Lubber Opinion
The views and opinions expressed by this lubber do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the crew. Reader discretion be advised. – Staff
A pastor wrote: “A young man was turned off by the way many Christians approached modern science. The man noted: ‘The whole question of creationism versus evolution and scientific theory is always something that bothered me. You know that people will tell you God created all of this ten thousand years ago in the blink of an eye. There are a lot of things in the Bible that were written two thousand years ago; and how can we honestly interpret what those men were saying in modern terminology? When people tell me creationism is in the Bible, that is just a statement to me of how exceedingly ignorant someone is.'”
John’s comment got me ter thinking ’bout all the folks who think like John—who discount Skipper’s Code of Conduct and the words and acts of his son on account of it seems beyond the realm of thar imagination. And them thoughts got this old pirate ter wondering how a conversation with this feller might go if the pair stumbled upon one another on the road ter Emmaus.
Young chap: “When people tell me creationism is in the Bible, that is just a statement to me of how exceedingly ignorant someone is. I don’t like to blatantly label people as idiots, but I think of them as less intellectually active.”
“My child, you are not alone in your judgment of the Father’s words,” the Son might say. “The purpose and message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to those who seek to be saved from their sins and the corruption of this world, the cross is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Perhaps it helps to know that from God’s perspective the wisdom of this world is foolishness (1 Corinthians 3:19). As the prophet Isaiah writes, ‘The wisdom of the wise will perish. The intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. The intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate (Isaiah 29:14).’ Where is the wise person? (1 Corinthians 1:18-20) Is it you, my child? Are you wise in your own eyes? (Isaiah 5:21)”
“Okay, look. All I’m asking is to know what’s the purpose of it all. I want to know if there is a God who really does know me, love me. I want to know if I will continue to live after my physical body dies. Do you know?”
“I do, but even if I told you would you believe? Skeptics like you are always slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Some claim they would believe if someone came back from the dead and verified accounts of heaven, but would they? They have Moses and the Prophets but still don’t believe. (Luke 16:29-31) Did not the Messiah have to suffer the things man calls foolishness in order to enter his glory? If you walk with me, I will begin with Moses—not the man, but his writings—and all the Prophets and explain to you what was said of the Messiah in all the Scriptures (Luke 24: 25-27).”
As the pair trekked along that dusty road the Son would begin ter reveal himself through Skipper’s words.
“At the beginning the Creator made them male and female (Matthew 19:4).
“The Father created Adam in his own image. In the image of himself he created Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:27). He created Eve from Adam and Eve was created for Adam. (1 Corinthians 11:8-11) Nevertheless, in the Lord the man is dependent on the woman and the woman is dependent on the man. For as woman came from man, so also man now comes from woman. Because everything comes from God (1 Corinthians 11:11-12) Adam named his wife Eve, the mother of all the living persons (Genesis 3:20).”
“But before Adam and Eve there was the Word. The Word was with God. The Word was God. Through the Word all things were made (John 1:1-3). Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through the Word and created for the Word. (Colossians 1:16)”
“Now let me ask you, my child. Are you pleased with the condition of the planet? Are you grieved over the way people treat their neighbor? If so, know this: Adam, the first man, had dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth. God blessed Adam and Eve and said to them, ‘Be fruitful. Reproduce your kind. Replenish the earth. Guard and keep all things under control.'”
“But when Adam rebelled against God (Genesis 3:6), Creation was subjected to futility. Not by its own choice, but by the will of one man, Adam (Romans 8:20). Therefore the ground is cursed (Genesis 3:17). The planet is under a curse. All of creation groans under the weight of this curse (Romans 8:22).”
“But here is the good news. While it is true that sin and death entered the world through one man, Adam, the Father made a way to restore men to himself and restore Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). All authority in heaven and on earth was given to the Father’s son, the Word (Matthew 28:18). In return, the Son gives authority to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). If you are in the Son and the Son is in you, the Word of Creation gives you authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Matthew 10:1). John, you can change the world through the power of the Son. You can move mountains! (Mark 11:23) God gave man dominion over the earth. He has not revoked that authority. We are entrusted to care for the earth and all that is in it.
“If that’s the case, then why does God allow evil in the world?”
“God does not allow it. God forbids evil. God did not allow Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed and did so anyway. He warned them they would die and they did. (Genesis 2:17) My question to you, John, is why do you allow evil in the world when it’s within your power to stop it? (John 4:11) (John 14:12-14).
“No response? In that case let’s talk about death, decay, and destruction. These things come to all men because of Adam’s sin. (Romans 5:12) But the sin of Adam served as a pattern of the one who would come to take away the sin of the world (Romans 5:14). Can we agree there is a natural body? And if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body?”
“Well sure, we all have a body, but I’m not sure about this business of soul and spirit.”
“The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam, a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45) The spiritual did not come first, but the natural. And after the natural came the spiritual. The first man, Adam, was of the dust of the earth. The second man, the Christ, is from heaven. As the seed of the earthly man is sown in corruption, so man’s offspring also sows corruption (Galatians 6:8). As the seed of the heavenly man is sown in righteousness, so his offspring also sows righteousness. Just as each person bears the image of the earthly man, so those born of the spirit bear the image of the heavenly man. (1 Corinthians 15:46-49) Does this makes sense, John?”
“A little, some.”
“Do you realize that before the beginning of all things, at the creation of all things, the Father’s son participated in Creation and even now desires to restore you to the glory for which you were designed and destined? Since Creation God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen. Therefore men are without excuse (Romans 1:20). For although men know of God, they neither glorify him as God nor gave thanks to him. You say those who believe in the Father’s words are ignorant. But God says the thinking those who refuse to glorify God as the Creator of all things are fools whose hearts have become darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they are deceived (Romans 1:21-22).
“I see we have reached your destination and I must go on. But John, listen carefully. My father is not the author of ignorance and confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). My Father gives good gifts: peace, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and all wisdom and knowledge. Confusion and doubt is the work of the god of this age. The enemy blinds the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of Truth, the Christ, the light of the world. (2 Corinthians 4:4).”
“How would someone find this light, this truth?”
“I am he. And I am revealed to men through the words of my father. Will you walk with me into the light? Will you continue on with me and let your heart burn as I open my words to you? If so, let us begin at the start of all things for I tell you truly in the beginning God created…'”