there were only two genders and TV was just beginning to appear in homes.

I would say that given the moral abyss we are sliding into, Billy would have a harder time today. This difference is illustrated in the book of Acts between the response Peter received preaching on the Day of Pentecost verses the response Paul got preaching in Mars Hill.

According to Acts 2, when Peter preached the Gospel “the people were cut to their heart” and “those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Meanwhile, according to Acts 17, when Paul preached to the intellectuals in Athens, “some of them sneered, but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject’ and some of the people became followers of Paul and believed.”

What was the difference? Why did Peter enjoy a massive harvest, while Paul only a few converts? In Acts 2 Peter primarily had Jewish audience, who were steeped in the OT Scriptures and possessed a theistic worldview. While in Acts 17 Paul had a Greek audience who was steeped in paganism, Epicurean and Stoic philosophy, and possessed a secular worldview. Paul had a much harder time reaching the Greeks because the cultural divide was so much wider.

This is important for us to remember today. We are living in an America that much more resembles Acts 17 than Acts 2. This is why its harder to do church, reach the lost and have a lasting impact. Christians are no longer the majority in this culture. It doesn’t diminish the power of the Gospel, but it does mean our work is cut out for us! All we can do is share Christ faithfully and leave the results up to God. -DM

Resurrection Bread

 

“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” (Luke 22:19).

When Jesus and His disciples gathered to celebrate Passover on the eve before His crucifixion there was a profound combination of prophecy, tradition and meaning coming together. By the time of Jesus, the Passover had already been celebrated for over 1,400 years by the Jews since the days of Moses.

During the traditional Passover Seder, it is customary to place three pieces of matzo (unleavened bread) inside a bag with three compartments. Early in the Seder, the middle piece of matzo is removed, broken in half, and one half of the matzo is hidden away until later in the evening. This hidden matzo is called the “afikomen.” At the end of the meal, the children are sent out to find the hidden afikomen, which is then broken into small pieces for everyone to eat as the dessert part of the meal. It is often said that the eating of the afikomen brings long life from God because it signifies observing the commandment to celebrate the Passover (Exodus 12).

Such a fascinating tradition whose origins are shrouded in mystery! The earliest explicit reference to the eating of the afikomen comes from the Mishnah, an early rabbinic work written in 200 AD. Scholars have concluded that it is possible, even probable, that the bread held up by the Lord was an early version of the afikomen, but it is impossible to know for sure.

What’s more amazing is how the parallels between the Jewish afikomen tradition and Christ are striking. We know that Jesus reinterpreted the meaning of the Passover bread to symbolize His body. The unleavened bread pictured His sinlessness, as leaven in the Bible is always a picture of sin (Ex. 12:15; 1 Cor. 5:6-8.

Then, there are three pieces of matzo in the bag, but only the second one is broken, which is reminiscent of the Son of God – The Second Person of the Trinity - who was slain for our sins (John 3:16).

The afikomen is hidden away after being publicly broken, which is reminiscent of Christ’s burial after His public death (John 19:38-42). Then the afikomen is found—which alludes to Christ’s resurrection and our Savior walking out of His tomb where He was discovered by many witnesses (Acts 1:3).

Then the afikomen is given to all present as a symbol of God giving life to those who follow Him. This is reminiscent of what Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

Amazing! For some communion is a sleepy hour in which wafers are eaten and juice is drunk and the soul never stirs. It wasn’t intended to be as such. It’s not just a time to look back at the cross and marvel at the prophetic fulfillment, but also to look forward to His crowning return in anticipation. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).

Notice that last part – until He comes! For believers, the Rapture of the Church, then the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, are next on God’s prophetic calendar. Beloved, the wedding is not far off! Perhaps today we’ll hear, “Behold the Bridegroom comes. Go out to meet Him.”

The Power of Perfect Love

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18)

My wife is an animal rescuer. She will take-in any pitiful pup or stray cat that wanders our way. Her most recent labor of love is a doggy, which my mother said looked like a “Toby” the first time she saw him. The name stuck. Much better than what he had been called - “Taco.”

