Tag: creation

Secrets!

Secrets!

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Gary Pollard

The greatest secret in the universe has been revealed to humanity: Jesus himself (Col 2.2-3). This is perhaps a hint that the groups harassing the believers at Colossae were Gnostic as well as Jewish. Gnostics were all about secret knowledge and asceticism (at least in this group, cf. 2.18). Paul addressed the Jewish elements in this section too. I’m certainly not dogmatic about this, but it does seem possible that at least elements of Gnostic thought were influencing Colossae, on top of the pervasive traditionalism of the Jewish Christians. 

Either way we should pay attention to an important point — all of humanity from the dawn of civilization has been trying to figure out what a specific something is. We’ve always been impressed with a sense that something bigger than us is out there. Since we’ve recently been able to take a crude glimpse into the cosmos itself, we’ve only been more impressed with how powerless we are on this little blue marble. Cosmic scales are something we can’t even wrap our minds around. There’s so much raw power that can only be viewed from distances so vast that we could never hope to travel them physically (eg. supernovas). But a simple cometary fragment could wipe out our little rock, if God willed it! 

Most early civilizations deified some element or other natural force on this planet, or they deified what they could observe with the naked eye in the heavens. Many ancient cultures worshipped powerful or beautiful animals, stars, or even political/military celebrities (sometimes all of the above). They were searching everywhere, desperate to find the source of infinite cosmic power, wisdom, and guidance that they instinctively knew existed, but could not identify. Since God is invisible (cf. 1.15), he had to be revealed to us. This great mystery was solved once and for all with the arrival of Jesus on the planet he created (2.16-17). He is that power, and he cares about us! That means he wants to take us with him when this earth is destroyed (2.18-20). The mystery is far more profound (and practical and humbling) than we thought. What is that thing every ancient culture has tried to identify and worship? The Great Mystery of the Eons — Jesus: Creator, Teacher, Civilizer, Rescuer, God.

This message is the secret truth that was hidden since the beginning of time. It was hidden from everyone for ages, but now it has been made known to God’s holy people. God decided to let his people know just how rich and glorious that truth is. That secret truth — which is for all people — is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory (2.27). 

Rational Faith

Rational Faith

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Gary Pollard
  1. Universal constants (ie. truth) exist. They must, or civilization would not be able to sustain itself. 
  2. Only one religious system has a flawless narrative from beginning to end: Christianity. The collection of sacred writings we call the bible is uncanny in its preservation and authenticity. No other ancient document has ever held up to academic scrutiny like the bible has. 
  3. While no organization is perfect, none have positively impacted the planet like Christianity has. Not even close. No civilization has been as functional as those which have been built on Judeo-Christian principles. Literacy is as wide-spread as it is because of the bible. 
  4. Evidence for the existence of a higher power is everywhere. If the bible — which contains a supernaturally infallible narrative — claims that the God we serve is that higher power, it is only rational to serve that God. 

“Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this. Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by his command. This means the things we see were created by something that cannot be seen” (Hb 11.1-3). 

We were not there 2,000 years ago when Jesus walked the earth. We were not there when he created the earth. We were not there when he came back to life. We were not there to witness any miracles. 

But what has been left to us is a series of compelling proofs, such as the complexity and order of the universe from the cosmic scale to the microscopic scale. We have a collection of ancient documents which have been preserved to a degree that no other ancient documents have, and which contain no narrative contradictions. We have a system of belief that, when followed properly, is the most functional way to live. We will not see with our own eyes until Jesus returns. Until then we are satisfied with the evidence we have, and we are confident in who God is and that he exists. This is the very definition of faith. 

GENESIS: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (II)

GENESIS: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (II)

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“In The Beginning” (1:1-2:3)

Neal Pollard

The first chapter of the Bible’s 1189 provides a helpful reminder that chapter divisions are an act of man (Stephen Langton in 1227) rather than an act of God. Genesis 1:1-2:3 is the inspired record of the creation of the universe followed by a more intimate account of the creation of man (2:4-25). There is incredible structure in the way Moses records the making of the universe, showing the Creator to be a being of order and design.

