The Only Wise God

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


It's the seventh day of the week God has finished his great universe and is resting. Every thing created is good and pure, like himself. His creatures all bask in His wonderful, peaceful presence. Indeed, all is very, very, good. Here we find the earth at the end of the second chapter of Genesis. All spotless and clean; nothing hateful, nothing bitter. All hope; no despair. What happens in the next chapter will change all of this with one sudden and irreversible act of disobedience. Here, is where I would like to pick up our study of the wonderful wisdom of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the midst of the beautiful garden , in which God had placed man His highest creature, God had, in His wisdom, placed a tree who's fruit he forbade man to eat. Now this garden, which he called Eden, was full of fruitful trees ,which where beautiful to look on and good to eat, there was even a tree of life, which gave to those that ate of it endless life. Only one tree out of all these, was forbidden man, and thus, reserved for God alone. The penalty for eating it's fruit was startling. God said that it would bring on the eater, death. I have heard some say that this penalty seemed to them, harsh, for such a "small" infraction. Was it a small infraction though. Or had God in His wisdom embodied in one tree sin in it's worst and ultimate form. Was it not the smallness of the tree that made eating thereof in direct disobedience to God's command that much more reprehensible. To eat it's temporal fruit was to reject the eternal God. It was esteeming a small bite to be worth more than the Great God. Yet, this tree represented something deeper than just its visible fruit. Notice its name, The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God had reserved this Knowledge for himself. He alone would say what was right and what was wrong, and He had said that eating this fruit was wrong. Therefor, if man chose to eat it anyway he would take on himself to judge, and thus, seek to dethrone the God of heaven and take that throne for himself. Do you see the wisdom of God in the creation of this tree and His command concerning it?

Now why did God find this test necessary? I have only one answer. It was the first part of a great plan which would glorify Him by magnifying all of his wonderful attributes. You see before mercy and grace where necessary, God was merciful and gracious. He was just and holy before men and angles where there to behold and wonder. I could go on and on. My point is simply this: men and angles both where created to behold, experience, and, in consequence, glorify God; these are the only reasons for our existence. Sin is necessary to God's plan to glorify himself, and therefor he allows it to take shape in His spotless creation. But, lest you should think I am charging God with the existence of evil, I will stop here to explain the under girding truths which guide my thoughts. The first of these, is the unshakable belief that God can not do wrong. The second is the belief that no matter how it may look from our point of view God's hands are and always will be clean from the authorship of sin. Third and last, is that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways than our ways, and therefor, there will be of necessity parts of his plan which we simply will not completely understand. That said let, us continue.
Sin was to play a large roll in God's eternal plan; it would be in sharp contrast to holiness yet,its defeat would bring him eternal glory and honor from all His creatures. In other words, God allowed sin, in order to completely defeat it, and to do this He made a plan so wise so intricate in it's details, that even it's more simple parts escape the realms of our imagination. So why do some "Christians" still try to explain away clear passages of scripture simply because they do not understand them? Let us watch lest we think ourselves more wise than God. Let us keep this in mind as we continue our study of God's wisdom as it is reveled in his word.

