The Very First Verse

Posted on October 18, 2012 by glenn

They say a picture paints a thousand words. Well sometimes just a few words paints a thousand pictures. Words are powerful. And sometimes a few words are the strongest. Such is the case when one opens the Bible and reads the very first verse. It is so familiar to even the unbelievers. In the modern English language it is only 10 words.

Genesis 1: 1
In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.

There are so many lessons to be found in these 10 words. I would like to consider just two today. I am a person with a scientific and mathematics background. I really appreciate a good proof. As a result I am fascinated by the apologetics found in the Bible. Those texts within the Bible that serve as proofs of its authenticity serve to build our faith. The Bible is not a science book but it is a book of science. Consider the following.

Herbert Spencer was a scientist who lived in the 1800s. He was an early advocate of the theory of evolution. Because of this it is interesting to take his teachings and use the first 10 words of Scripture to illustrate GOD’S wisdom.

Herbert Spencer proclaimed that everything in the universe could be placed into 5 categories. He said everything that exists falls into time, force, energy, space, or matter. Now this is very interesting. But the real interest is to consider Spencer’s contribution to science in the 1800s was noted by GOD in the very first verse of scripture.

Please note our verse under consideration. In the beginning (time) GOD (Force) created (energy) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).

The Bible opens with the first verse giving us the information Spencer thought he was relaying to the world thousands of years later. I can only marvel at the information that is yet hidden from us.

In the second place, there is information in the first verse to tell us of the Trinity of the Godhead. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And again GOD relays this information in the beginning of inspiration to the careful student.

In our verse under consideration, GOD in the Hebrew is Eloihim. The word Eloihim can be plural or singular. So how does that tell us anything? Consider that the verb created is from the Hebrew word bara. The word bara is singular. This is important because this singular verb would require a plural subject. Thus the first verse of the Bible proclaims that GOD is plural. It teaches us about the Trinity of the Godhead.

Other verses to note are verse 26, let us make man. John 1:1 states Christ was in the beginning with the Creator (see also John 1:14). Other verses of interest are Mark 10:6 and Isaiah 45:18.

What a rich study the Bible provides beginning with Genesis 1:1 and going through Revelation 22:21. Your faith will be strengthened if you study the word with an open mind.

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An Old Blue Sign

Posted on October 16, 2012 by glenn

I was fortunate as a child growing up in that I lived close to both sets of my grandparents. They were both within easy walking distance of my home. These two sets of grandparents were very different. I guess that could be said about any 2 families. I appreciated them both and they both gave me a rich heritage of memories.

I remember my maternal grandparents, the Wakefields; mawmaw and pawpaw to me. Their yard had no grass in it. My grandmother would take a hoe and cut the sprigs of grass as they came up and then sweep the yard clean. There were big oak trees in the yard so I doubt very much grass would have grown there anyway. As a boy, it gave me lots of good places to play and I spent many hours at their house.

One of my earliest memories of my maternal grandfather, William Wakefield, is of a sign he had nailed to a big oak tree in their yard. The sign was blue with white letters. It was a metal sign measuring about 2 feet by 3 feet. It was nailed about 6 feet up on the tree. It simply read “Prepare to meet thy GOD Amos 4:12.” I can vividly see this sign today. As a child I wasn’t really sure what that meant. But now as an adult it carries a lot of meaning to me.

First, the prominent location of that sign reminds me that my grandparents were GOD fearing people. In all my years of life I have never encountered one single person who had anything bad to say about my grandfather. Not a single one!

Secondly, as I am now a grandfather also, it is important to me that my grandchildren have good positive memories of me. I want them to associate me with my religion and my GOD. I would hope that when they are in their mid 50s they will remember something about Pop and G that will remind them that we were GOD fearing people.

But of course the most important lesson I take away from this memory is the great truth of the statement. We must ever live our lives with this mindset, preparing to meet our GOD. The Hebrew writer tells us that it is appointed to man to die once and after this face GOD in judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) This is one appointment we will not miss.

I have many happy memories of my childhood and times spent at my grandparent’s house. It is funny how one remembers certain things. That old blue sign is a special memory.