The skeletal information of the chapter falls out easily enough:

  • The beginning (of the universe): God created a formless and void earth, and darkness as well as God’s Spirit were over the surface of the water (the deep)(1:1-2). Incidentally, isn’t the “end” implied with the word “beginning”? With perfect foreknowledge, God knew that this world would someday come to an end (see Isaiah 46:10). 
  • Day one: God created light and separated the light from the darkness (1:3-5).
  • Day two: God created the sky (called the expanse–“beaten, [metal] plate, firmament (i.e. vault of heaven, understood as a solid dome)” (CHALOT, 347) (1:6-8).
  • Day three: God created dry land and vegetation (1:9-13).
  • Day four: God created sun, moon, and stars (1:14-19).
  • Day five: God created water animals and winged creatures (1:20-23).
  • Day six: God created mammals, reptiles, and man (1:24-31).
  • Day seven: God rested from all the work which He had done (2:1-3).

Another way to divide this account is through two words Moses uses. Days one through three record God “forming” (1:7) what had been “formless.” Days four through six record God “filling” (1:22,28) what He had “formed” (see Kurt Strasser, Opening Up Genesis, 20-21, for more on how he develops this idea). Despite those who wish to accommodate epochs of time and the theory of evolution “in the beginning,” we have the testimony of chapter one identifying each day of creation as a 24-hour period (5,8,13,19,23,31). The same writer, Moses, will look back on the creation in the establishment of the Sabbath, noting that God created the universe in six days (Ex. 20:11; 31:17). Do you find it interesting that civilizations everywhere throughout time have constructed their calendars and functions around the seven day week? It is sown into the fabric of creation!

We are impressed with God’s active involvement in the creation process (note the verbs–I  count 38 in these 34 verses, actions God takes in these seven days of work). As we read the remainder of the Bible, we will appreciate how God remains active and involved with His creation and especially the pinnacle of His creation (1:27). Whether observation, speaking, or otherwise creating, we see God at work.

We are impressed by God’s “triune” nature as revealed in Genesis one. We see the second most common designation for God (2532; YHWH, God’s proper name occurs around 6800 times in the O.T.) and is used for divine beings, associated with might and strength and creation (from the first verse of Scripture). The Spirit of God is first referenced in verse two, and the plurality of personalities is clearly found in this inaugural chapter. How? “Elohim” is a plural noun each of the 35 times it appears in these first 34 verses. Further, as God discusses the creation of man among Himself (even saying it strains the limits of our comprehension), He says, “Let us make man….” (27). Not multiple Gods. The rest of Scripture will show us what it first introduced here. God has an essence and nature. Only One (only God) is all-powerful, all-knowing, uncaused, present everywhere all at once, perfect, sinless, etc. Yet, God is three distinct persons. Two are explicitly identified here (Father, Spirit). One is averred to be the agent of Creation elsewhere (John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2). 

God’s first question for Job is a confession that He created the universe (Job 38:4). Israel sang about the creation (Psalm 104:4-5). Every New Testament writer but Jude (who still refers to events in Genesis) makes reference to the creation account. All divine revelation rests upon the truth of Genesis one. God permitted the universe to be and subsequent chapters will help us understand why. 

GENESIS: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (I)

GENESIS: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (I)

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Background And Introduction

Neal Pollard

One of the first and most basic questions most people seek the answer to is “where did I come from?” Since I am here, there must be some explanation. And since that explanation predates me and anyone I could consult personally or through recorded history, I must look for an explanation outside of those sources. Any answer is subject to evaluation for its credibility and reasonableness. 

The book of Genesis asserts itself as the all-encompassing answer to all the big questions humanity inevitably asks. One finds its answers feasible, reasonable, and intelligible. Having 50 chapters, 1533 verses, and 32,267 words, it is a large book that sets the tone for the 65 books which follow it. It was first written for the Jews to understand their history and their place in God’s eternal plan. This is accomplished in many ways. One significant way is through Moses’ repeated, periodic use of a word translated “generations,” “account,” “genealogies,” or “order.” The word is used 13 times in Genesis, with apparent intentionality. It is how Moses divides the contents of the entire book (2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1,32; 11:10,27; 25:12-13,19; 36:1,9; 37:2). We will note those transitions as we move through the book.

The book is called “Genesis” because it reflects the idea of “beginnings.” Truly, “The title of the book of Genesis in Hebrew is bereshith, which literally means “in the beginning.” This title is the first word of the first verse. In a similar way the Hebrew titles of each of the first five books of the Old Testament are taken from a significant word in the first sentence of the book, usually the first or second word, or both. This was the practice also in the literature of other ancient languages in the Middle East” (Reyburn, UBS, 19). 

The book can be easily divided into two parts, one more general and the other more specific. Genesis 1-11 deals with the creation of the whole world, while Genesis 12-50 deals with the choosing of a single people from among the whole world. James Smith describes Genesis as a book unfolding the construction, destruction, and reconstruction of the world (The Pentateuch, 36). We see the construction in the creation accounts of the first two chapters, the destruction in the fall, the flood, and the foolhardy rebellion at Babel (Gen. 3-11), and the reconstruction through the call of Abram and his descendants (Gen. 12-50). 