We all know the story well of how man fell from his place of intimate relationship with God. How the devil deceived Eve and how she took of the forbidden fruit. How Adam joined her in this sin. How in consequence both felt their shame and hid. So here we find them hidden, hoping they will not have to face their angry creator. The garden is silent and still as the agonizing moments pass. Then out of the stillness comes a voice clear and sharp. Adam where art thou? This question cuts Adam to the heart and he finds he can hide no longer. Notice, the wisdom in God's manner of addressing Adam. He does not come with accusations, and wrath, but rather, he comes with a gentle question which brings to Adam's mind what he has lost, so vividly, he is forced to answer. "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." Notice that Adam's answer avoids the question and instead is an excuse. Adam says he hid because he was naked; when in truth he hid because he had eaten the forbidden fruit, and knew he was wrong. But this maneuver does not fool the all wise God and He answers accordingly. "Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" These questions cut to the quick. Adam thus put to it tries to blame God and his wife. God then goes to Eve who, in turn, blames the serpent. The serpent , who represented the devil, is not questioned but, is immediately cursed. Oh, but what a blessed curse it is for the man and the woman standing by. This curse of the devil was a deceleration of war and of mercy. War against the Devil and his children. Mercy to all who would come to trust in Christ for their salvation. God here unveils before men and angles: grace,mercy, and salvation; things as yet, unknown. Notice how quickly a remedy is in place, God was not surprised by the fall. No, indeed, to the contrary, it was a part of His inconceivably wise plan to glorify himself in every way. No, the one who is surprised is the Devil. What he thought to be a great victory, is instead another blow against his kingdom. Think of a Chess game, in which one player is far superior to the other one. But, the less talented player is unaware of this fact. Let's say the less talented player makes a move which he thinks to be very ingenious , and seems to have placed the other in a hard position. The superior player reacts calmly, and moves a piece which has gone unnoticed by the other. Suddenly the amateur player finds that his entire plan is thrown into cause, and he is on the verge of loosing, and indeed, already has. Here we find the devil after God has cursed, and promised to crush him through the seed of the woman that he has just finished deceiving. The Devil once again has underestimated the God of glory, and is forced to leave, head hanging.

Adam and Eve are not left unpunished, though. After God has cursed the Devil, He now turns back to His two fallen creatures, and pronounces on them their fate. He tells Adam that his work will now be full of pain and trouble, so, also, the ground will be full of thorns and briers. Eve he tells to expect painful child birth and a unwilling subordinate position to her husband ; and both are told of their future physical death." For dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return", says the LORD.
God having thus pronounced judgment, drives Adam and Eve from their garden paradise into the newly cursed world. At the entrance of the garden God places a flaming sword to bar the way to the tree of life." Lest",says He,"man take of the tree of life and live forever". God's wisdom in thus dealing with man's sin can be seen in many different ways. I would like to touch on just a few. First of all notice the things which are cursed in Adam and Eve's life. They were things which were part of every day life, things which were especially suited to continually remind them of their sin and their need of a Saviour. Indeed, in judgment he remembers mercy. Secondly, His driving them from the tree of life, and thus baring the possibility of eternal life here on earth. God knew that if man in his sinful state were to obtain this, the outcome would be horrific. Indeed, earth would become a living hell, and men, demons in the worst sense. Once again, what seems to be a curse, is really a merciful restraint on what would otherwise be, the natural outcome of Adam and Eve's decision to disobey! Oh, that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and wonderful works to the children of men! Third, and last is the fact, that God uses his judgment on Adam and Eve to teach us that sin is a terrible curse in and of it's self without the help of any outside source. Sin left to run it's course brings only pain and discontent. Man was created specifically to praise and know God. Anything less than this hinders the smooth functioning of every part of our being. Notice, the picture found in the thorns and thistles hindering Adam's efforts to sustain himself. Sin, like the thorns and thistles, will be with us until the day we die, hindering at every turn, our spiritual sustenance. Like the rose, sin seems pleasant when looked on from a distance but, causes only pain when it is taken in hand. Adam and Eve begin to learn this hard lesson as they leave the garden and enter the newly fallen world.

