Years, Months, Weeks, and Days

Posted on April 9, 2022 by glenn

Have you ever thought about the origin of certain numbers in our life?  Why do we have 365 days in a year?  Or, why do we have 12 months in our calendar as opposed to 10?  Or why do we have 24 hours in a day?

Well, of course, the answers to these questions are easily explained.  Permit me to address some of these numbers only to ask a very important question for you to consider.  The conclusion is a lesson in apologetics.  First let’s address some of the common divisions of time.

The length of the year is determined by the length of time it takes the earth to make one complete cycle around the sun.

The length of a day is 24 hours because that is the time required for the earth to make one revolution on its axis.

The origin of the 12 months in our calendar might not be as well known.  The fact is, there are 12 months in our calendar year as well as the Hebrew/Jewish calendar.  So what is the explanation?

Month

The word month gets its name from the word moon and is tied to the length of time it takes the moon to orbit the earth.  This lunar cycle is 29.5 days.  You see how closely this time corresponds to the length of a month. 

This means that every 29.5 days we have a full moon and the lunar cycle starts over again.  With 11 of the 12 months containing more than 29.5 days, this explains why every 2 or 3 years we have 2 full moons in the same month.  This happens if the first full moon occurs within the first couple of days in the month.  Incidentally, when there are 2 full moons in the same month, the 2nd one is called a Blue moon.

But note, dividing the 365 days in the year by 29.5 yields 12.3.  So each month is not exactly 29.5 days long.  This explains why the months range from 28 days to 31 days.

Year

Again, one year is determined by the length of time the earth takes to circle the sun.  But that time is not exactly 365 days.  It is very nearly 365 days and 6 hours.  This explains why every 4 years we must add a day, February 29, in a leap year.  This is also the reason why the spring and fall equinox is not on the exact same day each year. 

The fact is the earth’s journey is not exactly 365 days and 6 hours.  It is a few minutes shy of 6 hours.  Thus every few hundred years, a leap year has to be skipped. 

Day

Of course, the length of a day is set by the rotation of the earth on its axis.  It takes the earth 24 hours to make one revolution.

The point of all of this is to say there is a plausible, scientific explanation for all of these times.

The length of a day is determined by the rotation of the earth on its axis.

The length of a year is the orbit of earth around sun.

The length of a month is tied to the lunar orbit and produces the moon’s phases.

So where does the length of a week come from?  Why are there 7 days in a week?

How does an unbeliever answer this???

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The Perfect Cube

Posted on March 10, 2022 by glenn

In the field of mathematics, I especially enjoy solid geometry.  There is just something fascinating about all the various shapes.  For a moment, I’d like you to consider the cube.

A cube is a 6-sided object with all measurements equal.  Think of a box with the length, width, and height all being the same.  A child’s building blocks would be a good example.

There are only 2 perfect cubes found in the Bible.  One is introduced in the Old Testament and the other near the end of the New Testament.  A look at the 2 makes for a thrilling study.

In the book of 1 Kings, we have the account of Solomon building the temple.  After years of wandering and worshipping in the temporary structure known as the tabernacle, it was time for a more permanent structure to be built in the city of Jerusalem.  David’s son, Solomon, was charged with the task that took seven years to complete.

Solomon built the temple according to the specifications given by the LORD.  In 1 Kings 6:20, the inner sanctuary’s measurements are given as 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 20 cubits high.  It was a perfect cube!

This inner sanctuary was a very special place.  Hebrews 9 tells us it was separated from the first part of the temple by a veil.  The inner sanctuary was called the Holiest of All or the Most Holy Place.  It contained specified items.  The only man allowed in this place was the high priest, as he went into this part alone once a year to offer sacrifices.

The only other perfect cube is found in Revelation 21:16-17, with the description of the Heavenly City.  The city is laid out with the following measurements: 12,000 furlongs of equal length, breadth, and height.

Is there a connection between the two cubes?  Absolutely!  The symbolism between the 2 perfect cubes is clear from a further reading of Hebrews 9.  According to verse 9, it was all symbolic and beginning in verse 11, the comparison is made between the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary.  Under the Old Law, the high priest went into the earthly sanctuary to make sacrifices for the people.  Jesus, after His death on the cross, went back to the heavenly sanctuary having provided the ultimate sacrifice giving us a means for our forgiveness.

The earthly sanctuary, the inner sanctuary of the temple, was simply a symbol or copy for the heavenly sanctuary to come.  And both appeared in the Scriptures as perfect cubes.