Look for important themes as you move through the book of Genesis. Again, consider Smith’s suggestion of major theological truths uncovered by the book: the doctrines of creation, sin, judgment, grace, election, promise, and faith as they are repeated not only in Genesis but throughout the rest of the Bible (40). Another way to trace the book is geographically, as much of the book revolves around at least five significant journeys made by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Genesis helps us understand the world, its maker, ourselves, and our place in this world. Each chapter will unfold some aspect to help us understand the most important “whys” we will ever think to ask. It is written in narrative form, but is full of rich, theological truth which the subsequent writers and speakers of the Bible frequently look back to as foundational. There are over 100 quotations or allusions to Genesis made to Genesis in the New Testament alone on themes as basic as creation, salvation, human identity, marriage, judgment, the nature of God, the devil, the role of woman, sexuality, and much, much more. Let us journey together with the Bible’s first steps! 

Christian Basics

Christian Basics

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Gary Pollard

For the next couple of weeks, I’ll attempt to condense biblical truths into easy-to-understand sentences. These truths have lifted my own spirit, stimulated thought, caused me to praise God, and fortified confidence in him. These will just be thoughts I’ve found interesting or helpful: 

  • God’s visible form (Logos) created the earth from water (Col 1.15; Jn 1.1-4; II Pt 3.5). 
  • Logos became human to give us a second, permanent life (Col 1.15; Jn 3.17, 11.25, 20.31). 
  • Jesus will save humanity when earth is destroyed (II Pt 3.7, 10; I Thess 4.14-17; Jn 20.31). He will take us to a new, perfect world without any possibility of evil (II Pt 3.13, Mt 19.28). 
  • Jesus defends us when we sin, and forgives every sin (I Tim 2.5; I Jn 1.7; Hb 4.15). 
  • God is more powerful than our guilty consciences (I Jn 3.20). 
  • Logos became human, lived a perfect life, was illegally executed, and came back to life (Jn 1.14; II Cor 5.21, 15.4). This message — and his promise to come back for us — is the core of our faith. 
  • Jesus gives us new life through our faith in him; he freed humanity from a rules-based religious system (Gal 3.11-14, 21). 

On a totally unrelated note, exercise and selfless acts are the best cure for seasonal depression (and many other issues). This is by no means a requirement for godly living, but exercise makes it much easier to help others, help self, and discover more about God’s amazing nature! 

The Cosmic Ocean

The Cosmic Ocean

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Dale Pollard

We’re climbing a rope which hangs from heaven. Occasionally we feel a gentle tug reminding us that truth is tied to the end. For the time being, we’re left with a plethora of puzzles to ponder and countless mysteries to mull over. The Bible’s not boring. It’s mankind’s one and only peek behind the spiritual veil. Every once in a while we seem to be gifted with a discovery that further bolsters biblical claims. 

In an article by Robotics and Automation News (2021) they cover an interesting astronomical discovery and it’s incredible. They write the following, 

“Space agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), among others, invest millions of dollars in searching for water on other planets. So, when water was found in a gaseous state near quasar (a massive black hole), it was indeed a big deal! Yes, scientists have discovered a huge cloud containing more water than what exists on Earth! In fact, it’s 140 trillion times more than the Earth! Two teams of astronomers from NASA discovered water in a reservoir in 2011. It is one of the largest and most distant water reservoirs detected in the universe.”

In the beginning there was water. The Bible opens with a depiction of what was before there was anything at all. 

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen.1.2). 

Interestingly enough, there’s no mention of the Spirit of God creating the water itself. Now, this doesn’t mean that God didn’t create the water but it also leads the mind to connect God and water together. Water is a common thread that runs throughout scripture and we have examples of the Lord using this essential element to bring, sustain, and also take life. Science keeps running into God no matter how often it tries to run away from Him!

What Is Real And True?

What Is Real And True?

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Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

This is a fun question to tackle. We won’t be able to do it justice in article format, unfortunately. But it’s very difficult to find out what’s actually true when it comes to almost anything. Many scientific disciplines are riddled (ironically) with dogma, bias, conflicts of interest, and corruption. Religion is surrounded by deafening opinions, zealots, and detractors. History is clouded, uncertain, and subjective. Everyone has an opinion and too much information bombards us relentlessly. 

