The Greatest Problem Plaguing Our Planet

Everyone recognizes that the earth has changed considerably over the ages. The paradise inhabited by our earliest ancestors is worlds apart from the planet we inhabit today. Man’s influence has certainly taken its toll. Who or what bears responsibility for this travesty? Our quest for discovery must begin by considering the character of the original paradise.

The Original Paradise

Overpopulation, pollution, and water and soil contamination were nonexistent when our earliest ancestors called the earth their home. A mist went up from the earth’s surface to water the whole face of the ground making rain unnecessary.1 Beautiful trees in abundance offered mankind a bountiful food supply.2 The land possessed bountiful resources undisturbed by man,3 and the animal kingdom flourished without concern for survival of the fittest.4 Vegetation grew unhampered by thorns and thistles. This was truly a wonderful paradise in which to live!

Paradise Lost

How did such a beautiful place devolve into what we see and know today? Is it merely the result of gradual change, or was there a major upheaval that sent the earth into its downward spiral? How did the earth and its inhabitants shift from perfect harmony to the pain it presently experiences?5 Is it, as claimed by some, the result of climate change, deforestation, ozone layer depletion, and overpopulation; or will our search for truth discover a much simpler answer?

Before discovering any problem’s solution, we must first discover the root cause. We cannot blame the animal kingdom since they are the unwilling subjects of the circumstances at hand.6 Additionally, we cannot justify placing blame on industrialization, since apart from man’s actions there would be no industrialization. In fact, apart from man, overpopulation, pollution, and ozone layer depletion would never be discussed as potential grounds. Man’s existence on earth serves as the only clear culprit, but perhaps there exists a deeper problem. 

None of the problems commonly pointed out today were present until mankind (specifically the first man and woman) directly and consciously rebelled against the Creator of the universe. Their sin caused the earth to inherit an enduring curse7 and death passed upon all men.8 This act of rebellion against the Creator propelled the creation onto a collision course with its Maker. 

The earth now waxes old like a garment in need of changing.9 This change could be identified as a “Big-Bang.” However, this “Big-Bang” is not a historical event, but a future one yet on the horizon. Nor will this cataclysmic event produce structure, but only destruction. The real “Big-Bang” will take place when God destroys this earth with fire.10 Man’s future is even more precarious than the world’s future unless each person consciously and individually puts his faith in the payment for sins provided through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. In fact, those who refuse to trust Christ as Saviour will dwell eternally in a lake of fire.11 Sin pitted man against God and God against man. Fortunately, God the Son gave Himself as the perfect, sinless sacrifice to reconcile this severed relationship.12 Although man’s willful disobedience caused the present conditions and will ultimately bring about the future judgment, God never intended for man to inhabit a cursed earth. Instead, God intends to one day restore the paradise lost through sin.

Paradise Regained

Just as paradise was lost in a garden, the restored paradise was secured in another garden.13 That which our earliest ancestors lost, Christ restored through the offering of Himself. He was not the problem, but He is the only solution.

Do not be misled, Christ did not die on the cross to preserve the earth. He died because we each needed a means of reconciliation with our Creator. Nonetheless, an added benefit of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is the privilege for men, women, boys, and girls to live forever in an incorruptible paradise.14 Much like man’s first dwelling place, this paradise will be a place of indescribable beauty. In fact, this paradise will have no need of the harmful rays of sunlight, for Christ gives it light.15 The waters cannot be contaminated,16 the fruit of the trees never experience any type of disease,17 and the curse plaguing the earth will be forever eliminated.18 In addition, the destroyer of the first paradise (sin) will be banished from this future paradise.19

Although this paradise remains free to all, its availability came at a great cost. The innocent Son of God died to pay for your wrongdoings. Though the initial sin occurred with our earliest ancestors, we too have personally rebelled against the Creator.20 The penalty for our rebellion is death, but Jesus Christ died to offer us life.21 If you want to live in that future paradise void of sin and all the resulting troubles, you must trust Jesus Christ and His payment for your sins. Won’t you bow your head right now and confess your personal guilt and responsibility for sin? Won’t you call upon the name of the Lord and ask Him to save you?22

I, who ere while the happy garden sung,

By one man’s disobedience lost, now sing

Recovered Paradise to all mankind,

By one man’s firm obedience fully tried

Through all temptation, and the tempter foiled

In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,

And Eden raised in the waste wilderness.

