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A Troubled
Land – Part 1
2 Chronicles 29:1-8
by Paul
George
Our nation and the Church
have some serious problems. Before we can fix the
problems, we need to know why they exist, the source or
sources of the problems, and why we are not solving the
problems. We are not solving the problems in our nation
because we are looking to the government, the
educational system, and the judicial system for
solutions to the problems. These are useful tools when
used properly. However, they do not have the final
answer. We are not solving the problems in the Church
because we are tolerating them hoping they will go away.
History has proven this will not happen.
Before we can fix the problems, we need to accept the
fact the problems of the twenty-first century are not
new. The source of the problems is not new. The solution
is not new. The source of the problems is rebellion
against God and the rejection of the truth concerning
the source of the problems. A second source of the
problem is a rejection of the biblical worldview.
Writing to the Roman Christians Paul said, “The wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth” (Romans
1:18). The source of the problems in the societies prior
to Paul writing this was the suppressing of the truth.
The source of the problems when Paul wrote this letter
was suppressing the truth. The suppressing of the truth
is not an act of ignorance it is a deliberate attempt to
destroy the foundation of truth. The same people who
were suppressing the truth in the past are the same
people who are suppressing the truth today and will
suppress the truth in the future. The suppresser of
truth is the ungodly and unrighteous men and women who
live as if there is no God and no truth.
The suppresser of the truth uses the legislative system,
judicial system, the media, the entertainment community,
and religion. Through these mediums, millions are
deceived and imprisoned in darkness.
Most Christians, and there are professing Christians
seeking other sources, use the Bible to define what the
truth is and what is morally right or wrong. In the
secular community, the biblical definition of truth and
morality is not acceptable because it is a contradiction
of society’s definition. The biblical definition has
been set aside as outdated, a definition that has served
its purpose by the suppressers of truth. They claim only
the narrow minded and those out of touch with reality
would accept such a limited view of reality and the
world. This is not some new attitude. The people who
were first given the Law turned from the truth and
rejected God’s Law.
The problems in our nation and in the Church involve a
worldview that is not biblical. . The biblical worldview
rests on the belief of a Creator God. The secular
worldview rests on the knowledge and wisdom of man. This
view sets man as the center of the universe. All events
in the world revolve around him. He determines the
destiny of humanity and the universe. He is a god unto
himself. This view contradicts the biblical worldview
and the worldview of paganism and the more recent
worldview of the New Age Movement. From the dawn of
history, man has believed there is a Supreme Being or
force behind all that exists in both the supernatural
world and the natural world. These supernatural beings
and forces influence the events in the world and
humanity’s destiny. The sacrifices of ancient people
were to appease them.
It is often difficult for some people to separate the
difference in the biblical worldview and the secular
worldview. There seems to be a connection between the
two. The biblical worldview rests on the existence of a
Creator God, the word of this God, and includes
spiritual beings that have an important role in the
affairs of humanity. According to the Bible, God is a
spiritual Being that has no beginning or ending. There
are spiritual beings that have a beginning but no
ending. There are good and evil spiritual beings. Man is
both a physical and spiritual being through his creation
in the image and likeness of his Creator.
Unlike the pagan religions of the world and the New Age
Movement that search for something to base their beliefs
on the supernatural and the creator of the physical
world the Bible does not offer an explanation for the
existence of God. The prophets and the apostles did not
try to convince the world God exists. Jesus never tried
to convince the world God exists. According to the
Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and
earth.” Since He created the heavens and earth He
existed before the heavens and earth. He existed
independently of all that He created. He does not depend
on what He created. What He created depends on Him for
their existence.
It is a good thing we remember what the palmist said,
"The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
(Psalms 14:1) This does not mean it is wrong when we ask
how we can know there is a God who has created the
heavens, earth, and all that exists in the universe.
There is nothing wrong when someone asks us how they can
know there is a God who created the heavens, earth, and
all that exists in the universe. If we are honest and
have an open heart when we ask the question, we will
accept the biblical evidence for the existence of God.
If the person who asks us how can know the truth about
is honestly and with an open heart seeking the truth he
will accept the biblical evidence for the existence of
God. God has no problem with us asking Him questions. He
has a problem with our doubting Him.
Why should we have a biblical worldview? Biblical
evidence for the existence of God is overwhelming. The
apostle Paul stated the reason why in his letter to the
Christians in Rome. He wrote the following, “For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known
about God is evident within them; for God made it
evident to them. For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine
nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through
what has been made, so that they are without excuse”
(Romans 1:18-20).
The rejection of the biblical evidence of the existence
of God is the rejection of the truth. The rejection is a
heart condition, the fallen human nature. It is the
revolting of the human nature against the divine nature.
It is man placing his will above the will of his Creator
and following in the footsteps of the enemy of both God
and man.
The second point in the biblical evidence of the
existence of God is the preeminence of God. The Bible
consistently pictures God as preeminent in every way. He
is set apart from all other living beings. The
preeminence of God is stated in Acts 17:25-25, "The God
who made the world and all things in it, since He is
Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made
with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as
though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all
life and breath and all things.”
In First Timothy 6:13-16), Paul told Timothy “I charge
you in the presence of God, who gives life to all
things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good
confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the
commandment without stain or reproach until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring
about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and
only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who
alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable
light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor
and eternal dominion! Amen.”
In Revelation 4:11 it is written "Worthy are You, our
Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
for You created all things, and because of Your will
they existed, and were created."
Paul recognized God's preeminent position as the
sovereign ruler of all created thing. Together with the
following verses these scriptures reveal God's
preeminence as sovereign ruler. The Bible is consistent
in describing God's preeminence as the only true God.
Today, we are told God takes on many forms or can be
known in and through many different paths. This idea is
not in harmony with a biblical worldview. In fact it is
in direct opposition to the biblical world-view. It is
direct opposition to what Jesus prayed; "Father, the
hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may
glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all
mankind, that to all whom You have given Him, He may
give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they
may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
You have sent. (John 17:1-3)
The apostles also taught the preeminent nature of God
when they referred to Him as "The Only God.” Now to the
King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy
1:17). Jude wrote the following, “Now to Him who is able
to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the
presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the
only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be
glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time
and now and forever. Amen”
(Jude 1:24-25)
Finally, God Himself through the prophet Isaiah declares
Himself the only true God calling all men to turn to Him
for salvation: ) "Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends
of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I
have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My
mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to
Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear
allegiance” (Isaiah 45:22-23). "Remember the former
things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I
am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end
from the beginning And from ancient times things which
have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be
established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”
(Isaiah 46:9-10).
The Bible is always consistent in its declarations of
the moral perfection of God. In First John 1:5, it is
written, “And this is the message we have heard from Him
and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there
is no darkness at all.” Light and darkness are used in
the Bible to contrast the difference between good and
evil. Light is associated with righteousness, goodness,
love, purity and truth along with behavior that is
proper. On the other hand, darkness is associated with
wickedness, lawlessness, hate, sexual immorality and
other destructive and disgraceful behaviors. When
considering the perfection of God He is light, and that
there is no darkness in Him.
Moses and the psalmist summed up the absolute moral
perfection of God when they wrote, "For I proclaim the
name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God! The
Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A
God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and
upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). “For You are not a
God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells
with You” (Psalms 5:4).
The reason why there are serious problems in the nation
and the Church is a lack of a biblical worldview.
A Troubled Land - Part 2
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