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| Volume 20 Number 2 February 2018 | Page 12 |
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| Volume 20 Number 2 February 2018 | Page 12 |
Russ Vickers
The ancient Egyptians believed that a flat world rested on four pillars of stone. The ancient Hindus believed that a flat world rested on the back of a huge elephant. The elephant stood on the back of an enormous turtle, and the turtle stood on an immense coiled snake!
Such “flights of fancy” are, at best, man’s imagination. Moses, though, was different. By inspiration of God, Moses (who was educated in Egyptian schools) wrote the creation account in Genesis. He gave us the true, God-breathed account in words of simplicity, matchless beauty and exquisite accuracy. “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” (Adapted from Fred J. Meldan)
However, such a true statement might have a puzzling question with it. “What was going on before the creation of the heaven and earth?” Some young child may ask this, and perhaps we have pondered this ourselves.
Evolutionists will tell us all sorts of theories and ideas about the universe and how it was created. Yet, the truth of God’s precious Word reveals to us what was really happening. The Lord stated in John 17:5, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Proverbs 8:23 states, “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” From 2 Timothy 1:9 we read, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Furthermore, Titus 1:2 tells us, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
From these passages, we see that before the world was created, God’s character was there; the Scheme of Redemption was there; and Jesus existed with the Father before the earth was created. These passages allow us to have short views of God and just what was going on before time began.
What a great and awesome God! God is of an eternal nature with a majesty that is from everlasting unto everlasting!
Mark N. Posey
There are opportunities Felix had to neglect to remain lost (Acts 24:22-27)! Felix’s problem was sin; thus, his greatest need was the forgiveness of sin. He neglected the remedy. Notice the many opportunities Felix was given to be saved, and yet, he neglected them all.
Felix was in the right place at the right time (v. 24a). The right place is here, and the right time is now (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Felix heard the apostle Paul preach (v. 24b). Paul was a powerful preacher. However, the power is not in the man, but rather, it’s in the message—the Gospel message (Romans 1:16). Felix heard the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ from a dedicated servant of the Lord!
Felix heard a sermon adapted specifically to him (v. 25). Paul preached about three of the most important things in the world: righteousness, self-control and coming Judgment.
Felix had an emotional response to the Gospel message (v. 25). Change is, to a certain degree, emotional. However, emotion is far too unbalanced to use as a spiritual foundation. Faith is the rock upon which salvation is built, and the rock is Jesus (Matthew 16:13-19; 1 Corinthians 3:18).
Felix had a second chance (v. 26). Jonah (3:1), Simon (Acts 8:20-24) and David (2 Samuel 12:1-13) were each given an opportunity to change and get right in God’s sight. Felix called for Paul often, giving him many opportunities to change.
Felix neglected so many wonderful opportunities to be saved. He neglected them to remain lost. Let that never be said of us! “How shall we escape if we neglect…” (Hebrews 2:3)?