Taken from Milton’s Paradise Regained

 

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1 Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

2 Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

3 Genesis 2:11-12 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

4 Genesis 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

5 Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

6 Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

7 Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

8 Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

9 Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

10 2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

11 Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

12 Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

13 John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 

14 Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

15 Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

16 Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

17 Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 

18 Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 

19 Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

20 Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

21 Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

22 Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

A Tale of Two Sauls

The name Saul was likely a prominent name among the Israelites and one that was given in honour. After all, the first king the nation knew was named Saul. Upon consideration of these truths, I have often wondered if Saul of Tarsus (later the apostle Paul), whose family obviously elevated their Jewish heritage (Acts 22:3), was named after the first king. With that in mind, consider the similarities between the two men.

Both were Benjamites.

• King Saul was a Benjamite (1 Samuel 9:21).
• Saul of Tarsus was of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5).

Both were transitional men.

• King Saul was the transitional man from the leadership of judges to that of kings.
• Saul of Tarsus was a transitional man in turning the focus from the Jews to the Gentiles.

Both deemed themselves to be the least.

• King Saul said his family was the least and that he did not feel worthy to be king (1 Samuel 9:21).
• Saul of Tarsus, at the time Paul, said he was the least of the apostles and not meet to be called an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9).

Both excelled their peers.

• King Saul excelled his peers (1 Samuel 9:2).
• Saul of Tarsus, again as Paul, excelled many of his equals (Galatians 1:14).

Both fell upon their faces before a prophet supposed to be dead.

• King Saul fell on his face before Samuel (1 Samuel 28:14).
• Saul of Tarsus fell on his face before the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4-5).

Both asked of the prophet what he should do.

• King Saul asked Samuel what he should do (1 Samuel 28:15).
• Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus what He would have Saul to do (Acts 9:6).

Both sought to kill a man because of his love for another man.

• King Saul attempted to kill Jonathan because Jonathan loved David (1 Samuel 20:33).
• Saul of Tarsus consented to kill Stephen because Stephen loved the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1).

Both persecuted God’s anointed.

• King Saul persecuted David (1 Samuel 18:11).
• Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4).

Both presented/present a daughter to the anointed king.

• King Saul gave his daughter to David to wife (1 Samuel 18:27).
• Saul, now Paul, will, in a sense, present a daughter to the Lord Jesus Christ to wife (2 Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 4:19).

Honoured to Vote for President Trump

This month several members of my family were privileged to vote for the office of President of the United States of America. We do indeed count this as a privilege, understanding that many people across the world have no say in the selection of the leaders of their nations. While I personally have numerous complaints about both parties and how they have led our nation, I am thankful to still have a say, albeit small, in the direction we pursue over the next four years.

For those who are not aware, our family is a Bible-believing, God-fearing family. This truth does not just direct our ways on Sundays and Wednesdays, but it is to guide us in all our decisions and practices. As such, we seek to apply Bible truths to every aspect of our lives including the selection of those we deem best to lead our country. This is somewhat difficult when you consider that governments in the Bible were not selected by those they governed; however, the scripture does offer a principle by which our choice for president was directed.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Unfortunately, many people have confused the concept of voting for one to lead a country with voting for one who will lead our homes and our families. In reality, in voting for a president, we are not voting for a man to be our father/husband, pastor, or mentor/example. In fact, we are voting for him to be none of the above and to let our fathers/husbands, pastors, and mentors do their jobs without interruption from the man we call President.

In a perfect world, our leader would be a godly man who would love and live the Bible in his daily life. One day, when Christ rules and reigns on this earth for 1,000 years, we will get just that; however, for any man to get enough power and influence to become the leader of a nation here and now, it is almost certain that some level of impurity and corruption has landed him where he is.

