EVOLUTION 

OR

CREATION

My wife and I do not watch the news, unless very occasionally there is something of major significance at a local, national or international level.

    But we do borrows DVD's regularly from the local branch of the State Library. Over the years, we have watched many nature videos such as those presented by David Attenborough for the BBC, and also an excellently produced series from National Geographic called The Untamed Americas. Some of the photography in these programs is truly amazing. The amount of painstaking work in capturing some of the images of plants, animals and various events in nature are nothing short of incredible.

    However, we are constantly verbally assaulted and insulted on the vast majority of these video presentations by repeated statements presented as FACTS concerning the evolution of animal and plant species, to the point of apparently accurately defining the age frame of the evolutionary processes of such species. For example, a particular animal or insect or bird may be said to have evolved certain body characteristics over so many millions of years in order to survive or to successfully catch their prey or whatever. We do wonder how they managed to survive and to live productive lives during this process, WHILE they were evolving.

    Those who staunchly defend the theory of evolution to support the notion that we humans evolved from apes produce scientific evidence such as the fact that we share somewhere between 93% and 98.5%  of our DNA with chimpanzees, and maybe gorillas. INTERESTINGLY, however, did you know that we also share about 50% of our DNA with BANANAS? It's apparently true. Maybe that explains why some of us have a certain bent! 😜

    In Genesis, chapter 1, in the very first book of the Bible, we see God's creation plan for planet Earth taking shape. The Word of God says that plants - vegetation, seed-bearing plants and trees, living sea creatures, winged birds, land animals, livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals were created - EACH ACCORDING TO ITS KIND!! God uniquely designed and created every plant, tree, fish, bird, insect and animal to be able to live and multiply in its given environment.

    God's crowning glory of CREATION  was to create MAN or MANKIND, beings with similarities to many animals in physical structure, for example, we share many of the same kinds of body organs as many animals. HOWEVER, Genesis 1:26 reads: Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

    Evolutionary scientists and atheists are often mocking of Christians and Jews for believing literally the Bible account of Creation. Creationists and so-called Intelligent Design proponents are derided as presenting arguments which fly in the face of scientific evidence. How much of that EVIDENCE is really proven fact or just the product of a very clever ongoing campaign to keep the Creator God out of the picture? After all, if evolutionary supporters were to remotely consider the thought of a Creator God, they might have to also consider the fact that they are individually accountable to such a Creator.

    Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood by what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

    You might like to have a look at this video song by Geoff Moore and the Distance relating to this blog topic. The song is called "Evolution Redefined."

If you want to know how you can become a Christian, go to www.vision.org.au

Click on the "Grow your faith" tab, then  from the dropdown menu, click on " Looking for God?" God Bless!

P.S.: For the serious seeker of truth about Creation, and the debunking of the Evolution lie, excellent resources are available online, and in print, DVD's etc., from creation.com

 

Up from the grave He arose,

                                                       With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

                                                        He arose a Victor from the dark domain

                                                         and He lives forever with His saints to reign.

                                                        He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!

This was the chorus of an Easter hymn written in 1874 by Robert Lowry, a Baptist minister from Philadelphia, PA in the USA. The hymn had three verses as well as this chorus.

I remember well in years gone by when I attended water baptismal services in several churches here in Australia, and also in New Zealand, where the rousing chorus was sung, each time the candidates for baptism rose up from the water.

One instance in particular stands out in my memory - that of a special time of water baptisms of a number of Christians who were part of a church where I was in fellowship in Christchurch, New Zealand. The church was in a suburb called New Brighton, a beachside suburb in that city. From memory, this particular service was held at the swimming pool complex which was a part of the QE2 stadium built for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.

I remember singing the triumphant chorus a number of times as each person being baptized rose up from the water. How wonderful to be with like-minded Christians publicly declaring our faith in the Risen Christ in that arena, and to be able to join with those being baptized in their celebration of declaration that they had died to their old sinful lives and were, by faith looking forward to lives spent energized by the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, the QE2 stadium in Christchurch was a casualty of the devastating earthquake of 2011.

Other times of water baptisms carried out in a public setting vividly etched in my memory were those when I was in fellowship at the Southport AOG church on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia - back in the 1970's, where because the church met in a rented hall, there was no purpose built "pool" for water baptisms, the church went to a nearby river public swimming area. Under the leadership of the Senior Pastor Tom Whiting, those being baptized made a public stand for Jesus Christ, while Pastor Whiting boldly announced in his deep, rich English/Welsh accent for all to hear, the reason why we were there, according to the Word of God, and in fact, preached the clear Gospel message for all to hear.

Easter has come and gone for this year of 2021, and Christians around the world have remembered the agonizing death of their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ on the cruel Roman cross on a hill called Calvary outside the city of Jerusalem in Israel. The crucifixion of Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament many hundreds of years before the event, as was the Resurrection of Christ.

Jesus spoke of His crucifixion on a number of occasions. One example is recorded in John 12:31-33 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

Jesus also prophesied His own resurrection from the dead. He knew without a doubt that, although He had to die a horrible death on the cross, He would be raised back to life the third day following.

Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.

For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

Another instance where Jesus confidently prophesies His death and resurrection is in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 12:38-40 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."

But He answered and said to them, " An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Just as the prophets of old, and Jesus Himself prophesied, on the morning of that first "Easter Sunday," as the day began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. The exciting reality of this time continues to be related by Matthew in the last chapter of his Gospel account: And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

And the guards shook for fear of him; and became like dead men.

But the angel answered, and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28:1-6

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead on that first Easter Sunday are historical facts which happened at well documented points in time.

Because He took our place on the cross, and overcame hell and death, being raised to life again - to live forevermore, those who have put their trust in Him since that time have been released from the power and penalty of sin, and have experienced newness of life, and renewed hope from the God of Hope. He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

Want to know more about how you can become a Christian and know the transforming, liberating power of God to change your life, and to give you purpose for living:

Go online to www.vision.org.au This is the home of Australia's Vision Christian Media

Click on the "Grow your faith" tab near the top of the page, then from the dropdown menu, click on "Looking for God?"

THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 New Living Translation