My wife scours the local animal adoption Facebook pages. That’s where she found Toby. When Toby first entered our three-ring-circus, you could tell he had a terrible past. We suspect he was abused and neglected, because Toby exhibited all the traits of a damaged doggy – timid, cowering, nervous, no appetite and looking for a chance to run away.

But over the past several days, we have noticed a transformation take place. He’s not the same dog. He’s coming out of his shell. He loves to play with the kids. He greets everyone with an excited wag and a whimper. He begs to be cuddled and surrenders his paw for a handshake. He wants to be wanted.

What made the difference? The only thing I can figure is the transforming power of love. Perhaps, for the first time in his life Toby has a family. When you are truly loved you don’t have to be afraid. There’s security in love. And that security fosters growth and change. In the security of love, Toby is learning to trust and that he doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.

This is a faint example of what John talked about when He said, “perfect love casts out all fear.” If love can transform a scared doggy, then imagine what the perfect love of God can do in fearful, broken people! In Christ, we are objects of the Father’s infinite love. Because Christ satisfied the wrath of God by absorbing our punishment on the cross, then we don’t have to fear God’s judgment – whether that pertains to the future penalty of hell or the Tribulation period (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9).

But that’s only the beginning. If you were to chart this on a graph you would see an inverse proportion – as our understanding of God’s love increases, our level of fear and anxiety decreases. God’s love protects us from the fear of danger (Ps. 56:3), the fear of defeat (2 Tim. 1:7), the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15) and the fear of disownment (Rom. 8:35-39). We don’t have to be afraid of our past disqualifying us from God’s love, nor do we have to be afraid of the future, because God’s love doesn’t expire.

Because we know that God is watching over us as a loving Father, then His plans will not be undermined and His purposes for us are good. When we fall into sin, His love for us doesn’t change based on our performance. God doesn’t cast us aside. We can truly rest in His love because He will never drag up our past or condemn us (Rom. 8:1). So let go of all the shame and fear and let the love of God set you free.

“Oh love that will not let me go / I rest my weary soul in thee / I give thee back the life I owe / That in thine ocean depths its flow / May richer, fuller be”

We Become What We Worship

“Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭115:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

My favorite fan fiction of all time is JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” In the movies and books we meet the pitiful creature Gollum, who once was a peaceful, friendly hobbit named Sméagol. But, Sméagol was transformed into the ugly, slinking creature Gollum when he had the misfortune of discovering a magical ring.

The One Ring promised unlimited power to the one who wore it, however in exchange it exacted a heavy toll. The ring was imbued with the evil spirit of a tyrannical king, named Sauron. Those who wore the ring were inevitably transformed by its evil and turned into slaves of the Dark Lord. And so is the tragic story of Gollum - a hobbit who became a creature corrupted by evil.

The reason why this character is so compelling is because it’s based on a biblical principle - we inevitably become what we worship. This is a major lesson of Psalm 115. Whatever or whoever holds our heart’s affection will transform us into its likeness - for good or evil.

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they received the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. The second of those commandments is to forsake all idols (Ex. 20:4). Psalm 115 celebrates this commandment, expressing worship to the true and living God, in specific contrast to the idols that were being worshipped by the surrounding nations.

The Egyptians, Canaanite’s and Amalekites were mocking Israel because they seemed to worship an invisible god, in contrast to their gods, who were visible and on display in their temples. In contrast, Psalm 115 says their gods were on pedestals in temples, whereas “our God is in heaven” (v. 3, 16). Their gods are “made by the hands of men” out of “silver and gold” (v. 4), whereas our God made us. Their gods have “mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk” (vv. 5–7). In contrast, the God of biblical revelation is the living God, who speaks, sees, hears, smells, feels, and walks!

The climax of the psalm is found in verse 8: “Those who make [idols] will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” This is a great reminder to us. If you worship a dead block of wood or stone, you will become like what you worship, dead and lifeless. If you worship the living God, you will become like him, with all his goodness and perfections. Although we live in the 21st century, we still can see the widespread worship of false idols. An idol is anything you love more, fear more, serve more and worship more than the true God. Some worship the idols of money, drugs, power, and sex. However, these things have no more life than the dead idols of the ancient world. They will all pass away.

