"None So Blind"

    Like many believers, science documentaries both fascinate and frustrate me.  It is wonderful to discover the glories of God's creative artistry and profound engineering.  It is wearisome and at times enraging, however, to hear people of intellect ignore or refuse to acknowledge the Maker of all things.

    "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made, even His eternal power and godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

   If our daughter Emmie, the artist in the family, held an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, I would have a difficult time suffering fools who propose that her work resulted from mindless forces of time, space, and energy rather than having originated in her beautiful heart. I wouldn't punch anybody in the nose, but I might be forced to make an announcement: "Attention please!  For all you lunatics here today who believe that my daughter's beautiful artistry somehow spontaneously generated from nothingness, I sincerely hope that an antidote will one day be developed to counteract the effects of the stupid pills you've been swallowing.  Until that day, listen up, lunatics!  MY DAUGHTER MADE ALL THIS!!!"

    I actually wouldn't be that disrespectful.  But I'd feel this way, just as I do when listening to those who cannot and will not see "His eternal power and godhead" in "the things which are made."  I want to scream at the television: "MY FATHER MADE ALL THIS!"  Indeed, it is difficult to witness the often willful ignorance of those who should know better.  It is even more difficult to see the art and labor of someone - Someone - you love ignored and disregarded.  As the saying goes, "There's none so blind as those who will not see."  

   A.W. Tozer once wrote that "modern man bows to examine the earth rather than worship its Creator."  There's nothing wrong with the examining, of course, so long as acknowledgement, praise, and adoration precede the science.  In fact, no true science can ensue when the examiner determines to ignore the art and the engineering.  Our Father made all this.  OUR FATHER MADE ALL THIS!  Creation is His masterpiece of beauty and technology.  To see with understanding elicits loving awe, gratitude, and devotion.  To see without seeing, well, none so blind…

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

(Psalm 14:1)

"Without Him was not anything made that was made."

(John 1:3)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

(Colossians 3:16)

    

“From Above”

    One of my favorite experiences of childhood involved the building of a tri-level treehouse with my friends.  The first platform we constructed in the tall tree (which still stands after nearly a half century) did not satisfy our desire for a high perch from which to look out all over the world, or our world at least.  Neither did the second, but the third platform raised us as high as the tree would allow, nearly to the top.  From our new vantage point far above the ground, we gazed upon scenes of wonder, at least to eight year olds.  "There's our school!" shouted one boy excitedly, while others groaned at the reminder of the school's existence.  Another announced his view of Ladd Stadium, our city's football arena.  For me, the horizon seemed to offer the most exhilaration.  From our perch, we could see things not possible at ground level, thrilling things that seemed to offer adventure and perhaps the promise to little boys of days to come when we would go forth to discover the world out there.

   "The way of life is above to the wise" (Proverbs 15:24).

   In His Word, God offers to us the lofty vantage point of His "way of life."  The Bible calls us from the ground level view of our existence, as it were, unto the Heavenly perspective of truth.  We see that good things that happen are not merely the product of fortune, but rather of blessing from the Father from whom "every good gift and every perfect gift descends" (James 1:17).  We recognize the people in our particular sphere of influence as those ordained or allowed by God to provide opportunity to love and to be loved.  Troublesome circumstances and conditions shine a light, God's light, in the darkness as Scripture proclaims our Lord to be "a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).  We know life as not merely a passage from cradle to grave, but from conception to new birth to glory, "the hope of glory which is Christ in you" (Colossians 1:27).  Indeed, the Bible calls us to view God, ourselves, others, and every aspect of our existence with the view that can only be seen from Above, the Heavenly Above.

    As Moses ascended into Mount Sinai to meet God, coming forth with such glory shining in his face as to require a veil, so do born again believers ascend even higher to commune with our Father in His Word.  Therein we discover His view of life, truth, and reality, which becomes our view as we respond in faith and submission.  The glory of God illuminates us, with no veil necessary as come down and go forth to declare the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus.  Long ago, the lofty vantage point of a tall tree began to teach me that life, as viewed from Above, offers much  promise of days to come, and of the dynamic presence of God in this day wherein we may view our lives in the light of His life…

"In Thy light shall we see light."

(Psalm 36:9)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

(Colossians 3:16)

    

“The Colossal Wreck”

    I define fame (or the famous) in our generation in terms of "those whose character traits and habits elicit in us the desperate hope they will not move into our neighborhood."

    I freely admit this to constitute an unfair generalization.  Notable exceptions to the rule exist, and I much admire those who maintain humility, character, and integrity amid the trappings of notoriety.  It remains true, however, that the human psyche was not made for fame - "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Corinthians 10:31).  As one victim of notoriety confessed, "I wanted to be famous all my life - until five minutes after it happened.  No, make that four."  We exist to direct attention away from ourselves and unto the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Not unto us, o Lord, to unto us, but unto Thy name give glory" (Psalm 115:1).

   Of course, many enjoy their presently exalted status, doing everything possible to keep their name on the marquee.  Fame, the cruel master, demands such slavish devotion, diligence, and effort.  One day, however, the lights will fade, the marquee will no longer bear the name, and admirers will forget the formerly famous in lieu of the new kid on the stage, or field, or political office (or sometimes, sadly, the pulpit).  Nothing of value will be left, and a wasted life of usurping God's glory will plague the notable with a lasting, and for some, everlasting regret.

    You've likely heard of the poet Shelley's tragic poem, Ozymandias.  We close with the sad fate of one who sought fame (and even more, its nefarious companion, power), only to discover the "colossal wreck" that alway ensues when seeking glory fills the heart with darkness and impending doom.

I met a traveller from an antique land, who said,

"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert.

Near them, on the sand, half sunk, a shattered visage lies,

whose frown and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command

tell that its sculptor well those passions read

which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

the hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.

And on the pedestal these words appear,

My name is Ozymandias, king of kings.

Look on my works and despair!

Nothing beside remains.  

Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,

the lone and level sands stretch far away.

"And upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them.  And the people gave a great shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory.  And he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."

(Acts 12:21-23)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

(Colossians 3:16)