That being said, the principle that guided our family’s decision for president is that we believe God would have us to have a leader who will allow Christians to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2). When one considers the two political parties in our nation and their treatment of Christians in the present time, the choice is not perfect, but it is CLEAR. One party limits the free exercise of religion and one fights for us to be allowed to worship and serve God according to His dealings in our souls.

All this being said, we have never been happier to vote, and specifically to vote for President Donald J. Trump as our President for the next four years. If 2020 has taught us anything, it has taught us that chaos grants power to those in authority. Many in the political theater used this power to control us, alter our ways of life, and dictate what we can and cannot do as it pertains to the “free” exercise of our religion. Many of them are still doing so and have promised to maintain this practice into the foreseeable future. For all the accusations hurled at our President, any honest man must confess that he has done everything in his power not to be our father/husband, pastor, or mentor. In other words, he has allowed us to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2).

For this reason, and others, we willingly and joyfully placed our vote for four more years of President Donald J. Trump and we thank God that it was he who was leading our nation when the chaos of 2020 hit and we pray to God that it will be he that will lead our nation into the troubles that await us in the next four years. May God bless the President and may God bless the United States of America.

The Relationship Between Doctrine and Practice

The use of the word doctrine may intimidate those who do not realize the vital role it plays in the understanding of biblical truths. Yet, for anyone desiring to live a holy and practical Christian life, it is essential to understand the purpose and function of doctrine. Doctrine is simply a body of teaching about any particular Bible subject. Everyone holds to one form of doctrine or another. This even includes those who despise God’s words and His ways. It is very important for Christians to keep their doctrine pure because doctrine affects a believer’s practice. Without sound doctrine, there will not be sound practice. If a person’s doctrine is false, so goes his practice.

A classic example of a man whose faulty doctrine messed up his practice is Simon Peter. He was looking for an earthly kingdom, and he was expecting it to be imminent. The Lord Jesus Christ told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36). This proclamation followed Simon Peter’s sword wielding, when he cut off a man’s ear in an effort to keep the Lord Jesus from being delivered into His enemies’ hands (John 18:10). Peter’s doctrine (assuming the immediacy of the kingdom) affected his practice (fighting for the kingdom). This was in direct contradiction to sound doctrine and practice.

-An excerpt from The Fingerprint of God pgs 1-2

A Problem with Baggage

Whether we know it or not, we are all burdened with a certain level of baggage. Some of this baggage comes from our past, but new baggage is consistently accumulating. Before the naysayers jump in to suggest this assessment is unscriptural, one ought to consider the fighters that gathered themselves together unto David in 1 Samuel 22:1-2.

The baggage brought by David's troops was not unlike baggage carried by men today. They were in distress, in debt, and discontented. No doubt, these problems were due to failed governments, failed civilization, and parental failures. These men likely saw everybody else as the problem, never understanding that they might bear some of the responsibility for their own baggage.

The sad truth is that the baggage carried by David's men eventually affected David (1 Samuel 24:1-8). It is common knowledge that Saul, the king of Israel, had a personal vendetta against David. David's followers came to David because of problems with Saul and other authority figures in their lives. While Saul sought to do harm to David, he ended up in a vulnerable position in the presence of David and his men. All the frustrations, discontentment, bitterness, and such led David's men to encourage him to attack Saul. Sadly, David reacted to their recommendations and regrettably cut off the skirt of Saul's robe.

Later, David once again faced the threat of allowing the baggage of his men to move him to inappropriate action against Saul (1 Samuel 26:1-25). David learned his lesson and refused to allow the internal struggles and external recommendations of his men to cause him to sin.

The average individual today faces many of the same struggles. This struggle is manifested in one of two ways, or both. First, we struggle to overcome our own baggage and allow it to harm others around us. Secondarily, we struggle not to allow the baggage borne by others to cause us to sin. These failures are manifested mostly in our relationships. We have baggage from the past and we carry it into the present harming those who love us most. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of the vicious cycle because our baggage then gets carried into the future.

The practical understanding of this plays out as follows: (1) baggage from previous friendships hinders present and future friendships; (2) trust issues from the past cause difficulties in trusting in the present; (3) those brought up by failing parents struggle in their own marriage and parenting.