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The Great Equalizer

Posted on October 12, 2012 by glenn

When I was a young man I spent a few years coaching high school football. And even today I am a college football fan. One of the things I appreciated about the sport was that it was a great equalizer. There were kids from very affluent families and those from very poor circumstances playing side by side. When they put on their uniforms they were dressed the same. Their economic place in life disappeared. They all looked the same. It was one of the few places in life where all were playing on a level field metaphorically speaking. Race didn’t matter, finances didn’t matter, and academia and intelligence didn’t matter. Football was truly the great equalizer. The sport of football gave many kids the chance to be just like everyone else.

As I have recently studied the book of Revelation, I came across an interesting verse. The NKJV renders Revelation 20:12 as follows.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before GOD, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

There are several lessons in this passage.

First, I have circled the small and great and noted that death is the great equalizer. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that ALL will stand before GOD in judgment. It will not matter the color of our skin, the size of our bank account, the place on earth we live, the time in history we live, etc. The small and great will stand before GOD.

Our passage also refers to books and a book. The books (plural) refer to the books of the Bible. John 12:48 Jesus says the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Romans 2:16 notes that GOD will judge men according to the Gospel.

The singular book is identified later in the passage in verse 15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. This book is clearly GOD’S roll of the redeemed. I am reminded of my days teaching school and my roll book.

Lastly observe the phrase “the dead were judged according to their works”. It is obvious that we can’t work our way to heaven; we cannot do enough to obligate GOD to reward us with salvation. However, there is an idea of work involved on my part, see Matthew 12:36, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13, 1Peter 4:5, etc. My faithful obedience to His word is my works, again see John 12:48.

Football is a great equalizer. The football player puts on his uniform and many factors in life disappear. But I am much more interested in the Great Equalizer. That Great Day. No matter my lot in life, there is coming a great equalizer one day. That day will be when my life is over either through death or when my LORD returns. Help us to be ready for that Day and be certain our names are in His book!

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A Spiritual Heritage

Posted on October 1, 2012 by glenn

I have many favorite verses in the Bible but certainly one of those has to be 3 John 4. The NKJ renders “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

John was probably referring to those whom he had converted as being his children. And this is certainly true. Those with whom I have studied and had a part in converting, I would definitely say the same thing as John said.
But most of us think of our own children, and even grandchildren, when we read 3 John 4.

There is an interesting study in examining the text and noting the use of the double negative. This was common in classical Greek literature and is found in other places such as Philippians 1:23 (more better or far better) and Ephesians 3:8 (less than the least). Here John states, greater joy have I none. Simply put, he puts it at the top of the list!

What are some ways we can leave a spiritual heritage for our children to follow?

1. Make your spirituality transparent. Children can see through us as parents before anyone else can. We may fool others but it is difficult to fool those in your own household. Your spirituality has to be genuine. It has to be a 24/7 walk instead of a Sunday morning routine.

2. Your children should grow up seeing you pray and study daily. Think about the idea of following. If we are going to leave our children a heritage to follow we must be traveling that road ourselves.

3. Find ways to connect spiritual things with daily life. Observing nature and relating to the Creator, talking of prayers that were answered, etc. Too many people have compartmentalized their Christianity; Who they are on Sunday morning bears little resemblance to the one the children see on Tuesday afternoon. Our religion must permeate every area of life and our children must see this.

4. Give your children a healthy self-esteem by creating in them an awareness of who they are. To establish and protect a good name. To be proud of the family name. To use the words of Jesus in John 8:14, I know where I came from and where I am going.

5. Talk with your children not just about GOD in Bible times but also about what GOD is doing in your life today as well as His working in you throughout life. Some suggestions are:
a. Tell them about your own conversion
b. What the LORD’S supper means to you
c. Give them reasons why you believe in GOD
d. How do you know the Bible is true and from GOD
e. Discuss troubled times in your life and how GOD worked it out for you
f. How GOD is working in your life now with recent answered prayers

6. Pray, pray, pray! Read the account of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, found in 1 Samuel chapter 1 and count the number of times she prayed. Read of Samson’s parents praying even before he was born in Judges 13. Verse 8 is a favorite of mine, when Manoah asks GOD to teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born. Man’s best efforts will be futile without GOD’S help!

