I cannot diagnose a medical issue, nor am I any better with a car. I rely much upon my wife for the determination of medical issues ...and I usually take the car in, for someone to look at it. Now, a math problem is different ...I may be a little slow, but I make up for that with persistence. If someone in the family has a math problem, they usually come to me.
With math, I get a clearer sense where things are going. There are certain accepted guidelines ...consistent rules and standards that we go by, and we build upon them. If we error earlier on, the problem usually gets increasingly difficult ...creating more problems. When this happens, I go back to check my beginnings.
Moral dilemmas do not appear so much as dilemmas to me. It's like having the answer booklet ...we don't even have to work out the problem. Our problem doesn't need to multiply, and we don't have to go through long drawn out divisions. It's like math in that it deals with absolutes & there is absolutely one answer ...God.
But, there has been a division caused with the Bible and science. We often don't take the correct approach to begin with. We fail when we try to understand God by what we conclude through science. We should instead begin with God's Word, then allow that enthusiasm to more appreciate what God has allowed us to imagine through the depths of theories that can be tested and used for practical benefit. But, when science holds precedence over God, we not only explore beyond in a galactic fashion ...but also beyond the boundaries of what God would have us. And usually, these are not new, uncharted boundaries ...but, common breaches to the known and familiar. Morality should be quite clear ...it fails to impact a society when its authority is not honored.
But, I also see many divergent thoughts that claim to be spawned out of the Bible. Often those areas, I tend to treat like a math problem. There are certain absolutes, and those should be our foundation. The questions that have drifted through my mind though ...I often ask myself whether I should accept the face value of something I don't know & call it 'faith'; or to, in good faith, allow myself to read the Word before me with an openness that does not rely fully on interpretations of the past.
This does create a very difficult path for me, as I do not consider myself more wise than those who've spent way more hours studying and discoursing on this ...having presented what has been generally and widely accepted throughout the years. Yet, I know that throughout the ages, people have set forth our images, and visualized for us ...and some of those things are just not accurate. The Bible clearly does not place the Wise Men at the manger scene, and just because it mentions three gifts ...does not mean there were three Wise Men. It doesn't say that a very pregnant Mary traveled on a donkey ...the mode of transportation is not mentioned. And Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish ...it did not mention whale. Remember that Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh, a people who worshiped Dagon ...a fish-god. Jonah didn't want to do what God wanted him to do, so he was swallowed by a 'fish', and vomited on the shores of Nineveh. (Sorry, I got carried away there too. I confess that does happen to me ---no vomit necessary.)
I never want to take inaccuracies, nor do I want to get carried away with building upon something that is not said ...yet, I feel in some ways that has already been done for us. So, how can I get excited about God's Word ...and read it with the freshness that it brings me, without being excited and scared at the same time?
Is this when I look at it like I do a Math problem? It should not be a problem at all ...it should be enlightening & solve, not confuse. Yes, I know that the serenity prayer somewhat applies here. Yes, I know I should take certain things on faith, know that God's Word provides us with what He feels we should know ...and perhaps I should have the wisdom to know the difference.
Yet, part of what I am faced with ...is that I have taken the 'faith' approach. It's that others that I talk to have not ...and they question, and ask questions that I don't have answers for. I'd like to help them and give them the answers ...but many times, I guess, the best answer is, "I don't know!" There is much I do know that I can share ...and that is the substance of what God clearly wanted us to know ...what we can know by reading His Word.
So, often I say, "I don't know!" After all, it's not a burden unto me to be unable to answer questions ...when they should be able to accept the fact that neither do they have those answers. But, many of them ...then don't believe any of the answers. Is that my responsibility? No, it is not! But, it is my desire for them to believe ...and so it comes naturally to me to want to supply something.
Often when I am faced with having no answer, is when an answer comes to me ...in the form of a beautiful thought. It doesn't make it more confusing or complex, but more beautiful to me. I don't try to create these thoughts, nor do I feel responsible for them ...but I don't fear them either, when I can enjoy the thoughts ---yet, still humbly say that I am in no way pretending that they are true, nor that they should be presented to anyone as such. Maybe you should stop here ...if you are the type that feels threatened, or could fear stumbling away from your traditional thoughts. If you feel that by abandoning your traditional thoughts, you would be perhaps doubting any of the core beliefs that hold your faith together ...then hold fast to Jesus, and read the New Testament over and over again, so you never forget who He is ...so His Words and His character remain clear in your mind, also testifying to the Father, as He did, and being open to the Comforter whom they were also promised would instill them.
