The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 8:21b,
"Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood."
Following the disembarkation of Noah, his family and all the animals from the ark and a burnt offering Noah offered, the Lord "said this in his heart". In spite of the corruption of the sinful nature of mankind "from childhood" the Lord would never again destroy the earth as he did in the disaster of the flood Noah and his family survived.
I see the Lord notes the inclination of all people to evil, even from childhood. David claims he was sinful from the time he was conceived, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. The writer of Proverbs tells us, "Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?" Proverbs 20:11. Scripture teaches us we are all born with a sinful nature and that nature gets expressed right from the start of our lives.
Paul tells us the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. As I read my Bible, it is clear that we are all lost and fallen and subject to God's judgment as we come into this life. However, I have run into many who believe something else.
They believe in what they call an "age of accountability." We are all considered "innocent" of sin until we reach some certain age or level of maturity. As I have asked them to point to this concept in the pages of Scripture (and I have asked a few), they come up empty. It is nowhere to be found in the Scriptures. Yet they continue to hold to this teaching.
When I have asked why they would cling to a teaching that is not supported in the Scriptures, and contrary to what the Scriptures do teach, they always provide a similar answer: if little babies are lost and fallen at birth, or even before birth, and if they were to die (abortion, miscarriage, stillborn, SIDS, etc.) then God could not be fair and just. How could God send a little baby to hell who had no opportunity to respond to the gospel message?
I can't fault their logic, but I can fault them for inventing their own theology apart from the Scriptures. I can't help but think there is a measure of a lack of faith in God's goodness, fairness and faithfulness as they seek to establish doctrines unsupported in Scripture that provide them assurance of those things.
I really can think of no other reason why "believers" are so un-believing that they cling to teachings that are in conflict with what the Scriptures actually teach.
What is so difficult about accepting that "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." Psalm 33:4-5. Or, how about, "The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy." Psalm 99:4-5.
"Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood."
Following the disembarkation of Noah, his family and all the animals from the ark and a burnt offering Noah offered, the Lord "said this in his heart". In spite of the corruption of the sinful nature of mankind "from childhood" the Lord would never again destroy the earth as he did in the disaster of the flood Noah and his family survived.
I see the Lord notes the inclination of all people to evil, even from childhood. David claims he was sinful from the time he was conceived, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. The writer of Proverbs tells us, "Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?" Proverbs 20:11. Scripture teaches us we are all born with a sinful nature and that nature gets expressed right from the start of our lives.
Paul tells us the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. As I read my Bible, it is clear that we are all lost and fallen and subject to God's judgment as we come into this life. However, I have run into many who believe something else.
They believe in what they call an "age of accountability." We are all considered "innocent" of sin until we reach some certain age or level of maturity. As I have asked them to point to this concept in the pages of Scripture (and I have asked a few), they come up empty. It is nowhere to be found in the Scriptures. Yet they continue to hold to this teaching.
When I have asked why they would cling to a teaching that is not supported in the Scriptures, and contrary to what the Scriptures do teach, they always provide a similar answer: if little babies are lost and fallen at birth, or even before birth, and if they were to die (abortion, miscarriage, stillborn, SIDS, etc.) then God could not be fair and just. How could God send a little baby to hell who had no opportunity to respond to the gospel message?
I can't fault their logic, but I can fault them for inventing their own theology apart from the Scriptures. I can't help but think there is a measure of a lack of faith in God's goodness, fairness and faithfulness as they seek to establish doctrines unsupported in Scripture that provide them assurance of those things.
I really can think of no other reason why "believers" are so un-believing that they cling to teachings that are in conflict with what the Scriptures actually teach.
What is so difficult about accepting that "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." Psalm 33:4-5. Or, how about, "The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy." Psalm 99:4-5.
Why is there a felt need to embellish the Scriptures with invented doctrine to assure us of those things we should be assured of already?
Our God is kind, loving and faithful in all he does. We don't need to invent things to assure us of that. We simply need to embrace him as he has revealed himself to us. God will work out all things in impeccable fairness and faithfulness. We need to trust him for that.
Besides, he loves those little tikes even more than we do!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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