There is no greater joy than to hear that my children, grandchildren, and converts walk in truth. I hope I never hear otherwise.

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Proxy Voting

Posted on September 29, 2012 by glenn

My current job places me in a setting with a board of directors in a monthly meeting. From time to time it is the board’s responsibility to develop or revise policy. When this is done it requires a quorum, that is a majority of directors to be present to vote. And this usually comes after much discussion and debate.

So what about those directors who are absent from the meeting? Do they have a voice?

There is a function known as proxy voting. A proxy is a person authorized to act for another and proxy voting is when one person is given authority by another to vote in his stead. This is usually not encouraged and can be illegal in some cases because it gives the person voting too much power on the board. With enough proxy votes one single director could carry the weight of several members. Proxy voting also negates the possibility of meaningful discussion on the board. In the best of circumstances it is not desirable.

In my recent study of Revelation 19, I came across an interesting passage.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

Throughout the Scriptures the church is represented as the bride of Christ. In this passage it is noted at the coming of the Lamb the church will have made herself ready. Think about the church as an individual. Each individual will have made themselves ready. No one else can do this for me. I will have to make myself ready. Each individual will be responsible for making themselves ready.

There will be no proxy voting at that time. No one can stand in my stead at that point. No one can vouch for me. It won’t matter that my wife or children were faithful. It will not matter that I was a part of a faithful congregation. All that will matter at that point is that I will have made myself ready. If I have not, no one else can.

Each will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account of his own deeds. (Romans 14: 10-12)
While we are on this side of eternity let us give attention to making ourselves ready.

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Our Father

Posted on September 26, 2012 by glenn

I have two sons and have treasured a father son relationship since I first became a father. I know the depth of love a father feels for his children. I know the lengths a father would go to assure the welfare of his children. I know the blessing of fatherhood here is priceless to use the phrase from the commercial.

Following the example of the model prayer, I quite frequently begin my prayers to GOD as “Our father in heaven.” And I am forever thankful He chose this relationship to use as a model. I know my earthly relationships pale in comparison to our relationship to Him. I cannot fathom the love my GOD has for me but this address does help me to have an appreciation for it. It helps me understand His approachability, His compassion, His desire for me to be saved, etc.

Think for a moment how radical that address was for the Jews of Jesus’ day. Throughout history the Jews had such respect for Jehovah GOD that they would not even utter His Name. I am told the scribes of the Old Testament would even stop the transcription process and bathe when they came to His Name before proceeding. And yet here is Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray by saying begin your prayers addressing GOD as Our Father. This must have seemed revolutionary to the disciples.

This is easy to understand in light of the New Covenant that Jesus was ushering in. Prior to this time, the Jews’ access to GOD was very limited. Access could be gained only through the high priest. And even the high priest could go before Him only one time each year on the Day of Atonement. But under this New Covenant we are all referred to as priests (1 Peter 2:9). We all have unlimited access to GOD the Father if we are in a covenant relationship with Him.

Be grateful for the privilege of addressing Him as Father. And live a life of faithful obedience so that one day He will be glad to call you His child.

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Change of Seasons

Posted on September 24, 2012 by glenn

The last couple of mornings have been cool giving us a hint of fall in the air. This is a welcome relief from the hot summer that is coming to a close. I love the change in the seasons. I don’t think I would want to live in a climate that was pretty much the same all year long. The cool fall mornings are refreshing and as I write this blog long before sunrise I am anticipating my morning run in the fresh air.

Of course any seasonal change also reminds me of Genesis 8:22, While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease.

So in spite of those preaching global warming, I can be assured the seasonal changes are here to stay. That is, as long as the earth remains.

It is very interesting to note where in scripture this verse appears. Chapters 6 and 7 of Genesis give us the account of the Flood. Chapter 8 is the coming out of the ark for Noah and his family. Many devotional blogs await us in these 3 chapters. The last verse of chapter 8 is our verse in focus this morning.