So, at this point, I am writing mostly to maintain these thoughts that give me no less appreciation of Him ...but Him in truly a wonderful way (though I readily admit that much of what I perceive may not be quite accurate). Yes, how can anyone read without imagery and bringing alive what is read. I enjoy supposing the far-reaching beauty of God's work, not with challenging truth, but with celebrating how much better it is, and the experience will be than even I can imagine ---yet, of course, keeping my careful and cautious eye on the preciseness and preciousness of what I read. I know there is a fine line between what is before us ...and what we attempt to grasp. Yes, it can be very dangerous. Let us be aware ...and cautious. It is His truth ...not ours to take literary license to expound on.
What I know for sure: In the whole wide expanse of the universe, as we know it ...God loves me. And He lives within little ole' me ...and my body is the temple. Yet, it is not just with me ...this is true of everyone who accepts Him, an invitation of the Holy Spirit, God's love, and Jesus residing within. What does this mean, that our bodies are the temple?
It's not the shape or size ...or appearance of this body of mine, or of anyone else ...it's the relationship. My body can get old, and I can lose some of my form ...and even some of my function, but though I can become less ---my relationship with Him can grow and become more.
It appears the earth lost some of its form and function. The second verse of the Bible states, "And the earth was without form, and void ..."
I used my Concordance to look up a further meaning of those words describing the earth ...and what I found was: Desolate, empty, to lie in waste, indistinguishable ruin, confusion, vanity ...
What could be confusing or vain about a yet function-less orb? Unless it previously had a function, there was foreknowledge that it would have one, or it was now being introduced as the most significant of all orbs.
Of course, we usually move quickly ...glossing over many assumptions, most of which have fully ingrained images that help us skip over words that are convenient to not fret about (and I understand this to be true) ---yet, if it were not to be thought about, why was it mentioned at all? There is no introduction of the 'water', and so quickly we skim over the familiar ---that we tend to forget the exactness of it, and we do see the introduction of the particular man, named Adam, in the turning of a single page, in the second chapter. As Eve is introduced, we quickly move into one of the most famous chapters of the entire Bible ---chapter 3. And we are immediately led to a character that had not been introduced ---nor even mentioned in the Creation, of chapter one.
The angels were also created ...but when? And Lucifer, the devil, Satan ...the serpent, however you'd prefer to reference him (I'd prefer not to reference him at all ...but we can't deny the truth of what is written), when did he get thrown down to earth?
Like I said, I'd prefer not to place him anywhere, but Satan was there. And though the descriptions of him are not many, why would it be significant to describe him at all, other than to say how deceptive his character is?
I'm going to make this very clear: "I don't know ...I don't know ...I don't know!!!"
I could say, 'we' don't know ...because you don't know either. Again, let me make this clear ... the following is what we don't know, but it is where my mind wandered:
What I don't know, I did not just think as a great opportunity to fill in the gaps. I actually look to what I do know.
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Thoughts #1: I imagined one scenario of angels being created in a separate Creation ...also with the turnabout of that group of angels also experiencing a Great Flood, with the temporary removal of the Light after the great rebellion of the angles. It's like what happened in the prison, with all the lights going out. Things are at a temporary standstill. In this case, God takes control, and He restores, saying, "Let there be Light." God says it is good. God is Light ...so wouldn't we imagine there was Light before also? And there is a contrast here ...as God not only mentioned darkness, but He separated it & didn't say that 'it' was good. Was the Light restored for the two-thirds, also separating the good and evil? The flood would be a washing and regeneration ...sort of like we view rain, washing the earth & also regenerating, especially within a desert. I also consider the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, as He moved upon the face of the waters. And of course, much of this would be repeated during the Flood of Noah's time, but with man.
