Tuesday, 5th February 2008
If we were to pick up any secular book about ancient civilisation and the origin of species, we would invariably read about our earth being millions or if not billions of years old.
The world tells us that dinosaurs roamed the earth 63 million years ago. We are also taught that the world came into being via a “Big Bang”, that the earliest known living organism had a single cell which evolved into more complex beings after millions and millions of years, and that we descended from apes.
Speaking of which, I remember a joke that the Chairman of our Varsity Christian Fellowship said during one of our weekly meetings in 1988. He said that supposing we did evolve from apes, then a monkey may say to itself when looking at its zookeeper, “Am I my keeper’s brother?”. [This is a spoof of what Cain said to God when God asked him where Abel was, which was “Am I my brother’s keeper?”] Did not get the joke? Oh well, many of us didn’t either :-P
The theory of evolution is fundamentally mankind not wanting to acknowledge the existence of God. Increasingly, more are beginning to accept the creation story as recorded in Genesis rather than what Charles Darwin theorised. After all, it takes much more faith to believe that everything just happened to come together by chance.
However, many of us have difficulty trying to reconcile what is recorded in the Bible with what science seems to have suggested as to the age of our planet earth and that of the dinosaurs. According to the Bible, creaton took place a mere 6,000 years ago. If God indeed created everything in six days, how do we fit the millions of years into that?
Some have used 2 Pet 3:8 where "a thousand of years is like one day to the Lord" to argue that perhaps creation took place over a span of 6,000 years (or by extrapolation 6,000 million years) rather than 6 literal days of 24 hours each.
As if to prevent this ambiguity in interpretation, the Holy Spirit saw fit to get Moses to mention “there was evening and there was morning” at the end of each of the 6 days (see Gen 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31)!
This is further reinforced in Ex 20:8-11 when God gave the Fourth Commandment about keeping the Sabbath. In verse 11, He said, “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” The "day" in Gen 1 meant 24 hours.
Having now understood that creation took place in the space of 144 hours (ie. 6 days X 24 hours), how then do we explain the millions of years ago that dinosaurs are said to have existed?
The bible does not specifically mention when dinosaurs were created. Then again, it also does not mention when cats and dogs were created either. In Gen 1:24, we read that on the 6th day, God created “living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”. Dinosaurs would fit into this description.
How then does one explain the fossil records that are supposed to be millions of years old, or even how Mt Everest or the Grand Canyon were formed?
Well, they "appear" to be millions of years old, but the fact is that the earth and its inhabitants are only several thousand years old. The reason for the hugh mountains and deep valleys, and the fossils buried under layers of rock was because a great worldwide catastrophe took place on planet earth as recorded in Gen 7, of which I will blog about in a future post.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Original Food Chain
Monday, 4th February 2008
I was working as an accounting software consultant from 1997 to 2000, and one of my colleagues back then was a vegetarian.
The surprising thing is that he is not a Buddhist or a Hindu but a Catholic. He decided to become a vegetarian (together with his entire family) because he feels that plants are free from diseases such as BSE, bird flu, etc. He also mentioned to me that God's original design was for humans and animals to feed on plants only.
Well, he was right in that sense. We read in Gen 1: 29-30
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
In other words, carnivores that we know of today such as the lion, the eagle, the shark, etc -- the original design was for them to eat plants. While plants were meant to be food, animals were meant to be Adam's playmates. He however did not find a suitable helpmeet among them, so God created Eve to be his phyiscal, emotional and spiritual companion.
Alas, because of the fall, the original divine food chain became altered. God had to kill one of Adam's playmates (most probably a sheep) and use its skin to clothe Adam's and Eve's nakedness (Gen 3:21). As a result of man's sin, the entire creation started to decay and groan. The ground became cursed. Animals killed other animals. Man hunted and killed animals.
God's original design was for mankind to be vegetarians, but the question now is whether it is wrong for us to eat animals. Personally, I do not think so. Sure, although carnivorous attributes came about due to the fall of mankind, God always causes good to come out of something meant for evil. We read many examples in the Bible where patriachs ate meat and God did not condemn or punish them for doing so. On the contrary, there are even instances where He even told them specifically to eat meat!