Time passes children are born to Adam and Eve the first of these they name Cain the second they name Able. These two boys soon grow into men. Cain becomes a farmer, Able becomes a shepherd. Now what happened between the time they were born and the time they took on these occupations, is not found in the scriptures. But here is what we are told. There came a certain day in which Cain and Able brought sacrifices to God. Cain, we are told, brought of the fruit of the ground an offering ,but, Able brought a lamb from his flock. God, on seeing these sacrifices, accepts Abel's offering and rejects Cain's. This displease Cain very much and he is angry. God comes to Cain and asks him why he is angry, and encourages him that if he will do well he to will be blessed. But, Cain will hear none of it, and goes away still angry. Some more time passes, and we find Cain and Able talking together in a field. Something happens, and Cain kills his brother, leaving his body bleeding on the ground. The seed of the forbidden fruit has begun to grow and what an ugly, poisonous tree it is. But, God's eyes are not closed, he has seen this wanton act of violence, and soon we find him confronting Cain with his sin. He asks Cain where his brother is. Cain answers by asking, if he is his brothers keeper. God answers this unrepentant sinner according to his insolence. "What hast thou done", says the Lord? " The voice of thy brothers blood cries out to me from the ground". "Now art thou cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brothers blood from thy hand. When you till the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth". Cain still refuses to repent, and only complains that this punishment is to harsh. At this God says he will protect Cain lest anyone finding him should kill him to avenge Abel's blood. With this Cain leaves the presence of God. The wisdom of God in this part of his plan is wider and deeper than our minds can comprehend. Nevertheless, let us look closely with the help of God, that we might see, herein, some of our wonderful Saviour's wisdom. Notice the occupations which God gives these two brothers. Cain the oldest is a farmer, his work is hard, he must daily fight the cursed ground for his livelihood. The younger, on the other hand, is a shepherd. His work is not so much of the body as it is, of the mind, it requires constant vigilance against anything that should harm his flock. God here sets before to kinds of men the one self determined and strong willed, the other thoughtful and cautious. Here also is represented two types of religion: one which requires constant work and toil to sustain, and is self centered; the other is based on thoughtful, vigilant reliance on God, and the giving of ones self for the benefit of others. Both of these religions exists in the world, the first is far more prevalent than the second. It is the religion of the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and many more. On the surface they all seem to have good parts, but as Jesus said to the leading Jews of his day, " ye are whited sepulcher which are beautiful on the outside but within are full of dead men's bones" so too are all these religions. The second is a far smaller group of people, and they only go by one name and that name is Christianity. Now to say all that chose to take on this name are correct in their beliefs would be a false statement. For there are many that take this name which most certainly would fall into the first category. To make this distinction more clear God gives us yet another picture in the sacrifices brought by these two brothers. For though they both were sacrificing to the one true God; both were not excepted. Cain, we are told, brought of the fruit of the ground a sacrifice to God. Cain has labored hard for this sacrifice, and brings it now, fully expecting God to except it, but instead is rejected. So we find those hopeful men in the day of judgment, who when they are condemned, begin to tell of how many things they have done in the name of Christ, but Christ tells them that he never knew them. Able, on the other hand brings a lamb, and hopes to be excepted, not, on the merits of his own labor, but, rather on the merits of the sacrifice, which represented Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is in this point that the difference lies. Cain seeing that he is rejected turns on his brother, Able, and kills him. God soon confronts and punishes Cain, but he does not bring upon him what he later says is the just reward for such a crime. That reward being public execution. Yet, here also the wisdom of God can be seen. For, in giving clemency to Cain, he glorifies his mercy, by bestowing it upon the very least deserving head. Cain, sadly, rejects this mercy, and leaves the presence of God a guilty sinner. But, even this is part of God's plan. Like Pharaoh, God allows Cain's wicked heart to become hard, and not only his but, his children's also. God will be glorified, even though sin seems to gain the upper hand.

"I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold."

These are the words of Lamech, a descendant of Cain, to his wives Adah and Zillah. These words serve to illustrate the propensity of man to take the mercy of God, and use it to aid himself in his sinful ways. Did God foresee this outcome when he promised to avenge Cain? I would have to say, yes. If God is all wise, all seeing, and all knowing; is there any possibility that he did not foresee it? I think not. Then why did he chose to do it any way? Number one, because he is God, and he hates sin, and he wants to show future generations just how much he hates it, and why. Number two, because he is good and merciful, and he will not be bound on whom he shows mercy, by the whims of wicked men's hearts. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, says the LORD, and no one will stop him. Last of all, to show that it is man, and not God, who is obstinate, spiteful, and unwilling to be reconciled.

