> General Discussions

The Law of Contrasts

<< < (2/2)

Gregor:
Greetings,
I don't know if anyone is truly an atheist. They may say they are, they may believe they are, but as the saying goes, "there's no atheists in the foxhole." When disaster strikes, usually the first thing out of anyones mouth is "Oh my God!" For most people (demon possessed or mentally disfunctional excluded) the natural instinct is self preservation - the fear of death. Why? Maybe because deep down they're aware that death isn't the end, but a beginning? I don't know. It would seem that every culture in the world knows of God, they just don't all know God. And at some point in their life, God does give people over to a reprobate mind. He hardens their hearts. Blinds their eyes, and shuts their ears - according to His purposes.  And even those, only God knows what goes through their hearts and minds the final seconds of their life on this earth. My mom was a nurse and witnessed many die. She tells me that those that believed in God generally went peacefully, and those that didn't believe generally went out with a look of fear in their eyes. The important question I ask myself is "Do I know God?"  We need to give thanks for his Grace. Thank you for sharing.
G.

Kat:

Hi Diana,

I find this to be an interesting discussion.  And as I considered what you were saying about knowing God, as in Rom. 1:21.  I looked at some other translations and I think they give a better understanding of what Paul was talking about.


(CLV) Romans 1:21 "because, knowing God, not as God do they glorify or thank Him, but vain were they made in their reasonings, and darkened is their unintelligent heart."


(Rotherham) Romans 1:21 "Inasmuch as, having come to know God, not, as God, did they glorify him, or give him thanks, but were made fruitless in their reasonings, and darkened was their undiscerning heart,
v. 22 Professing to be wise, they were made foolish,
v. 23 And, exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God, for the likeness of an image of a corruptible man, and of birds and fourfooted beasts and reptiles:
v. 24 Wherefore God gave them up in the covetings of their hearts unto impurity, so as to be dishonouring their bodies among them,—

It seems to me what Paul is saying and what you were referring to, is that we all have around us the glory of God's creation and man could easily know God exists from this.  But "having come to know God, not, as God," they refuse to see God in all this, but prefer to believe it just popped or banged into being from nothing. 
As you have shown scientist do research and find many grand and marvelous things about God's creation, but do they contribute it to a Supreme Being?  No, "v. 22 Professing to be wise, they were made foolish, v. 23 And, exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God, for the likeness of an image of a corruptible man, and of birds and fourfooted beasts and reptiles:"

We all have been deceived and lived according to some manner of foolishness, before God opened our eyes.

Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

These scientist study the details of the physical creation to minute degrees and see some of His marvelous handywork, but with blinded eyes they can not give God the glory.  They have to believe in only the physical, like evolution is how life came to be on earth, and the big bang is how it all started.  The concept of a Supreme Spiritual being is out of the question for them. 
It's all part of the plan for now. 

mercy, peace and love
Kat

Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Diana

I see some truth and some error in the excerpt you posted.

Firstly the truths I see.

Quote : ...the conflict; .... tends to life, not to death.

This for me relates to death being the last enemy that will be conquered and certainly life triumphs in Christ the giver of life.

Here is where I think the conclusions unravel. Gregor adds the defining scriptures that clarify this as further elaborated by Kat.

Quote :  Now, it is man, it is human societies, which alone can animate the great frame, bind together all the parts, and render perfect that organism which is the end and aim of the long procession of existence upon this earth.
That conclusion is way off base for me.

A little bit of leaven.....! ;D  :D By contrast  8) Ray's teachings are for me, flawless.

An interesting discussion.

Peace to you

Arcturus :)

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page