Monday, December 8, 2008

The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will by My son. To everyone who is a coward, unfaithful, corrupt, a murderer, a fornicator, a sorcerer or an Idolater, and to every liar, comes their portion in the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Rev. 21:7, 8.

Idolatry was a major issue in New Testament times. At the top of the idolatrous food chain was seen in Revelation a powerful declaration that the emperor "has no clothes." Caesar did not create this world(Rev. 4:11), he was not eternal(verse 8), and he did not redeem the people of the empire with his blood(Rev. 5:12). While the splendor of Rome was alluring and impressive, its claim for worship was foolish.

Just as first-century Christians resisted the attractions of empire to follow Jesus, so Christians today need to repudiate the idols of our generation. We often find ourselves drawn to worship the idols of science, technology, wealth, and commercialism. In the process we easily ignore the implications of Creation and the cross. But such contemporary idolatry may soon prove to be as foolish as the claims made by the empire once were.

In recent years the realization of the complex and sensitive conditions required for intelligent life to exist on earth has stunned the scientific community. The universe appears, in fact, to have been incredibly fine-tuned for the benefit of humanity on earth at this point in cosmic history. And scientists are discovering this insight across the board: in physics and astrophysics, classical cosmology, quantum mechanics, and biochemistyr. The existence of intelligent carbon-based life on earth depends upon a delicate balance of natural conditons. If any part of this balance would become even slightly altered, life as we know it would not exist. Today we have space for only one brief example.

Water is one of the strangest substances known to science. Its specific heat, surface tension, and physical properties are different from the norm. For example, the fact that its solid phase is less dense than its liquid phase, so that ice floats, is virtually unique in nature. But this property of water is essential to life. If ice were more dense than water, it would sink to the bottom of bodies of water, where it would remain in the deepest parts until eventually all lakes and oceans would freeze solid. Instead, ice forms a protective skin onthe surface of reservoirs of water,keeping them from freezing down to the bottom. This is one of many unique characteristics of water that are absolutely essential for heating and cooling, the formation of cell walls and membranes, and so many other aspects essential for human life.

Lord, help me to discern clearly between the alluring claims of today's idolatry and the clear evidence of a loving Designer. Help me to build my life around the things that truly last.l

The deeds of kindness may have been done in secret, but the result upon the character of the doer cannot be hidden. If we work with wholehearted interest as a follower of Christ, the heart will be in close sympathy with God, and the Spirit of God, moving upon our spirit, will call forth the sacred harmonies of the soul in answer to the divine touch(TFMB 83).