We may not like to confess that we carry any baggage, but the truth is we do. In fact, some of the greatest advice I ever received from my late pastor, David F. Reagan, was to let my baggage keep me humble and remind me of who I am and where I came from, but to never let it affect others. As such, I must be careful never to let my hurts in life, ministry, or otherwise move me to harm others. God help us to get victory over our own baggage and refuse to sin when affected by the baggage carried by others.

Depression in the Ministry

I cannot recall a single time in my life when men acknowledged or spoke more openly of depression and its consequences. Some have ridiculed those who battle depression and suggested they are weak-minded Christians. Others have suggested that depression has nothing to do with spiritual deficiencies and is only treatable with medication. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle of these extremes.

Sadly, one of the lesser noticed truths is that a large number of preachers, missionaries, and evangelists across the country also struggle with depression. After all, the weight of the world is on their shoulders. Any criticisms of their ministry feel personal and they rarely hear when something went well. As a result, preachers can get to a place where they merely go through the motions. They can become ostracized from the very people to whom they minister. They can find comfort in things such as food (part of the weight problem among preachers), hobbies, and other things having nothing to do with God, the Bible, and ministry. In short, the preacher can come under the assault of Satan in both mind and body.

If the average Christian fully understood the battle through which the minister struggles, he would pray more, assist more, encourage more, forgive more, and complain less. He would understand that the preacher is human just as he is. As a minister, I am greatly concerned for all presently standing for the Saviour, but I tremble for the next generation of men of God. I personally have battled depression, apathy, panic attacks (for a while rising up every time I preached), etc., but I consider all of it to be a drop in a bucket compared to what Christ has done for me.* I march on by God's grace, but some do not. I consider myself to be blessed!

Please consider praying for the men of God you know. When possible, encourage them, support them, and assist them. Consider their humanity. Most preachers will NEVER admit what I have stated here. I tell you, not because I ask anything for myself, but because I want to confess a reality that frequently goes unknown.

*The above post was initially written several years ago. Below is an update added more recently.

While I had enjoyed a decent season void of anxiety in the pulpit, of late, my old familiar friend has reared his ugly head. For those not familiar with these attacks, or whatever they are, they can be debilitating. My greatest frustration is that I labour in preparation for what God would have me to say, only to become almost paralyzed or crippled by fear and anxiousness. The best way I know to describe it is that I feel as though I am drowning, but without water. I know that the answer is to trust God, and to the best of my ability, I do. My fear is that these anxiety attacks are going to get the best of me and call for my withdrawal from God’s work before my race is complete. If the Lord will let me and enable me, there is so much I would like to do for Him.

The Modern Independent Baptist Movement: A Critique

 

The modern Independent Baptist movement has reduced itself to nothing more than a glorified soap opera. We are already carnally divided by and entrenched in our camps and, if that were not enough, we bite and devour those inside our camp when they commit the unpardonable sin of disagreeing with our perfect practice and body of doctrine.

We feed on drama, crave attention, and welcome strife. In our biting and devouring of one another, we are consuming our brethren (Galatians 5:15). If it were not enough that these problems exist in our hearts, we air them out on the internet for all (lost and saved) to see. The masses flock to the fight to watch the blood spill. Some cry crucify him on one side and some cry the same for the other side. As a result, we spend far too much time arguing with one another on social media, YouTube, and chat rooms and far too little time crucifying our flesh in prayer and Bible reading.

The truth is, you do some things that I would not do, and I do some things you would not do. Your doctrine is likely a little off somewhere, and I likely have some inconsistencies in my doctrinal thinking as well. You have some personality flaws, but I assure you, mine are greater. Instead of crucifying everyone that falls short of our standard, perhaps we could follow the apostle Paul's pattern, "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:18).

If we do not repent of our carnality and return to the biblical peak of charity, there will be no Bible-believing Independent Baptist "movement" or "camp" for our children and grandchildren. We are already losing far too many of them to the modern churches because they are tired of watching us fight like children on the playground. God help us!!!