As time goes on, the earth becomes more and more, full of violence. Men are living to very old ages, and thus fear death very little. Their hearts are full of all manner of evil, and vileness. God in mercy sends prophets such as Enoch, but their words go unheeded. At last the wickedness of man reaches such a fevered pitch that their creator says he wishes that he had never made them. The God of glory looks on what man has become, and grieves. He decides the time has come to destroy all flesh, in one terrible judgment. Yet, in the midst of this cesspool of sin, God knows of one man who is still righteous,and his name is Noah. God comes to Noah, and tells him that he plans to destroy the entire earth with a flood. He also, gives Noah instructions on how to build an ark, with which he, his family, and two of every kind of animal, (except clean animals, of which he is to take seven), will be saved from the flood. Noah obeys the Lord without question, and begins building the ark. After an hundred and twenty years he finishes. God brings the animals to the ark and they are loaded inside, along with provisions. After this is done God tells Noah and seven of his family members to go in also. This done, he shuts the door, and thus commences the greatest catastrophe in world history. When it is over every thing that breathed air, and walked on the earth is dead, save those sheltered in the ark. Noah, having been safely brought through the flood, is set, in his ark, upon the top of a mountain. He exits the ark and sacrifices to God in thankfulness. God answers with a rainbow and a promise never to destroy the whole earth with a flood again. Why such a great destruction? Why so much death? Because, God hates sin more than our minds can comprehend. It is a stench in his nostrils. A vile blight on all that it touches. He hates it because it destroys and maims, because it is contrary to his holiness; which is only good and pleasant. God looked at the earth during the time of Noah and all he saw was sin. It angered and grieved him to see his beautiful creation, so marred, and perverted. The Devil once again seems to have gained the upper hand. But, once again God is ahead of the Devil. God is not mocked, and seeing that man has completely rejected his outstretched hand of mercy, he begins to whet his sword of judgment. He will cleanse the now filthy world with a flood. Nonetheless, he will save eight souls. Eight people on whom he has set his affection. Oh, if God be for us who can be against us. The wisdom of God here places before our wondering eyes a picture both terrible, and wonderful. Terrible because, there where only eight souls saved. Wonderful because there where eight souls saved. Though, the sin of man was horrendous, and manifold, God still does not simply indiscriminately destroy. He remembers mercy in the midst of his most fierce wrath. Not only does he remember this family, he also delays his judgment long enough for them to build an ark of safety. Indeed, he pities them as a father pities his children. Oh, how much better to be in the ark of God than in the pleasures of sin; for they last but for a season, and then are followed by judgment. God's wisdom shows us in the flood, a snap shot of the horrors of the lost soul on the day of judgment. Let us take journey back in time to the day in which the flood began to take place. We are standing in a large open plain, the sun is shinning as it has every day since the beginning of time. The birds are singing, a gentile breeze is blowing about the scents of thousands of flowers. You heard a man say that the crazy man Noah has shut himself in a ark with thousands of animals and food. The man who tells you this shakes his head and chuckles, as he says, "I think he really believes that God is going to destroy us all with a flood". Saying this he walks away still chuckling to himself as he goes. He does not get far though. Suddenly, the entire ground is shaken and the sky begins to grow dark, so dark, that you can not see. The gentile breeze becomes a howling wind as torrents of water begin to pour relentlessly on your head. So heavy are these torrents that they seem to take away your breath. Under their violence you are forced to the ground which is already pooled with water. All around the sounds of dieing men and animals fill the air with a thunderous roar; as the ground is jarred again and again with earth quakes. This is the last you know before you are drowned by the unrelenting water. Now it may or may not have happened like I have just described. But, whether or not it did makes very little difference because, the torments of the people who died in the flood, after they died, would make what I have just described seem small and insignificant. It is the goodness of God that gives us the warning of the flood; to lead us to repentance. Let us thank him for it. Let us see Noah who moved with fear and built an ark, and, let us move with fear to Christ, our ark of safety. I would like to close this part of our chapter with the words of Christ found in Matthew 10:28 Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God's Upholding Hand

We have discussed our wonderful saviors power in the creation of angels, as well as that which was displayed in the creation of the universe. Yet, these are not the only places in which his creative powers are manifest. There is still yet another way in which they are clearly seen and that is in his upholding of all things by the word of his power . Let us prayerfully place our minds in God’s gracious hands that he may teach us the wonders of his power and mercy in so doing.

