A Certain and Unavoidable End
As I study, read, and pray, I increasingly view the world through a biblical lens. As I mature in my faith, I am more convicted of many truths that for much of my young Christian life were up in the air (i.e., I once believed that theistic evolution was a possibility; now I am convinced that a literal six days of creation is theologically correct and necessary).
But having convictions comes with a price.
The more my biblical worldview develops, the less I find in common with the world; this is as it should be. Still, I find it frustrating to see other worldviews constantly paraded in front of me, calling to ‘taste and see,’ challenging Truth with a plethora of lies. But it’s good to know your enemy, and I have been privy to many insights in the past few days.
Every now and then it pays to watch TV.
If you want to see humanity exalted, spend a week watching The History Channel. Because this week has been focused on the end of the world, the humanistic leanings have been prominent. Specifically, the Word of God has been replaced by human experience as authoritative, and God Himself has been replaced by humanity as omnipotent and omniscient. Many quotes from Revelation (a lesser authority?) referring to events that ‘must take place’ (4:1) have been cited. These events have been presented as avoidable if we will wake up, take stock of our situation, and improve ourselves. We have painted ourselves into a corner socially and environmentally. It is therefore up to man to be his own savior, and the continued existence of humankind is dependent solely upon our ability to overcome our past missteps.
To be certain, man is responsible for the condition of the world today, but the greatest damage occurred in the Garden of Eden. By sinning against God Adam plunged the whole of creation into turmoil, subjecting it to every kind of evil (natural and moral); the world has never been the same. And though being good stewards of what we’ve been given is certainly important (Revelation 11:18), we are foolish to believe that reducing our output of greenhouse gases or planting trees and implementing deforestation legislation will save mankind. Nothing we can do will ever set right what went wrong in the Garden, so we live in a world of increasing and unprecedented natural disasters. Are these a result of our actions? Without a doubt, they are a result of man’s sin.
Fortunately, the Hope of mankind lay not in our own hands, but in the hands of our pierced Savior. Through Him the world will be made perfect and complete, as will the remnant of those who trust in Him, a remnant of every nation, tribe, and tongue. God is sovereign, and the failings of the creatures who bear His image will not thwart His plans, nor will a frustrated creation stifle His redemptive process. This age in which we live will most certainly come to an end, but neither creature nor creation will determine its close. God alone has sovereignly ordained when and how the whole of redemptive history will reach its conclusion. His Revelation to John isn’t an instruction manual for avoiding annihilation; it is comfort and encouragement for His children, so they may know that when these events do come to pass, He is God and He is in control.
But having convictions comes with a price.
The more my biblical worldview develops, the less I find in common with the world; this is as it should be. Still, I find it frustrating to see other worldviews constantly paraded in front of me, calling to ‘taste and see,’ challenging Truth with a plethora of lies. But it’s good to know your enemy, and I have been privy to many insights in the past few days.
Every now and then it pays to watch TV.
If you want to see humanity exalted, spend a week watching The History Channel. Because this week has been focused on the end of the world, the humanistic leanings have been prominent. Specifically, the Word of God has been replaced by human experience as authoritative, and God Himself has been replaced by humanity as omnipotent and omniscient. Many quotes from Revelation (a lesser authority?) referring to events that ‘must take place’ (4:1) have been cited. These events have been presented as avoidable if we will wake up, take stock of our situation, and improve ourselves. We have painted ourselves into a corner socially and environmentally. It is therefore up to man to be his own savior, and the continued existence of humankind is dependent solely upon our ability to overcome our past missteps.
To be certain, man is responsible for the condition of the world today, but the greatest damage occurred in the Garden of Eden. By sinning against God Adam plunged the whole of creation into turmoil, subjecting it to every kind of evil (natural and moral); the world has never been the same. And though being good stewards of what we’ve been given is certainly important (Revelation 11:18), we are foolish to believe that reducing our output of greenhouse gases or planting trees and implementing deforestation legislation will save mankind. Nothing we can do will ever set right what went wrong in the Garden, so we live in a world of increasing and unprecedented natural disasters. Are these a result of our actions? Without a doubt, they are a result of man’s sin.
Fortunately, the Hope of mankind lay not in our own hands, but in the hands of our pierced Savior. Through Him the world will be made perfect and complete, as will the remnant of those who trust in Him, a remnant of every nation, tribe, and tongue. God is sovereign, and the failings of the creatures who bear His image will not thwart His plans, nor will a frustrated creation stifle His redemptive process. This age in which we live will most certainly come to an end, but neither creature nor creation will determine its close. God alone has sovereignly ordained when and how the whole of redemptive history will reach its conclusion. His Revelation to John isn’t an instruction manual for avoiding annihilation; it is comfort and encouragement for His children, so they may know that when these events do come to pass, He is God and He is in control.