*****(much more could be said, but let's move on)*****
Thoughts #2: I imagine that God set up a pattern of contrast before the rebellion of the angels, even before the creation of the angels. With the mention of water existing, this could be like the backdrop of the opening scene ...the general setting of the heavens and the earth, with the earth being desolate, yet the future (soon to be) habitation for us. Or like sitting in a dark room with a cloak covering the great masterpiece ...and suddenly the lights go on, and we witness the unveiling. Of course, He is the Light & He is the Master behind the piece. After setting up the contrast of light and darkness, night and day, He separates the water also ...creating space between and taking the water below, spinning it into 'form' with Earth composed of dry land and Seas.
The lights in the firmament are introduced, with separate mention of the moon, sun, and the stars. (So, could it be, since they are mentioned separately, that the first mention of lights could have been the angels? But, I don't really think so, as God's own Light will fill the holy Jerusalem of the new earth, and I feel this was also the Light at Creation ...before the moon, sun, and stars.)
I can imagine that on the sixth day, there was a significant announcement, "Let's make man in our image, and in our likeness ..." I do imagine the angels singing at this spectacular introduction ...even though the magnitude of it may not have been understood. Then when it is said, "...and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every living thing that is upon the earth." With all this: and, and, and ...'and' perhaps Lucifer wanted to have some 'dominion over'.
Perhaps when God set the pattern to rest on the 7th day, what could be said for those who do not follow God?
"For evil's scepter will not rest on the land that has been allotted to the righteous ..."
"For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall."
We know that Lucifer was cast down. He was adorned with the brilliance of precious jewels, but his decision was not brilliant. I imagine him being smashed to Earth, with those jewels scattered throughout the Earth. Are we to despise the jewels because they were Satan's adornment? No, they were meant to be beautiful and for good. I imagine that in the future they will represent what they were meant to represent ....dazzling beauty. I see that in the description of the New Jerusalem.
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Okay, of the billions of people on earth, we could each come up with our own imaginings ...a billion different ones. Perhaps we could pick our favorites ...but isn't that what we've already done. There are so many religions ...so many different ones to choose from, actually, something for everyone. And if there is a new desire to fit a particular agenda, then we can always create a new one. Often tradition, comfort, and a nonthreatening popularity ...chooses for us. We all want a safe, non threatening existence where we feel significant and can belong. We can always join, as the saying goes, "If you can't beat them, join them." But sometimes, it seems, it has been beat into us.
But, that being said, there still remains the fact ...that there is only one truth. There must be a standard to truth ...there must be an honest admission to the fact that good and evil do exist. I personally don't know anyone who doesn't understand the concept of "do unto others, as you would have them do unto you". Even the most wicked people understand this concept. They at least could acknowledge what they wouldn't want to happen to them. That bit of discernment brings some sort of judgment ...and the basic understanding that good and evil cannot co-exist. There must be a means to separate the two. That means is ...through Jesus.
Does it matter ...of our beginnings? It sort of does. But, of the angels and their beginnings ...we don't know much. But the ending is important.
And its important to understand that to accept and follow Jesus ...to accept His teachings and commandments. We will not always succeed, but our commitment would entail trying, not denying.
The love of Jesus cannot be denied ...He died on the cross for us. What do we do to show what we commit to? Would we aspire to being an ungrateful, and disobedient child? But, though to obey may mean something rather clear, at times, it is not so devastating when we have moments when we fail ...because our loving God is awaiting us to repent, ready to forgive us. The problem arises when we feel there is nothing ever to repent of.
Adam and Eve ate of the tree of 'the knowledge of good & evil' ...and we have knowledge too. They were not supposed to eat from the tree ...there were things that were better that they not know. And I think in Heaven those things will be erased from our memory ...as if we had never had that knowledge, of profuse evil thoughts. Yet, we may have those human feelings we must overcome ...including our lack of acceptance of those with basic differences. And we will all need to embrace forgiveness towards one another. That is one of the most beautiful things. And the Tree of Life is said to be there, the leaves of which ...are to be for the healing of the nations.
Yes, there are many things which are not revealed to us ...that we are not meant to know. We know enough ...to help us through this life, to make an intelligent choice. And we choose to follow God's way ...or against God, joining Lucifer's agenda. One path is Love ...the other can be seen for what it is, if it more clearly invests its emotions on self-love. Loving ourselves, as God loves us ...is healthy. But, it is not healthy when we love things that God doesn't love.
Parents, teach your children the difference.