For our consideration this morning, I need to leave our topic momentarily.
Sometime ago there was a discovery in the frozen Arctic region. This wooly mammoth was found frozen in the ice. Upon closer examination of this ancient beast, it was found to have undigested vegetation in its stomach. What could possibly be the explanation for this? Of course this is just one of hundreds of similar questions. For example, near where I live is a creek bed that is famous for producing shark’s teeth and we live hundreds of miles from the ocean. How can this be?

But for our focus this morning, how did the wooly mammoth come to be located so far north? How did it die? How could it be preserved so quickly that even the food in its stomach was preserved as though it had been quick frozen? I have yet to hear a reasonable scientific explanation for these questions other than the original science book, that is the bible.

The Great Scientist may give us our answer here in Genesis 8:22. Creation scientists believe that prior to the flood, the earth was surrounded by a water vapor. This vapor produced a greenhouse effect for the entire globe that warmed the whole earth. No region would have been too hot or too cold. The entire earth was a tropical region. As a side note, this shield may also explain the long lives of humans in early Genesis. The vapor shield could prevent damaging suns rays from coming through the earth’s atmosphere.

Genesis 7:11 makes a reference to the windows of heaven being opened to begin the flood. Maybe this is a reference to the vapor shield collapsing to the earth as rain. It is after the flood that we find the reference to the seasonal changes, i.e. summer and winter. Maybe prior to the flood there were no seasonal changes. The seasons change because of the relationship of the earth to the sun and the earth’s tilt. With the vapor barrier acting as a shield, the effects of the relationship to the sun would have been greatly reduced.

If this explanation is plausible, consider this. Prior to the flood we had a tropical environment over the entire earth. The wooly mammoth was feeding in the earth’s northern tropical area. The flood would have caused instant death. After the flood, with the vapor shield now gone, the Arctic area would have quickly frozen preserving the wooly mammoth in ice.

This is a very reasonable explanation to the question. I look forward to eternity’s revealing to us all the answers to questions such as these. Until then I rest in the assurance that it all fits into GOD’S master plan. But for now, my plan is my morning run in this cool air!

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Political correctness

Posted on September 4, 2012 by glenn

Political Correctness, commonly abbreviated PC, is best defined by looking at what it is not: that is, the idea of being politically incorrect. Political Incorrectness is used to refer to language or ideas that may cause offense. We live in a time when everyone goes to great lengths to be politically correct, not to say or do things that will cause offense. Now don’t get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with being conscious of other people’s feelings and I don’t go out of my way to be deliberately offensive. But there has to be a point where you draw the line. And that point is where GOD has spoken on the matter. For example, consider the following topics that are almost taboo to bring up, yet consider what the Bible has to say.

  • Homosexuality – Leviticus 18: 22; 20: 13; Romans 1: 27 – The Bible could not be clearer. It is condemned.
  • Same Sex Marriage – This really follows the above scriptures. Marriage is clearly defined between a man and a woman. Note what is said of marriage:
    • From GOD in Genesis 2:24-25
    • From Jesus in Matthew 19:4–6
    • From the Holy Spirit through Paul in Eph 5:31
  • Marriage Divorce and Remarriage – Matt 19: 9 – To marry a second time is permitted only when the first marriage has been dissolved because of sexual immorality. There are no second exceptions.
  • Abortion – Luke 1:44 and 2:12 – The Bible uses the same Greek word (Brethos) to refer to the child in the womb and the child after birth. It is a child in both cases. If it is acceptable to take the life of one then it is acceptable to take the life of the other. See also Exodus 21:22 and Psalm 139.
  • Debt – Romans 13:8 states we are to owe no man anything.  A study of the verb owe reveals that borrowing is not condemned as long as it is repaid on time. To owe means one has not repaid.

The list could go on.

On some matters we can agree to disagree. There are ideas that we can simply not agree on. But on matters where the Creator has spoken the issue is forever settled.