So we’re told “reality is an illusion” or “reality is a simulation” or “reality is undefinable” or “there is no good or evil, only balance,” etc. While each of these is an intriguing study, we’ll focus on what we know is true. 

Christianity believes this to be true — God is real. He took a shapeless, empty rock and turned it into the beautiful earth we have now. He’s the only entity with unlimited power, but cares most about one group: us. We are nothing in the vast universe, but God cares about us (Ps 8.4). 

The collection of books we call the bible is God’s message to humanity. I am fully convinced that the origins of this library are from not earth. Since the bible claims to be from God, and internal/external evidence overwhelmingly suggests a non-earth origin, I believe that it really is from God. 

So what’s true? God made reality (Gen 1). He gave us consciousness and the ability to interact with the reality he made. He gave us complete freedom to choose our own destiny. He let humanity kill his son, just to bring his son back to life as tangible hope for all people. If we do what God wants, we get that second life too. There is good and there is evil, function and dysfunction. Good will last forever, but dysfunction will be destroyed permanently when Jesus comes back (Rev 20.9-15). 

This earth is not going to last forever, a fact supported by both the new testament and mainstream science. This is truth. Where we’re going when the earth is destroyed is up to us. 

That’s all we really need to know about reality — it’s as real as God is, and our next life will be as real as this one. 

Gary Pollard
How Real Is God To You?

How Real Is God To You?

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Thursday’s Column: Captain’s Blog 

When I was younger I used to lay in bed at night and try to imagine what God looked like. I would try to put a face to Him, I’d wonder what He was doing, and I would ask myself if God knew that I was thinking about Him. I still ask those same questions to this day. It is likely that most, if not all of you, who are reading this article believe that there is a God and that He can see and hear all that we say. So the question I’d like us to ask ourselves in this article is this; since there is a God that has all power, why do we sometimes have difficulty following the commands that we find in the Bible? 

Jeremiah 10:12 says, “It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom; and by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.”

God has ALL power. There isn’t an area that He is lacking power in. He controls the weather, He created us, and as Jeremiah said, “He made this earth” and we are inhabitants of His world. As humans, we sometimes forget just how powerful God truly is. Since God has all power, shouldn’t we be following what the Creator of everything has told us to do? In seven days He thought of everything we see around us. 

Did you know that no one has ever had an original thought? For example, I could say that I’m the only person to have ever thought about a blue turtle. But before I thought of blue turtle, there was such thing as the color blue, and there were turtles before I thought of them. So what I’m actually doing is taking two things that God created and putting them together. We aren’t original; we just use what our Creator has already made. This God, the one who spoke everything into being, has given us specific commands to follow as Christians. 

Since God has given us rules on how to live, we shouldn’t have a problem following them. They may be difficult, but God knows how to take care of His creation. The thought of the God of the universe watching out and guiding me through life is a great comfort! But on the flip side, what if we aren’t following what God has told us to do? There’s a saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” Our actions are a direct window into how we truly feel. If we don’t do what God has commanded, then that’s like us saying to God, “I don’t truly believe that there are consequences to my actions.” But that is a deadly place for us to be, because God IS real and there ARE consequences to our actions. God is real and the consequences of our actions are as well. 

In the end it comes down to this: Not obeying what God has said is a reflection of how real we make God out to be. If we truly believe He is real, then we shouldn’t have a problem doing what He tells us to do. As Christians we serve the One true God, and He is ever present in the world. I pray that this fact will push us to do the commands He has given us because our God is alive and we all have an eternity with Him if we do what He tells us to do.

Looking back at when I was younger, I’ve realized that I asked the right question, but the most important part of those questions is how I answer them. Will I show through my actions that I truly believe He is alive? Or do I doubt the reality of God by not taking His commands seriously? Let’s try to always prove God is alive by following what He has told us to do!

Carl Pollard (with Rich)
Our Motives, Mission, And Message

Our Motives, Mission, And Message

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Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

I Thessalonians 2.1-6 reminds us that our motivation for staying faithful shouldn’t be selfish. We’re not here to gain a following or expand a financial portfolio. Those things aren’t intrinsically wrong, but using Christianity as an opportunity for financial gain is terrible. We’re faithful because it’s what God wants, and because we want to live with him forever. 

The application of 2.7-12 is that God expects us to tell people about his son’s return, even if we have to do it alone. This means we don’t expect financial help as a condition for service. This means we teach with great patience. It means we share our time generously. It means we work hard. It means we invest all of our emotional resources into the work. 