Hebrews 9:11 begins, But Christ came as High Priest…  And everything changed after that!

The veil that separated the Most Holy Place and kept the common man from entering, was torn in two when Christ was crucified.  Because of His death and subsequent return to heaven, all of mankind now has the chance to enter the heavenly sanctuary.

And Hebrews 9:24 is a thrilling truth to consider.

For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of GOD for us.

Did you catch the last two words?  He has entered heaven and appears before GOD the Father for us.  FOR ME! A thrilling truth indeed!

1 John 2:1 tells me Christ is my Advocate and as such stands before GOD as my representative.

This is my only hope for entering heaven!  My hope is Christ Jesus appearing before GOD, on my behalf, acting as my Advocate.

On my own, I have no hope.  But with His representation, I have no doubts. 

So which will it be for you, No hope or No doubt? 

Posted in forgiveness, opportunity, sacrifice, salvation | 1 Comment

Just Finish

Posted on February 19, 2022 by glenn

Just finish

We probably know someone who starts job after job and never finishes them.  It may be a remodel at the home or jumping from job to job.  Maybe we all have a little of this gene.

The coach of my favorite college football team has a mantra.  Just finish.  Not only is he referring to finishing the game or the season.  He is referring to finishing each play!  Finish!  Do your best.  Do what is expected of you.  Give your best effort until the end.  Don’t quit before the play is over.  Don’t quit on your teammates.  Finish the job.

Finished!  What a great thing to be able to say at the end of a long and arduous project.  I recently finished a kitchen remodel.  The job that was supposed to take a month or so actually took about 5 months.  But it is finished!

It is finished.

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.  John 19:30

This is the seventh and final saying of Jesus on the cross.  He came to do the Father’s will and He completed the task.

Our mission is to do the Father’s will as well.  So what is that will?

Matthew 5:16 tells us we are to glorify GOD through good works.

Galatians 6:10 tells us we are to do good to all men.

1 Peter 2:17 tells us to honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear GOD, and honor our leaders.

Luke 19:10 tells us Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost.  Ours should be as well.

After a lengthy search, Solomon noted the conclusion to the whole matter when he wrote the words found in Ecclesiastes 12:13, Fear GOD and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.

We, like Paul, should live so that when our life is over here, we can say we have kept the faith. 

John in Revelation 2:10 gives us this goal, be faithful unto death. We should be busy doing the Father’ will.  Our time will run out someday.  If we are found faithful, it is then we too can say, “It is finished!”

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Danger Ahead

Posted on January 11, 2022 by glenn

Suppose you are driving down an unfamiliar road and you come upon a sign that says, “Bridge Out Ahead”.  Do you disregard these signs and proceed as normal?  Of course not.  If you have ever walked up to the edge of the road where a bridge is missing, you know it is a scary sight.  I recall once we had a great flood that washed out an old iron bridge on a small country road. Looking at that pavement ending suddenly and the plunge into the ravine and the waters below, was indeed frightening. A barricade was placed there and signs erected up the road, warning of the danger.

These signs are meant to warn us of danger, to tell us to be cautious, to watch out!

There is a word found in Scripture that carries the same meaning.  The Greek word is Blepo.  The word has different meanings and is found over 130 times in the New Testament.

One of the meanings of the word Blepo is, beware or beware of; to take heed.  Twelve of the times it is found in the New King James version, the word Blepo is translated ‘take heed.’

Be careful, watch out, proceed with caution, danger up ahead, beware, look out – all are signs of warning.  Like the sign warning us of the bridge out ahead, these phrases are meant to warn us of a danger up ahead. 

When the Scriptures tell us to “take heed” it is warning us against an impending danger.  Don’t overlook the phrase!

One such passage is 1 Corinthians 10:12.

Therefore, let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.  The phrase “take heed” is translated from the Greek word Blepo.

Well what do we learn from this warning? 

#1 – It is possible for us to fall.  We can become so lax with our salvation and spirituality that we revert back to the ways of the world.  That is essentially the message of the book of Hebrews.  The theme of that book is “Do not go back”.  We are warned of such in Romans 12:2.  So even though many teach that it is impossible to lose one’s salvation, here we see otherwise.  There are over 2500 verses that tell us it is possible to lose our salvation. 

