I just do not understand!
Romans 1:20 (NLT) 20From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.
This morning as I was going to the ministry office I noticed the full moon against the starry sky. All I could do was stand for a moment in the cold air (5 degrees) and be in awe of my Lord and Savior. Then I wondered as I always do why? Not why did the Lord create such beauty, but why can't they not see? How can they think all of this just happened? One of my hobbies used to be photography. I have an extensive collection of sunrises and sunsets. Every time I see a sunrise or a sunset I again stand in awe and praise the Lord for being such an artist, but then I wonder why they cannot believe! Before I go any farther you must under stand that before I was a Christian and pastor I was trained as a scientist. I have had man prod, poke and try to ruin my mind with years of education. I have a Associate degree in pre-law, a Bachelors of science in environmental studies with a humanities minor, a Masters in science in structural tectonics and more classes and training sessions than I can count. I can explain down to the smallest detail why rainbows happen technically. I can give you all the scientific reasons for the beautiful sunrises. I can even give you more information than you will ever want on what the sciences believes is our origins. Sadly, I have found that all mans' education, whether it is from a Seminary or a mainstream college, clouds your mind to the simple things of God. If it is from a worldly college then they pump you full of mans' theories on science, arts or some other discipline. If it is from a theological seminary then they pump you full of mans' ideas of what God meant when He said this or that.
Jesus said it best as always Matthew 18:3-5 (NLT) 3Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. The Greek for turn is to twist or reverse to turn back. So, Jesus is saying that we must return to being like a child. We need to have the simple childlike awe when we look at the full moon, the sunset or sunrise, the fall colors. My friends in raising our five children. I remember their special trust for Daddy. If dad said jump and he would catch them they just trusted dad to do as he said. They did not stop and think "now what did he mean by that?" They did not analyze my reasoning for asking them to jump. They did not think " is this some test or something?" They did not ask themselves " what will happen if he does not catch me?" Should I have a plan 'b' if he fails?" No! they just had that childlike faith and jumped and daddy caught them.
We do not need mans' education to explain it. Just the simple faith of a child to believe it. One of my pet peeves is all the great and mighty men and women of God that have to have all their titles or education behind their names. You know what I mean Reverend-Pastor-Doctor over educated with their AS, BS, MS, PHD, DD, Th. D etc after their name. I am never sure if they are trying to impress me or God. Now do not get me wrong I know a lot of men and women of God who are highly educated and love the Lord with all their hearts. But, all that education did not make them more acceptable or usable to God and our Lord as a worker. All that education made them more acceptable and usable to their religious group for service but, not to God. John 14:25-26 (NLT) 25I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative-and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. I would rather have a doctorate in Holy Spirit-ology any day than all the education of man put together. To be totally honest by a simple application I can have a life experience honoree Doctorate of Divinity Degree. So I could be Pastor A. J. Warner AS, BS, MS, DD. Now I ask you would that make you listen to God's word from me more or less. If you say more then you need to get back to basics my friends. The greatest preachers in history were not highly educated men, by man, but by God! They did not have letters behind their names. They were labeled as radicals, rebels and trouble makers. But, they were highly educated by God through the school of hard knocks. Acts 4:13 (ASV) 13Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. It is interesting that the Greek word here for "unlearned" means illiterate, so uneducated that one could not read. The Greek root for ignorant means an unlearned idiot. So the religious leaders of the day were not paying Peter or John any great compliment. Can you see my point? The original twelve apostles were not greatly educated men. They were common people that had a personal experience with Jesus. They were changed by the Holy Spirit and the Lord for His work. Look at how Paul felt. He was a very highly educated Jew and came from a very prominent family. Paul probably had all the initials behind his name that one could have in his time. But how did he look upon those things? Philippians 3:4-9 (NLT) 4Yet I could have confidence in myself if anyone could. If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault. 7I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ 9and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. A few years back I was reading a article by one of the main stream religious groups. They were so proud they had graduated the first 6 Th. D's. I would venture that you will not find one of them in the outer most reaches of the world preaching and teaching in the trenches. Instead the odds are they are teaching at the same seminary (the same mans teachings to another bunch of blind sheep.)
We need to get back to the basics of God's word and find that child like awe. Be honest and ask "When did I last stop and just look at a sunset in awe for the Lord?" If you cannot remember then you need to get back to basics. A recent study found that 80% of evangelicals' could not even remember when they last felt the presence of God. Do you understand that? When was the last time you truly felt the presence of God? I can remember it clear and plain. When I draw the closest to the Lord I just am in total awe that He will even put up with an old sinner like me. I remember one time that I was in prayer and fasting and the power of the Lord came upon me. All I could do was weep and beg God to forgive me because I was not worthy to be before Him. As I write this the song Oh Holy Night started playing on our CD player and I had to stop writing. The reason, I could not see through the tears thinking how unworthy I was of all the Lord has done for a common man as I. Jesus said it, Matthew 18:3-5 (NLT) 3Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Be honest when did you last feel that childlike awe? When did you feel the presence of God in your life? Has the fast pace of this world made you too busy to stop and smell the flowers? Studies show that the average Christian will live 10 years longer than the average heathen. Ever wonder why? It is because if we are living the life that the Lord wants for us we will be with out worry and stress. Notice I did not say without problems. But if we truly are like little children toward our Father in heaven we will not have worries or stress. Remember, back to when your were a little child. Did you worry about whether or not there would be food on the table? Did you worry about whether or not dad would pay the rent or house payment.? Did you worry about getting the latest prescription drug so you could function or feel better? If you are truly honest you will remember a time of innocence that you just trusted you parents to provide and you will remember life was simpler. This is what our Father in heaven has for us. Matthew 10:27-31 (NLT) 27What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28"Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. Or Matthew 6:25-30 (NLT) 25"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. 28"And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
So many of you get mad at me when I ask "Do you believe God's word?" You say a resounding "YES!" They why do you not have that childlike faith? Why do you not really trust the Lord to provide? You see one of the things that is required to fulfill what Jesus said "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." Is to have a 100% trust in all of God's word. Not just the parts that you like or the parts that your religion tells you are important but 100% trust in all of the Words of God in His Holy Book the Bible. Try it you will find you will like it. Mary and I lead a blessed life! Not because we are someone special but because we have made the conscience decision to follow God's word, to do our best to be in His will, to trust Him at His word and to have as close to that 100% faith in Him as humanly possible. Can you my friends? Will you my friends? It is the only way to have that life more abundantly that Jesus promised. John 10:10 (KJV) 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Your choice my friends, what will it be?