What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him?

This the psalmist writes after he had thought on the grandeur of the great heavens and began,( through those thoughts) to feel his own relative smallness in comparison to their creator. Indeed, what are we that he should think on us? Yet, he does (without fail) think of us and our troubles. He upholds all creation for our benefit. We live and breath and have our very being in him. It is he that is the giver and taker of life. One word from him and our entire universe would simply cease to be. Our sins deserve it and our unthankfulness cries out for its justice. Yet, in mercy he continues to sustain its every part by a knowledge and power which is far more than anything our imagination can conceive. Yet, he still holds those keys of life and death in his hands and one day the latter door will be opened before all of us and we will walk through it. One day that which has sustained us all our life will take that life away and none will say to him nay. Have we come to love this God? Have we reached that higher ground on which the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace? If not. Why not? The sun rose bright in the east this morning, saying with each golden beam, "your creator is still merciful to you". Did we hear it or did its gentle whispers escape the notice of our busy minds? Last night also, the stars and moon where still there saying (in their own sparkling way), "your maker is still faithful". Did we hear their wooing voice or did we fall heedless to sleep? Does it always have to take a storm to make us mindful of our author ? Is it only his wrath that will wake us up to his presence? Without him we are laterally nothing and will we go on as if he is not even there? Oh, dear Jesus please do not leave us to this, our natural course.

Look at the small sparrow and remember that God knows of each one that falls to the ground. Look at the flowers of the field and remember from whom their beauty comes. Oh, what a gracious God is ours! Thou rain that falls on the just and the unjust alike, lift up your voice and sing of thy mighty makers mercy and longsuffering. Thou splendid rainbow speak thou also of his great forbearance to mankind. Oh, friend think of his great love to sinners such as we are. What are we that he is mindful of us! Great is thy faithfulness oh, God my father there is no shadow of turning with thee, says the old song and how true it is. Oh, that we would learn to weep for our forgetfulness of him. For indeed, he is wonderful in the upholding of us all. Oh, blest is he who comes to rest on the arms of the LORD, for, in those arms he shall find peace.

His name shall be called wonderful.

As we finish this chapter, I would like to remind everyone of whom we have been speaking. That is the Lord Jesus. It is His name that shall be called wonderful, and, as we have begun to see in this chapter, it is with good reason that He is so called. May we be able to truthfully say with the song writer of old:

Fairest Lord Jesus Ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son.
Thee will I cherish. Thee will I honor. Thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows. Fairer still the woodlands. Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heaven can boast.

I pray that this chapter has helped you see God’s wonderful power and love with a new sense of awe and admiration. Oh, may he be first in our hearts and minds. Almighty Heavenly Father, we ask that you would give us a hunger and thirst after thee. Dear Lord please take away anything that would hinder us from coming to a true knowledge of thee. We ask these things in Jesus name. Amen

In The Beginning

After God had finished creating the angels, he went on to his next act of magnificent wonder; the Universe. Six days was all he needed to bring this incomprehensible masterpiece into existence. What awesome power and glorious intellect where united in those six days to bring about this our beautiful habitation.beginning