In light of all that Scripture has to say about issues in our lives, we would do well to consider the consequences of taking the idea of PC to extremes. If, while trying to avoid being offensive to others, I take a stand that puts me in direct conflict with GOD’S word, I have to remember there will be consequences for my actions. Maybe PC should stand for Personal Consequences.

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Back to the basics

Posted on September 3, 2012 by glenn

A story is told about the great Vince Lombardi, that on the first day of camp for the Green Bay Packers, he would begin the meeting by holding up a football and saying “Gentlemen, this is a football.” He believed in the basics.

Another one of my favorite coaches – John Wooden, of UCLA fame  – would begin each year teaching his players how to put on their socks and tie their shoes. He took nothing for granted.

Alabama recently completed their spring training in football. After winning the national championship a few weeks earlier, this team spent the spring concentrating on the basics or fundamentals of football.

I think sometimes it would be good for us to remember the basics or fundamentals in all areas of our life. This is especially true of our Christianity. Sometimes we can find ourselves just going through the motions.

How is your singing, praying, Bible study, concern for the lost, etc? If you are not where you want to be, perhaps a return to some basic fundamentals would be in order.

In studying the great letter of Revelation, we find the church at Ephesus was in need of returning to the basics. In Rev 2:4-5, they were encouraged to:

Remember their first love

Repent, or stop doing what they were doing, and

Repeat or do their first works again

This advice really does have application in all areas of life. For example, a couple who is having marital problems would be well advised to remember what brought them together in the beginning. Remember the good times. Remember the feelings early in the relationship. Remember…

The next step would be to stop doing the harmful or damaging things that are causing the problems in their marriage.

And finally, “do your first works”. It is not enough to stop doing the harmful things. You must be proactive. Do the things you did early in the marriage relationship. Perhaps remembering and doing those things that brought you together initially would be a step in healing the relationship.

I believe in the fundamentals. Whether it is in the marriage, your spiritual walk, or otherwise, if we find ourselves struggling in any area, the solution is often found by returning to the basics.

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Penmanship

Posted on September 1, 2012 by glenn

I read recently that cursive writing was no longer taught in elementary schools. That is rather sad because I do appreciate someone who has beautiful handwriting. My Teresa’s handwriting looks as good today as when we were in school. However, from looking at my writing now one would think I have never been taught, but such is not the case.

As a student in the sixties, I remember two things about lessons in cursive writing. We had weekly lessons on the television from the state public television station.  Each week the program had a teacher showing us how to make each letter of the alphabet.  I can still hear her talking us through the various strokes and watching her write so beautifully. My memory also reminds me of the days of black and white television.

The other memory I have is of the “tablet” we each were required to purchase. This practice book had several lines on the page. On the top line the letters were perfectly formed with arrows directing the proper way to make the letters. The rest of the page was for our practice. No matter how much one tried, the result didn’t look like the perfect example. But because we couldn’t make ours perfect, I don’t recall anyone after one or two attempts, ever giving up and saying I quit. It was obvious that that was why we were required to practice.

The New King James Version renders 1 Peter 2:21 as, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:”

The word example in this text leads to an interesting study. It really illustrates how much is lost in the translation from the Greek to English. It is a known fact that the Greek language of the New Testament is the most descriptive language known to man. I think we will agree as we look at the study of this word.

The word example is translated from the Greek word hupogrammos. This comes from two words. Hupo means ‘under’. Grammos has something to do with writing and is probably where we get our word grammar. Thus, we would guess the meaning to have something to do with writing under. Our guess would be very near correct because the definition of hupogrammos is actually a writing copy, including all the letters of the alphabet given to beginners as an aid in learning to draw them.

So hupogrammos is the equivalent of the writing “tablet” on which we learned cursive writing.

Note that Christ is our perfect example just like the perfect letters across the top of the page. We had to practice our writing and no matter how much we worked it would never be perfect. But we didn’t stop trying. Similarly, Christ is our perfect example and we live our lives trying to emulate Him. No matter how hard we try, we will never attain perfection; but that doesn’t mean we give up and say I quit.

When we read 1 Peter 2:21 let us be reminded of our lifelong pursuit to follow Christ. He is the One who left us a hupogrammos to follow.

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