#2 – We are to take heed.  It is as though we have the sign saying “Bridge Out”.  If you ignore this warning, you may meet with destruction.  We must be aware of the possibility of falling from grace so as to guard our spiritual condition.  We must draw near to GOD with the promise that He then will draw near to us.  (James 4:8)

#3 – To what are we being warned specifically?  Allowing ourselves to be deceived in our thinking. It seems a prideful attitude is present.  One who is prideful would do well to heed the warning.  To think that we stand with no possibility of falling is the warning.

When we travel, we watch for the signs along the highway that warn us of danger.  As we travel the road of life, we also have signs that warn us.  May we ever be aware and take heed.

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Timing is Everything

Posted on December 18, 2021 by glenn

In music it is called rhythm.  One might think of it as keeping the beat. The rhythm, the beat, the timing, all refers to the same thing.  In certain genres of music, the drums do this.  In my particular music, the beat is kept by the bass fiddle or at least by a rhythm guitar or the chop of a mandolin.  Whatever the case, rhythm or timing is critical to music.  Timing is everything.

“Timing is everything” is not only true in musical circles.  Consider a passage from Galatians 4:4.

But when the fullness of the time had come, GOD sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Timing.  When the fullness of time had come…  GOD’S timing is everything.  Certain events happened at the perfect time in history.  GOD chose the right time to send Jesus to the earth in order to redeem man.  There are wonderful lessons associated with the timing of that event.  The world conditions relative to the Greek language, the roads of the Roman Empire, the judicial system and the peace under the Roman Empire, etc. are just a few things that were present 2,000 years ago, that made it “the fullness of time.”  This is not to mention all of the 300+ prophecies of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament, having been or would soon be fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ.

I wish to take our thoughts in a different direction today.  Consider GOD’S timing as opposed to man’s timing.  As I consider my life and look back on it, I see His hand in my life especially related to the timing.  I can see His perfect timing in so many events in my life.

Let us consider some interesting Scriptures relative to GOD’S timing.

In John 7:30 and again in 8:20, we find,

They sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

His hour had not yet come because it was not GOD’S appointed time.

In Matthew 26:5 and Mark 14:2, we find the Jewish leaders plotting to take Jesus to kill Him.

But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

The leaders were plotting to take Him, but according to man’s plans, it was not the right time.  Man’s timing said not yet.

However, it was during this feast that GOD had other plans.  According to His timeline, it was the right time and Jesus said, “The hour has come…”  (John 12:23)

Earlier, the leaders wanted to kill Him but GOD’S timing said, “No, not now, the hour has not come.”  Then the leaders said, “Not now, the time is not right.  Not now, but later.”  GOD said, “Now.”

GOD’S timing is always perfect and His will will be done.

It is during this time of year when the world considers the birth of our LORD that I am thankful for His Providential Timing.

Gal 4:4 – But when the fullness of the time had come, GOD sent forth His Son…

Jesus Christ, the Savior, was sent at just the right time.  GOD’S timing.  He said, “When.”

I am thankful for His perfect timing.  I am thankful for that wonderful gift of Grace without which we would have no hope.

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The Chinese Proverb

Posted on December 2, 2021 by glenn

If you have followed my writings any length of time, you surely know how much I like quotes and proverbs.  There is a Chinese proverb that says, “To know and not do is to not know.”  The saying is a lesson in spiritual integrity.

One can talk a good game.  One can say anything.  But without following up with action, the words are empty.

I love the parables of Jesus.  These are stories told in such a way the hearers could easily identify and understand.  Yet Jesus was always conveying a powerful spiritual message.  One such parable found in Matthew 21:28-31, is the parable of the man with two sons.  I immediately identify because I too have two sons.

The father gave the sons a job to do.  The first son said, “I will not,” but regretted his defiant attitude and went to complete the task.  The second son said, “I go, sir,” but he did not go.  Jesus asked which of the two sons obeyed.

Jesus taught a great lesson by pointing out the first was the one to obey.  It was a lesson in repentance.  His defiance was not commended but his penitence and eventual obedience was.

John 13:17 – If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Can you see the Chinese proverb here?  If you really know, then you should do.

How important is our spiritual integrity?  How important is it for our words and actions to agree?

Matt 7:21 – Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Ezek 33: 31-32 – they hear your words but they do not do them.

3 John 3 – For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

The truth that is in you.  The implication is they know it.

Walk in the truth.  The implication is they do it.

Talking and doing, that is spiritual integrity.

In 1 Thes 2:9, 10, Paul noted “we preached, and we behaved.”  We talked and we walked.

