Please follow this link to this story Captain Kearney's Quagmire
God created a world of peace. He created a world where perfect peace (Shalom) existed between himself and his creation. Adam and Eve experienced perfect peace with each other, within themselves, and with nature. Life was truly integral.
Then sin entered the world and everything changed. They didn't trust God, themselves, or each other. Even nature was now an enemy to their safety. Perfect, integral peace was shattered and imperfect, broken war began.
I don't think it is possible for us to remotely comprehend every piece of our brokenness. We experience it everyday. It is everywhere.
I read the article today about Captain Kearney and what he is doing right now in Afghanistan. The piece is extremely well-written and does a great job of showing so many of the angles that exist in war. I hope you will read it.
As you do, remember this isn't the world God intended. It is the work of an enemy. And thankfully, it is not the end of the story. And our God didn't allow the enemy to win.
One day, Afghans and Americans will live in peace together. There is a day coming when God's people from every nation, tribe, and tongue will sit at the wedding supper of the Lamb. There will be no insiders or outsiders. There will be no insurgents, cowards, guns, or even any need for medication. Until then, we wait with hope. Lord Jesus, come quickly.
6 comments:
James says...
Please explain the sentnece about the tame animals becoming wild as a result of sin. Animals are soulless creatures. If sin changed the character of animals (who cannot accept or reject God's will nor have any understanding of the gospel), what else did it change in nature? Do we have hurricanes as the result of sin? How about tornadoes? Or was the natural world set the day it was created?
i'm probably not going to have the time to do that.
i don't think bears would eat people if the fall hadn't taken place.
If sin had not entered into the world, it would have stayed a paradise like the garden of Eden. Of course there would be none of those things except for the fall. I don't believe any of the animals threatened Adam and Eve before they sinned the way animals can be threatening to human life now. I didn't know anybody questioned that. James, have you never heard the song Peace in the Valley where it talks about the lion laying down with the lamb? I don't think this is a controvery. At least, I wasn't aware if it was.
James says...
"Peace in the Valley" is a song that envisions perfect serenity in heaven one day. The references to lions and lambs are poetic images that represent peace. Made made songs are not Scripture.
A scientist would have to explain to all of us the development of animals over time--how they have migrated and changed in order to survive in their particular regions and climates. Surely some have developed more aggressive survival habits due to food scarcity, harsh weather, and other factors that were not an issue in Eden. Therefore, if one wants to say that animals started eating people because they were pushed out of the garden and had to survive on their own, fine. That makes sense.
But to say that when sin entered the world it affected the instinct of animals, to me, that's a stretch. Man was created as a completely separate being from animals. How could sin, something that animals are unaware of and are not affected by eternally, change the nature of animals?
I need more than "I believe" or "I think." I need book, chapter, verse--from literal passages, not figurative, poetic, or apocalyptic ones. There have been thousands erroneous assumptions made about Scripture based on widely-held, yet unchallenged views.
i changed the wording. thanks for always looking out for me.
I guess growing up I always thought that there was peace at the beginning between man and animals because of this verse where God tells Adam what man and animals, birds, etc are given to eat. It doesn't say the animals ate each other.
Genesis 1:29-30
"God also said, 'Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth - everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so."
Post a Comment