https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IvMaq4MtdI&list=PLPhb5GPf3Rfc944An2iDh_kTHkrKhoCED&index=87&t=0s
20 Isaiah 5: 20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who substitute darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who substitute bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21 21 Woe to those who consider themselves wise
and judge themselves clever.[i]
Satan encouraged Eve to believe the big lie. God's word is not important, you can do your own thing. If it looks good, tastes good, and makes you proud, then do it. This is the foundation of existentialism. The big lie that God has not spoken, and so mankind is free to run things by human will and deceit.
Satan knew he was lying. He is the father of liars. And he seems to understand our weakness, that we want to do as we please.
The Temptation and the Fall
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God,[b] knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Disregard for God's instruction led to shame. Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, and Pandora's box was opened. They hid from God, attempted to clothe themselves with leaves. But their own work was not sufficient. God made them some suitable clothing, picturing the provision for salvation He would accomplish through His Son.
https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html
A great challenge of our time is the often virulent conversation regards our government. Good people on both sides feel that they are right in their affirmations of what is best for our nation. But sadly, many have neglected the clear teaching of the Bible.
Romans 13 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
A Christian’s Duties to the State
13 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.[a] 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
The attempts to overturn the election of Donald Trump as president of USA seems founded in human frustration. Many have decided that President Trump is morally unqualified to serve as President, and have employed dishonorable tactics in support of their perhaps well meant intentions. Many of my friends and relatives have been a part of the clamor demanding that Trump be removed. And many have cast aspersions upon those who support Trump, implying that we are unchristian because we continue to support our President despite his imperfections.
Sometimes I wonder at the shallowness of such thinking. If past mistakes disqualify one from serving as President, then who can be qualified? Certainly neither Solomon nor David could meet the test. And there is no way that Samson belongs in the faith hall of fame, Hebrews chapter 11.
https://www.biblica.com/articles/7-things-you-didnt-learn-about-samson-in-sunday-school/
Yes, God has often used imperfect men to accomplish good things. In fact, imperfect is the only humankind available since Eve and the garden of Eden. But Apostle Paul admonishes believers to honor the Roman rulers, who were Pagans, and who demanded the worship of the Roman Emperor. Their role in maintaining the rule of law and social order was a blessing to mankind, as it enabled the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to England, and to India, and to places in between.
Ecc 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all[e] humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
20 Isaiah 5: 20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who substitute darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who substitute bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21 21 Woe to those who consider themselves wise
and judge themselves clever.[i]
Satan encouraged Eve to believe the big lie. God's word is not important, you can do your own thing. If it looks good, tastes good, and makes you proud, then do it. This is the foundation of existentialism. The big lie that God has not spoken, and so mankind is free to run things by human will and deceit.
Satan knew he was lying. He is the father of liars. And he seems to understand our weakness, that we want to do as we please.
The Temptation and the Fall
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God,[b] knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Disregard for God's instruction led to shame. Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, and Pandora's box was opened. They hid from God, attempted to clothe themselves with leaves. But their own work was not sufficient. God made them some suitable clothing, picturing the provision for salvation He would accomplish through His Son.
https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html
A great challenge of our time is the often virulent conversation regards our government. Good people on both sides feel that they are right in their affirmations of what is best for our nation. But sadly, many have neglected the clear teaching of the Bible.
Romans 13 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
A Christian’s Duties to the State
13 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.[a] 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
The attempts to overturn the election of Donald Trump as president of USA seems founded in human frustration. Many have decided that President Trump is morally unqualified to serve as President, and have employed dishonorable tactics in support of their perhaps well meant intentions. Many of my friends and relatives have been a part of the clamor demanding that Trump be removed. And many have cast aspersions upon those who support Trump, implying that we are unchristian because we continue to support our President despite his imperfections.
Sometimes I wonder at the shallowness of such thinking. If past mistakes disqualify one from serving as President, then who can be qualified? Certainly neither Solomon nor David could meet the test. And there is no way that Samson belongs in the faith hall of fame, Hebrews chapter 11.
https://www.biblica.com/articles/7-things-you-didnt-learn-about-samson-in-sunday-school/
Yes, God has often used imperfect men to accomplish good things. In fact, imperfect is the only humankind available since Eve and the garden of Eden. But Apostle Paul admonishes believers to honor the Roman rulers, who were Pagans, and who demanded the worship of the Roman Emperor. Their role in maintaining the rule of law and social order was a blessing to mankind, as it enabled the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to England, and to India, and to places in between.
Yes, government authority has a purpose of maintaining order and the rule of law. Rebellion against that order even for the purpose of maintaining personal preferences is a dangerous thing.
The popularity of secular humanist globalism and celebration of mankind's responsibility to save the universe from ourselves by eating only vegetables and refraining from use of carbon fuels with the Green New Deal seem a bit fantastic to some of us. I have witnessed the burning of the grass in Africa every winter, where the smoke hides the sun for days as last year's grass is burned away to make room for new grass. And I am still burning wood for heat. Primitive cultures are not ready for the Green New Deal.
Constant overstatement of the threat of global warming and sea level rise grate on my nerves. Yes, the sea level is rising about 1/8th inch each year, mostly from the warmer sea temperature. Warmer sea produces more evaporation and more rain, and more snow in the the polar regions. Increased snow volume offsets the increased melt from warmer temperatures, and the ice levels in some of the world's glaciers has actually increased, in spite of the higher melting rate.
The big problem is that some of y'all have forgotten, or never knew, Who is in charge. Mankind has been given dominion over the earth, but our power is very limited. One huge volcanic eruption can emit more pollution in one day than all our USA automobiles in one year. Several volcanic eruptions can emit enough particulates into the upper atmosphere to lower global temperatures dramatically.
God, who created the heavens and the earth, is ultimately in charge. And we will be blessed if we work to please Him by being good stewards of the earth, and by having genuine concern for each other. However, we need to remember Who is really in control. And going against His instructions is a sure way to destruction. Gender is derived from how we are born, and is not to be decided by feelings. Men may have made a great mess of things, but who knows what things would be like if women like some recently elected Democrats had been in charge?
It was Eve who messed up in the beginning, so y'all women deserve us men.
So, what is the conclusion of the whole matter?