To the Corinthians he said, “We are in word when we are absent and we will be in deed when we are present.”  (2 Cor 10:11)

James 1:22 reads, But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Yep, the Chinese were onto something.  To think otherwise is simply fooling ourselves.

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To Be or Not to Be 2.0

Posted on November 16, 2021 by glenn

The phrase is a familiar one.  It actually comes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  The lead character is considering life with its troubles and pain but acknowledging the alternative might be worse.  And so Prince Hamlet begins a lengthy speech with the quote, “To be or not to be, that is the question.”

The word be is but two letters long but it carries so much meaning.

Peter has always been one of my favorite apostles.  It was he to whom the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom.  Peter was the one who walked on water.  Peter was the one who after denying the Christ, wept bitterly and repented.  Peter was the one to whom the Lord said would die a death that would glorify GOD. 

Yet of the 27 books of the New Testament, Peter was chosen to pen only two letters.  Both of these were written much later in life and reflect a man who had grown from the impetuous outspoken man of his younger days to the aged Apostle of hope and encouragement.

Last words are significant.  Peter’s last book is a short book of only 61 verses.  In those verses are several “be” verses, wherein Peter encourages us to “be” faithful.  Let us study a few of these “be” verses and note the progressive nature in which they are found.

2 Peter 3:2 – be mindful of the words

The verse is encouraging us to remember or recall something of importance, namely, the words spoken by the prophets and the apostles of Christ.

2 Peter 3:11 – be in holy conduct

Following the exhortation to be mindful of the words of Scripture, we are encouraged to translate that into action.  It should encourage us to live a life of holiness and godliness.

2 Peter 3:14 – be diligent

The word diligent carries the idea of effort, to labor, to study, to endeavor.  The thought is that life will at times be challenging.  Remain in the word and true to your life of holiness.

2 Peter 3:17 – beware

Peter’s final words remind us that it is possible to fall from your own steadfastness being led away into error.  The antidote or safeguard against this fall is to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.  This seems to carry us back to the idea of being mindful of the words.

To be or not to be.  I hope you will be faithful to Him.

Posted in discipleship, faith, growth, memory, opportunity, reflection, stewardship | Leave a comment

Whiff

Posted on October 22, 2021 by glenn

A memory shared by many is that of a child picking a dandelion and blowing the gray fluffy seeds into the wind.  With a single breath all the seeds are scattered.  The stem is left barren as though the seeds never existed.

He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.  Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.                 Isa 40:23-24

Our GOD has all sovereignty over the earth and all its rulers.  Isaiah reminds us that all these princes and judges will come to nothing.  It is interesting the word useless in verse 23 is the same word translated without form in Genesis 1:2.

In due time, GOD will blow on them and they will be gone. 

All the great leaders of the past.  They are all gone.  It is as though they never existed.  All the leaders of today, both good and bad, will join them.  They will all be like the gray fluffy seeds.  When GOD’S chosen time is right, they will be gone.

Shouldn’t this make us think?  I want to serve the Eternal One.

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Pharaoh or John

Posted on July 31, 2021 by glenn

Life has a way of softening us.  Life has a way of hardening us.  It can do either.

The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax.

The warning is given numerous times in Scripture.  Do not harden your hearts.  The text is found 3 times in Hebrews 3-4.

The heart of the matter is the heart.  It all begins in the heart.

Matt 13:15 – For the hearts of this people have grown dull. 

Matt 15:8 – They draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me

Matt 15:19 – out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts

Matt 18:35 …also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother

It is true.  The experiences of life will either harden our hearts or soften us.  It is up to us.

Let’s consider both choices.

James and John were called sons of thunder in their early years.  This was probably because of a fiery temperament. 

James was the 1st apostle to be killed.  His brother, John not only lived to see James martyred but he witnessed all of the apostles put to death.  Imagine seeing all of these brothers with whom he had shared so much, one by one, killed for their faith.  John, alone, was left.  Life surely had many difficult experiences for John.

John wrote 5 books of the New Testament.  He was likely in his 90’s when he wrote all of them.

Now later in life, he is no longer known as a son of thunder.  Now, we know him as the Apostle of love. 

What changed?  The experiences of life, along with the Spirit of Grace, had softened him.

Let us note a second truth.  As he writes the Gospel according to John, he seldom identifies himself.