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I would like to consider the heavens to begin this study, for I believe them to be the best calculated to inspire our minds with a proper sense of the staggering magnitude of our God. The word of God correctly states that they declare his glory. Here are a few facts which are known about the heavens and their size. I will begin with the galaxy in which our earth is located. That is the Milky Way galaxy, as it is called by scientists, home to anywhere between 50 and 100billion stars possibly even more, and over 100,000 light years across at its widest point . Assuming that some of you might not know what a “light year”is, I will explain. A light year is the distance which would be traveled in a year at the blistering speed of light. Now if you where able to go the speed of light it would only take roughly 1 second to go around the earth 7.5 times and as we all know there are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in a hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year. It is amazing to think that in just one day you would circle the earth 648,000 times, let alone an entire year. Yet, if 1 inch where to represent one of these light years, our galaxy would be over a mile and a half wide! If our galaxy where the only one it would be mind boggling enough but it is just one of what some say to be at least 500billion other galaxies! Yet, God made it all in less than one day. Set in perfect order and symmetry trillions upon trillions of burning orbs, without the least problem or flaw, and knows them each by name. Yet, the end of time will see him roll them all up as if they where no more than a scroll. Feeling small yet? As the song says ,we are awfully small and not as strong as we think we are. Yet, the heavens are not the only thing that he created in that six day period. Let us continue to wonder at the wisdom and power of our creator, through the contemplation of the intricacy and beauty of our planet earth.

Our planet earth is rather small in caparison to the vast domains of outer space yet, it is no less awe inspiring. Think of its verdant pastures, bubbling streams, mighty rivers, and the oceans mightier still. Think on the trees and flowers. The mountains , rain forests , and deserts all beautiful in their own way. Think of the clouds and storms. The rain and snow. The invisible wind whose might can not be resisted when it is in its full strength yet, is at times so gentile it can lull a child to peaceful rest . There are animals also, of every sort and kind, each with its own peculiar ability and usefulness. Then there’s us humans of whom the Bible says “we are fearfully and wonderfully made”. More so than the animals for that higher spiritual nature which was given us at our creation . Everything we need for life is here graciously provided. All of this made for are benefit by our great and merciful God. Whether we go to the highest mountain or the deepest ocean; the driest desert or the most verdant jungle; we are certain to find the wisdom of our creator written on everything we see and hear.

What glorious thoughts are these. How fitted to fill our hearts with praise and admiration to the only one who is fully worthy of both. Our God is an awesome God. So far above anything our minds can imagine or conceive that the Bible says that his thoughts are above our thoughts; even as the heavens are above the earth. Let it suffice us to know this and honor him for it.
Like the old song says so beautifully,
“ O Lord my God When I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder . Thy power through out the universe displayed.

When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art!” Amen!

Thougts on a Incomprehensible Saviour

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Here the inspired prophet Isaiah writes one of the most awe inspiring messianic prophecies of the entire old testament. It is a prophecy so packed with meaning that it will take us an eternity to unravel its full meaning and import! So let us begin now, by the grace of God, to delve these unfathomable depths of the wisdom,power,mercy,and love of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. I will begin with his name,Wonderful. This name will represent the first part of this our study.

Wonderful in Power

When we first think of the power of God inevitably our minds turn to that power of his which we will call, creative power. John begins his gospel with this thought and so I would like to begin this study with the same. How better then could we begin than with those, if I may say, wonderful words of John.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God.All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Here we see our wonderful Saviour as the creator of all things whether they be in heaven or earth.Those precious hands which where nailed to that cruel cross, created the angels and the seraph. It was he that called out into the darkness and there was light.How shall our tongue describe him where shall our praise begin. Let us begin thinking on his creative power by contemplating his great power in the creation of the angels.

In Ezekiel 1:5-25 we read some stunning as well as mysterious descriptions of the creatures which surround the throne of God. Again,in the book of Revelation we read many more glowing descriptions of these mighty beings. John in Revelation 10:1-3 describes a mighty angel thus; And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. Can you imagine such a sight as this? Yet how much greater must he be that created such a glorious being? The soldiers that guarded the tomb of Christ,when they saw the angels that rolled away the stone,fell down as dead men. The shepherds to whom the tidings of Christ birth where brought, where said to be sore afraid at the sight of these beings. How much more glorious must their creator be? How much more fearful? He spoke and they came into existence. Can we comprehend such wonderful power? Can our feeble minds grasp it's infinite magnitude and glory? It is then no wonder that these great beings sole purpose is to praise,honor, and obey this,their great and wonderful creator; for, their very beauty and greatness is a continual testimony to the fact of his great power,glory,and honor. Yet, even in this glorious throng not all where as humbled as they ought to have been.