For example, we read in Gen 25:28 that Isaac had a taste for wild game, and also in Gen 27:3-4 that he instructed Esau to get his quiver and bow and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for him to eat so that he may give Esau this blessing before he died. We also read in Ex 12 how the Israelites ate the Passover Lamb. We read in Ex 16 that God sent quail in the wilderness for the Israelites to complement their diet of manna. We read in Lev 7 that any male in a priests' family may eat guilt offerings.
So my personal stand is that it is OK for us to consume meat for food. However, let us respect the convictions of those that are vegetarians among us. A fellow brother or sister who is a vegetarian for whatever health reasons will not forfeit his mansion in heaven as a result of this. Let's not major on the minors. Amen?
I was working as an accounting software consultant from 1997 to 2000, and one of my colleagues back then was a vegetarian.
The surprising thing is that he is not a Buddhist or a Hindu but a Catholic. He decided to become a vegetarian (together with his entire family) because he feels that plants are free from diseases such as BSE, bird flu, etc. He also mentioned to me that God's original design was for humans and animals to feed on plants only.
Well, he was right in that sense. We read in Gen 1: 29-30
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
In other words, carnivores that we know of today such as the lion, the eagle, the shark, etc -- the original design was for them to eat plants. While plants were meant to be food, animals were meant to be Adam's playmates. He however did not find a suitable helpmeet among them, so God created Eve to be his phyiscal, emotional and spiritual companion.
Alas, because of the fall, the original divine food chain became altered. God had to kill one of Adam's playmates (most probably a sheep) and use its skin to clothe Adam's and Eve's nakedness (Gen 3:21). As a result of man's sin, the entire creation started to decay and groan. The ground became cursed. Animals killed other animals. Man hunted and killed animals.
God's original design was for mankind to be vegetarians, but the question now is whether it is wrong for us to eat animals. Personally, I do not think so. Sure, although carnivorous attributes came about due to the fall of mankind, God always causes good to come out of something meant for evil. We read many examples in the Bible where patriachs ate meat and God did not condemn or punish them for doing so. On the contrary, there are even instances where He even told them specifically to eat meat!
For example, we read in Gen 25:28 that Isaac had a taste for wild game, and also in Gen 27:3-4 that he instructed Esau to get his quiver and bow and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for him to eat so that he may give Esau this blessing before he died. We also read in Ex 12 how the Israelites ate the Passover Lamb. We read in Ex 16 that God sent quail in the wilderness for the Israelites to complement their diet of manna. We read in Lev 7 that any male in a priests' family may eat guilt offerings.
So my personal stand is that it is OK for us to consume meat for food. However, let us respect the convictions of those that are vegetarians among us. A fellow brother or sister who is a vegetarian for whatever health reasons will not forfeit his mansion in heaven as a result of this. Let's not major on the minors. Amen?
Sunday, February 3, 2008
In God's Image
Sunday, 3rd February 2008
When I was an undergraduate, I joined the Music Ministry of the Varsity Christian Fellowship. One of the songs I remember singing was a very moving song called "In the Image of God"
In the Image of God
In the image of God, we were made long ago,
with the purpose divine, here his glory to show;
But we failed Him one day, and like sheep went astray,
thinking not of the cost, we His likeness had lost.
But from eternity, God had in mind,
the work of Calvary, the lost to find;
From His heaven so broad, Christ came down earth to trod,
so that men might live again in the image of God.
Now that I have believed, and the Saviour received,
now that I from the cry, of my guilt am relieved,
I will live for my Lord, not for gain or reward,
but for love thinking of, what His grace has restored!
I'll never comprehend, redemption's plan,
how Christ could condesend, to die for man;
Such a Saviour I'll praise, to the end of my days,
as I upward, onward trod in the image of God.
In Gen 1:26-27, we read that man was the only creature that God created in His image. Not only that, man was the pinnacle of God's creation. When God's created the heavens, the earth, the stars, the seasons, the plants and the animals, He saw what He had made was "good" (Gen 1:10,12,18,21,25). After creating man on the 6th day, what He made now became "very good" (Gen 1:31).
But what exactly does it mean to be created in God's image?