This is the disciple who, along with his brother, early in the ministry of Jesus, wanted the prominence of sitting beside Jesus on His throne.  (Matt 20:20-22) 

Luke 9 shares the account of John complaining to Jesus because he saw someone casting out demons in the LORD’S name, but doing so without following “us.”  John would become the Apostle of love but he is not there yet.  It appears he was concerned about his own prominence.

But here, near the end of his life, we find this aged apostle, the only one left, under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and his perspective has changed.

Observe the following from the writings of this aged apostle.  John rarely identified himself in his writings.  Early in life, he may have wanted prominence.  Now he wants obscurity.  Early on he enjoyed the limelight.  Later, he wants the focus on the LORD.

The following verses will bear this out.

John was probably the other disciple in John 1:40. 

In John 13:23, the reference is made to the disciple whom Jesus loved. 

See John 20: 4, 8.  Most assuredly, the other disciple was John. 

See John 21: 20-24.  This text clears up any doubt that it is he who is identified.

So as we consider John, we see this son of thunder becoming the aged Apostle of love.  We see this follower of Jesus, who early on was interested in prominence and yet later in life was an example of humility.

John was a perfect example of one allowing the events of life to soften him.

Briefly, let us consider an example of letting our hearts become hardened.

Read Rom 9:17-18 and consider this question.  Did GOD harden Pharaoh’s heart or did Pharaoh choose to become hardened?  Circumstances were presented to Pharaoh.  He made the choice.  He could have submitted.  The city of Nineveh submitted and was spared in Jonah’s time.  Pharaoh could have submitted.

One’s heart determines how life’s experiences will shape him.  GOD knew Pharaoh’s heart and He knew he would not bend to Moses.  The point is he could have submitted to GOD and GOD would have used that powerful leader of Egypt to accomplish His purpose.  He did not.  GOD’S will was not thwarted.  It was to be done.  Pharaoh’s decision did not prevent GOD’S purpose from being done.  It only determined how it would happen.

As life comes at you full force at times, consider your own heart.  Will you allow the experiences to soften you or harden you?

Are you a Pharaoh or are you a John?

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Welcome Home

Posted on June 9, 2021 by glenn

Lift up you basement doors.

We have often said how much of a refuge we consider our home to be.  Through the years at times our days have been very stressful.  But as we turn into the drive at home, it is as though we can feel the stress begin to dissipate.  We are home!

We have a basement in our home with garage doors.  When I am home and I hear the basement door open, I know that my Teresa is home.  This is always a welcomed sound.  Home is our retreat.  No matter what occurs throughout the day, home is our place of refuge.  It is always good to be home and together at the end of the day.

When I hear the basement door begin to open, I am glad she is home. Imagine how much more this would be if she were returning from an extended trip.  Of course, I would be happy to welcome her home. 

This reminds me of a scene from the last 4 verses of Psalm 24.  Note verses 9 and 10.

            Lift up your heads, O you gates!  And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

            And the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?

            The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.

Welcome Home!

Most agree this is a Messianic prophecy describing the LORD being welcomed back into heaven when His time on earth was complete.  His mission being completed, He was welcomed home.  He came to earth to die in my place.  Because of this bloodshed, I can stand before GOD in judgement with clean hands.  On the cross, He breathed His last with these words, “It is finished.”  His stressful mission was complete.  He was ready to go home.  I can only imagine the welcome He received there.

The first chapter of Acts gives us the account of His ascension back to heaven after His resurrection.  This is what is being described here in Psalm 24:7-10.  Twice it is described as “Be lifted up you everlasting doors!” 

Five times in the passage, the LORD is referred to as the King of glory.  Indeed, He is the King of glory!  And the King was being welcomed back home.

I am so thankful for this scene.  Hebrews 8:1 tells me He is there seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.  Oh, for that I am thankful.  Because I read verse 3 of Psalm 24, and realize I have no chance on my own accord to be there with Him.

But I read elsewhere in the Scriptures.

1 John 2:1 …if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ…

Romans 8:34 …It is Christ who ˡdied, and furthermore is also ²risen, who is even ³at the right hand of GOD, who also ⁴makes intercession for us.

1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one GOD and one Mediator between GOD and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 9:24 – of Christ we read that HE is now in…heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of GOD for us.

When I stand before GOD in the judgment, I don’t want Him to look at me or to look at the things I have done and the things I have left undone.  No, no, no. I want my Advocate, my Intercessor, my Mediator, my LORD, the King of glory, to represent me.

I am glad He was welcomed back home!  I want to be welcomed there one day as well.

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