Let us not forget that great arch angel who once led the great seraphic choirs. Who in his pride fell from thence to become the arch enemy of his creator and king. Yet,let us remember that even he with all of his demonic host bear witness to the great and everlasting power of Christ their creator.For, though they are many and strong ,yet, he by himself is still their master and they can not make one move without his permission. Though their lies deceive great men and overthrow great nations though,they blind the hearts and minds of men and take them captive at their will nevertheless, their wonderful creators plan marches on in victory; showing them to be but creatures bound to his will. Let us stop here and contemplate and wonder at the power of Christ in the creation of the angels and when we have stretched our minds to their utmost length, let us stop and say with the prophet, in a new and invigorated sense, his name shall be called Wonderful! Amen.

Morning Commute

This Monday morning while driving into work I was struck by a thought that for a moment staggered my mind. It was brought on by the sight of the interstate near our home which was packed with motorists all going for different places and for different purposes. What struck me about this rather, normal sight was the fact that all of these people including myself were in God's hand each of our prospective days had already been planed in every point, we would not take one step that God did not already know about. Think about it, not one of us knew what our day might hold. Some of us would have good days and some bad. Our life might suddenly be thrown into tragedy and sorrow. This might be the last of our days. None of us really knew. But God knew. We and everyone else on earth were and are in his hands, our lives ,not our own. Each of us is part of God's great plan which will culminate in Christ's second coming. Yet, do we, even those of us who are Christians, realize the vast implications of this rather well known doctrine? I don't think we do, because if we did getting rich would not be a priority it would not even be a goal. We would not be pushing our children to be good athletes while forgetting about their souls. Some would say but I want to be wealthy so that I can give more.To them I say, Remember the widow's mites. Our lives are far to short and far to important to waist them in any thing less than pursuit of the kingdom of God and his righteousness in what ever sphere God has placed us.

Christ Conquers Alone

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me,” was Christ’s agonizing call when on the cross. Who, alive today can say that they have been completely forsaken of God? The answer to that question is, no one. For, we still derive breath from him, indeed, our very life is upheld by him. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was completely forsaken of God yet he bore it, and breathed another breath, thus proving that he himself was God and that he had life in himself . So there he was suffering what no mortal man could suffer. Experiencing the complete absence of his father and yet continuing to live. Oh, what wondrous love is this? That Christ Jesus chose to continue living, so that he could suffer the full brunt of God’s wrath, because of his undying love for us!

And when I think that God, his son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross my burden GLADLY bearing he bled and died to take away my sin.

Why Does God Allow "Evil" ?

The recent hurricane Katrina has brought this question to the surface once again and quite frankly I am disappointed at the answers given by some revered Christian leaders to this question. This is the answer I have heard again and again, it goes something like this, "we don't know we just have to trust God". I agree that we have to trust God but the Bible is very clear on why there is suffering and to say that it's not is a flat out lie. Here is the answer that should be given,Who are thou oh man that you reply against God? We deserve Hell for eternity and any thing less than that is an incredible mercy. How is it that we every day shake our fist in the face of God and then seem baffled when he allows something bad to happen to us? We must stop calling what God chooses to do, evil. Hurricane Katrina was absolutely just and right. But you will say,"What about the good people who suffered?" There is none good no not one; even Christians who suffer though they have much in which they can have joy and hope and the suffering of this world is not to be compared with the glory which is to come, still must say it was well deserved. Ever since the fall we as humans have been questioning the goodness of God. This kind of questioning is sinful and devilish and must be seen in that light and denounced.