2.13-16 teaches that our message originated with the creator. It has a powerful effect on people who believe it. It also draws negative attention from people who find it too otherworldly to accept. For the most part, people find it difficult to accept the idea of a God. Beyond that, most find it even harder to believe that this God will destroy the planet, and will only rescue those who follow him. To most it reads like science fiction. As with other things that don’t fit a naturalistic narrative, our worldview is attacked as bring fringe or fantasy or irrational. But God will handle those who try to stop his message from spreading, so our job is to keep at it until our time is up! 

Gary Pollard
He Goes Before Me

He Goes Before Me

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Monday’s Column: Neal At The Cross

Pioneers are fascinating, whether Gutenberg and the printing press, Jenner and vaccinations, or the Wright brothers and flying. Whether travel and exploration or inventions, people who went first or paved the way for us are people we may never think about but who we owe so much to. Even our highway systems, with paved roads that go through tall mountains, took people to make a way when there was no way.

Hebrews 6:20 uses a word only found in that verse–“forerunner.” The word had a diverse usage. It was used in athletics, of one who runs forward at top speed. It was used of one who went in advance of others, like horsemen or guides ahead of the army. In Alexandria, Roman ships heavily loaded with grain, were led out by a small guide ship. It was used in botany of the first green shoot, tree, or flower of Spring. Metaphorically, it was used of a “precursor” like the apostles or John the Baptist. 

The idea in Hebrews 6:20 is that Jesus has gone behind the curtain before us into God’s presence. We can join Him there because His death made it possible for us (Heb. 5:8-9). But we also have unrestricted access to God’s presence now because He prepared the way. The writer tells us that this is our sure and stedfast anchor of hope that allows us to take refuge. 

It is beautiful to think that Jesus has gone before us and paved a way for us. This is a theme the writer addresses throughout Hebrews. He shows us how Jesus has done that in the past, is doing it now, and will do it in the future.

He went before me in the creation (Hebrews 1). In the most elementary sense, Jesus went before me in that He brought me into being (Heb. 1:2). He made us knowing that He would someday become one of us, with a human body (Heb. 10:5). He made the circulatory system, the nervous system, the respiratory system, the skeletal  system, as well as every other system, cells, tissues & organs, knowing He’d experience them. He was here on earth before most, if not all, the recipients of Hebrews and certainly before all of us—but He paved the way for life on this earth for all of us. He provided for my material needs (Mat. 5:45; 6:25-32; 1 Tim. 6:17), my emotional needs, my social needs (Gen. 2:18; Prov. 17:17), and my spiritual needs–He created me with a desire for worship, fellowship, and discipleship and guides me in the proper expression of each of them. 

He went before me in my salvation (Hebrews 2:10). Your version probably says author, captain, founder, or even pioneer. The original word was used of one who founded a city, gave it its name, and became its guardian. Or it was used of a head of a family, a founder of a school, or military commander. The context of Hebrews 2:10 is that Jesus came to earth to experience humanity firsthand, but He’s called the author of our salvation. He does the sanctifying and we’re the sanctified (11). His death freed us from the one who had the power of death (14-15). He made forgiveness for our sins (17). 

Hebrews uses “salvation” seven times, but also speaks of sanctification, propitiation, purification, and the like. The letter is full of blessings He gives now because of our salvation–assistance when tempted (2:18), assurance (3:14), bold approach to the throne (4:16), hope (6:19), mercy and forgiveness (8:12), confidence (10:19), nearness (10:22), endurance (12:1), and an unshakable kingdom (12:28). I get a clear sense that He wants me to make it through this world spiritually alive!

He has gone before me in my eternal destination (Hebrews 12:1-2). The writer draws to his conclusion, pointing us to “the race that is set before us.” Everyone of us is still in the race, running toward some conclusion. The writer says to look away from all other things to look at Jesus. He took the lead and is setting the example at the front of the pack. In fact, He successfully finished this race and is waiting on us to finish and join Him in a victory celebration. The only way to lose this race is to stop running, but if we keep our eyes on Christ we won’t stop. Jesus is our leader, inspiration, and goal we are running toward in our race.

The Hebrews’ writer says judgment is coming, but Jesus has paved the way for us. Throughout Hebrews, he tells us we can have confidence (4 times), assurance (4 times), and hope (7 times). Jesus is the basis for all of that. 

Jesus made the hard choice. He left heaven and came to take the punishment we deserve so we could receive the reward He died to give us. He could have chosen to save Himself and let us die lost and without hope, but He made the unselfish choice. What about us? Are we willing to sacrifice now, so that we can ultimately receive the prize? We can do it! Jesus showed us how!

Neal Pollard