1. Man is a spirit being
Firstly, man is a spirit being, just like God (and the angels) is. While all the others created on those 6 days were via God saying them into existence, we read in Gen 2:7 that man was created by God breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. So while other living creatures like plants and animals perish and are no more, man continues to exist indefinitely like other spirit beings. They will either spend eternity in fellowship with God in heaven, or eternally separated from God in hell.
2. Man's words contain power
This was something I learnt as a result of being exposed to the Word of Faith movement. I remember TRAC President's wife Catherine (whose birthday happens to be today, happy birthday Cat!) sharing verses like "calling for things that are not as though they are" (Rom 4:17), "eating the fruit of one's lips" (Prov 13:2) and that "life and death is in the power of the tongue" (Prov 18:21).
God spoke "light be" and light came forth. Likewise, we as humans created in God's image, can speak into our physical situation or circumstance and cause it to change, for better or for worse. Unlike a dog's bark, a cat's mew or lion's roar, human words contain power. Jesus said in Matt 12:21 that if we say to a mountain "be cast into the sea" and not doubt in his heart, it will come to pass.
Let us therefore use our tongue wisely. When we speak, especially in alignment with God's Word, things start to happen in the spiritual realm that ultimately becomes manifested in the physical realm.
Let us therefore be quick to praise and speak blessings upon our children, so that they grow up well-established and assured. Let us proclaim daily that we are healthy and wealthy, and sicknesses and poverty cannot come near us. Amen?
When I was an undergraduate, I joined the Music Ministry of the Varsity Christian Fellowship. One of the songs I remember singing was a very moving song called "In the Image of God"
In the Image of God
In the image of God, we were made long ago,
with the purpose divine, here his glory to show;
But we failed Him one day, and like sheep went astray,
thinking not of the cost, we His likeness had lost.
But from eternity, God had in mind,
the work of Calvary, the lost to find;
From His heaven so broad, Christ came down earth to trod,
so that men might live again in the image of God.
Now that I have believed, and the Saviour received,
now that I from the cry, of my guilt am relieved,
I will live for my Lord, not for gain or reward,
but for love thinking of, what His grace has restored!
I'll never comprehend, redemption's plan,
how Christ could condesend, to die for man;
Such a Saviour I'll praise, to the end of my days,
as I upward, onward trod in the image of God.
In Gen 1:26-27, we read that man was the only creature that God created in His image. Not only that, man was the pinnacle of God's creation. When God's created the heavens, the earth, the stars, the seasons, the plants and the animals, He saw what He had made was "good" (Gen 1:10,12,18,21,25). After creating man on the 6th day, what He made now became "very good" (Gen 1:31).
But what exactly does it mean to be created in God's image?
1. Man is a spirit being
Firstly, man is a spirit being, just like God (and the angels) is. While all the others created on those 6 days were via God saying them into existence, we read in Gen 2:7 that man was created by God breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. So while other living creatures like plants and animals perish and are no more, man continues to exist indefinitely like other spirit beings. They will either spend eternity in fellowship with God in heaven, or eternally separated from God in hell.
2. Man's words contain power
This was something I learnt as a result of being exposed to the Word of Faith movement. I remember TRAC President's wife Catherine (whose birthday happens to be today, happy birthday Cat!) sharing verses like "calling for things that are not as though they are" (Rom 4:17), "eating the fruit of one's lips" (Prov 13:2) and that "life and death is in the power of the tongue" (Prov 18:21).
God spoke "light be" and light came forth. Likewise, we as humans created in God's image, can speak into our physical situation or circumstance and cause it to change, for better or for worse. Unlike a dog's bark, a cat's mew or lion's roar, human words contain power. Jesus said in Matt 12:21 that if we say to a mountain "be cast into the sea" and not doubt in his heart, it will come to pass.
Let us therefore use our tongue wisely. When we speak, especially in alignment with God's Word, things start to happen in the spiritual realm that ultimately becomes manifested in the physical realm.
Let us therefore be quick to praise and speak blessings upon our children, so that they grow up well-established and assured. Let us proclaim daily that we are healthy and wealthy, and sicknesses and poverty cannot come near us. Amen?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Light before Sunlight
Saturday, 2nd February 2008
Most of us can recall the creation story where God said on Day 1 " let there be light" and there was light.
However, do you know that the sun, moon and stars were only created on Day 4?
Which means to say that the source of light on Days 1 to 3 was *not* from the sun!