This psalm is a sobering reminder that we become like what we worship. Like Gollum who worshipped the power of the ring and became a slave. Therefore, we should be careful not only to avoid false idols, but also to not worship some warped caricature of God that we have invented in our own minds, rather than the true and living God, who has revealed himself in the person of Christ.

Pray: “Lord, smash the idols in my life! I don’t want to become a slave of the gods of this world. Transform my mind. Change my affections to love what you love and hate what you hate. Make me more like Jesus and less like myself. Amen.”

The Universe: God's Billboard

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Psalms 19:1)

On Monday, July 11, 2022, the first images from NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope were released to the public. The Webb telescope is a modern marvel. The size of a tennis court and three stories high, the Webb is the largest telescope ever sent into space. It's an astounding 100 times more powerful than the famed but aging Hubble Space Telescope, which is 32 years old. After traveling 1 million miles from earth, the Webb finally was ready to begin beaming back its incredible images.

According to NASA, Webb will explore every phase of cosmic history – from within the solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, and everything in between. “Webb can see backwards in time to just after the Big Bang by looking for galaxies that are so far away that the light has taken many billions of years to get from those galaxies to our telescopes,” one scientist said.[1]

If you haven’t seen some of the first images, you really should look them up. They are amazing. One shot in particular showed a blanket of galaxies millions of light years away, each galaxy containing billions of stars and planets.

It’s a staggering thought that just a few days ago these distant stars and galaxies had never been seen by human eyes. There is untold and unseen beauty in our universe that must have been made just for the pleasure of God. What a token of an extravagant, lavishly creative God.

Isaiah 40:26 says, “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.” Feeling small yet?

If that wasn’t enough, Earth just happens to be located in right location of our spiral galaxy. The Milky Way is about 100,000 light years across, so if you wanted to see every star just in our galaxy it would take you at least 100,000 years traveling on a rocket ship going the speed of light. The estimated galactic habitable zone ranges between 23,000 to 29,000 light years from the galactic center. Interestingly, our Earth lies exactly in the center of the galactic habitable zone. Earth is about 27,000 light years from the galactic center. In 2008 the Hubble Telescope discovered that lurking in the center of our galaxy is massive black hole. Turns out, that if Earth were too close to the center of the galaxy then harmful radiation emitted from this black hole would make life impossible. Conversely, if our planet was too far out in the periphery, not enough heavy elements like carbon and iron would be available as building blocks for a habitable planet.

Those facts inspired astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez to say, “Not only do we inhabit a location in the Milky Way that’s fortuitously optimal for life, but our location also happens to provide us with the best overall platform for making a diverse range of discoveries for astronomers and cosmologists. Our location away from the galaxy’s center and in the flat plane of the disk provides us with a privileged vantage point for observing both nearby and distant stars. We’re also in excellent position to detect the cosmic background radiation, which is critically important because it helped us realize our universe had a beginning in the Big Bang.”[2]     

Apparently, God has placed us in the exact location of our universe which makes it most optimal for discovering His handiwork. The universe is God’s billboard - displaying His might, creativity and eternality. Only a fool would deny it. Yet, the same God who knows each star by name, also knows the number of hairs on your head and has all your days recorded in His book, the psalmist says.

God is transcendent and also personal. Even more awesome is that this star-making God came to this tiny planet and robed Himself in flesh. He walked our streets and felt our pain. Jesus - the Creator - was beaten, mocked, and crucified by sinful men.

Creation cost Jesus nothing. Just a few words and BOOM, the stars began twinkling and the planets spinning in orbit. But your redemption, cost Jesus everything. He could have stayed hidden in the heavens but the Son of God chose death. Willingly. Sacrificially. Purposefully. Feeling loved yet?

The God who gives us life explains His power in the cosmos and displays His love on the cross. He made you and redeemed you. If that doesn’t make you want to shout, I don’t know what will. -DM

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[1] Doyle Rice, “First Image from the James Webb Space Telescope Shows Thousands of Galaxies,” USA TODAY, 11 July 2022 <https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/07/11/james-webb-space-telescope-first-image-released-biden-monday/10029517002/>

[2] Guillermo Gonzales quoted by Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004), 187.