In fact, God even chose to create vegetation on Day 3, which means to say that these vegetation did not rely upon the sun's light to make food until the sun was created on Day 4.
There is a reason as to why God did not create the sun on Day 1. Many other religions exalt the sun as the source of power, energy and life.
For example, the Egyptians worship the sun god Re, and one of the 10 plagues that came upon them was darkness encampassing the entire land for 3 days as recorded in Ex 10:21-29. (To be more precise, the whole of Egypt was in darkness except for the region of Goshen where the Israelites had settled, but that is another topic for another day). Through this plague, God was telling the Egyptians that He was the true God whereas Re was a false one.
The source of power, energy and life is not the sun, but the Son.
The Nicene Creed states that "Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God..."
Jesus Himself said in Jn 8:58, "Before Abraham was, I AM".
Which brings me to a related point that I heard someone raise, about God needing to create man because He was "feeling lonely" and needed someone to fellowship with.
This is not accurate because God was never alone or lonely. The Holy Trinity existed long before creation. The Godhead -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit had fellowship with one another before man came into the picture.
Man was created to enjoy fellowship with the Creator. And in God's image, which is what I will blog about tomorrow.
Most of us can recall the creation story where God said on Day 1 " let there be light" and there was light.
However, do you know that the sun, moon and stars were only created on Day 4?
Which means to say that the source of light on Days 1 to 3 was *not* from the sun!
In fact, God even chose to create vegetation on Day 3, which means to say that these vegetation did not rely upon the sun's light to make food until the sun was created on Day 4.
There is a reason as to why God did not create the sun on Day 1. Many other religions exalt the sun as the source of power, energy and life.
For example, the Egyptians worship the sun god Re, and one of the 10 plagues that came upon them was darkness encampassing the entire land for 3 days as recorded in Ex 10:21-29. (To be more precise, the whole of Egypt was in darkness except for the region of Goshen where the Israelites had settled, but that is another topic for another day). Through this plague, God was telling the Egyptians that He was the true God whereas Re was a false one.
The source of power, energy and life is not the sun, but the Son.
The Nicene Creed states that "Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God..."
Jesus Himself said in Jn 8:58, "Before Abraham was, I AM".
Which brings me to a related point that I heard someone raise, about God needing to create man because He was "feeling lonely" and needed someone to fellowship with.
This is not accurate because God was never alone or lonely. The Holy Trinity existed long before creation. The Godhead -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit had fellowship with one another before man came into the picture.
Man was created to enjoy fellowship with the Creator. And in God's image, which is what I will blog about tomorrow.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Revelations from Genesis
Friday, 1st February 2008
One of the NY Resos for 2008 that I made was to finish reading the entire bible in one year.
God has been good, and He has empowered me to finish reading Job, Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus already.
This being the start of a new month, I thought I'd start sharing about what the Lord impressed upon me when I read through the book of Genesis.
The first ten "instalments" are as follows:
1. Light before sunlight (Gen 1:3-5, 14-18)
2. In God's image (Gen 1:26-27)
3. The original food chain (Gen 1:29-30)
4. In 6 days (Gen 2:1-2)
5. Leaving and cleaving (Gen 2:24)
6. The blame game (Gen 3:12-13)
7. The battle begins (Gen 3:15)
8. The first curses (Gen 3:16-19)
9. Fig leaves vs garments of skin (Gen 3:7, 21)
10. East of Eden (Gen 3:24)
One of the NY Resos for 2008 that I made was to finish reading the entire bible in one year.
God has been good, and He has empowered me to finish reading Job, Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus already.
This being the start of a new month, I thought I'd start sharing about what the Lord impressed upon me when I read through the book of Genesis.
The first ten "instalments" are as follows:
1. Light before sunlight (Gen 1:3-5, 14-18)
2. In God's image (Gen 1:26-27)
3. The original food chain (Gen 1:29-30)
4. In 6 days (Gen 2:1-2)
5. Leaving and cleaving (Gen 2:24)
6. The blame game (Gen 3:12-13)
7. The battle begins (Gen 3:15)
8. The first curses (Gen 3:16-19)
9. Fig leaves vs garments of skin (Gen 3:7, 21)
10. East of Eden (Gen 3:24)
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