*Warning: This lengthy blog could potentially change your world view for the better on multiple subjects. Read at your own risk.
Today, I feel strongly compelled to tackle 5 foundational but potentially life altering topics:
1. God
2. Truth
3. Light
4. Kingdoms
5. Defining Biblical Relationships
In all honesty, an entire book could be written on each of these subjects, however I have currently elected to write a rather lengthy blog and post it for FREE on the internet. I am doing so because I feel these subjects are foundational and need to be at least pondered and hopefully understood by all.
1. Is God Real?
God is somewhat of a controversial subject in today’s world. Ultimately the question one must ask oneself is, “Is God real? And if He is, what implications does that have upon my life?”
The question of “Is God Real” has been on ongoing debate most likely from the dawn of time, and I don’t suppose this short blog can fully answer this question however, let me give you a few key concepts to ponder.
Is Wind Real?
When a storm blows through your neighborhood, do you question whether wind is real? No, you don’t. Why? Because you feel and see the effects of the wind, however you cannot see wind itself. Wind is invisible, but wind is very real, because wind blows the trees, and makes waves upon the water. Wind also blows upon your face, but you cannot see it, touch it, or taste it. You simply feel the wind and see the effects of the wind.
God is like the wind. For those of us who believe/know that God is real, we can’t see God, but we see the effects of His Spirit moving in our lives and upon the earth. Just as wind is invisible but very real, God is indeed invisible but very real.
Hearing Your Voice Proves Existence
My next example is rather simple. Let’s suggest that you and I get on a phone, and we chat. Let’s also say that we have never met. After our conversation is over, do you think to ask yourself, “Gee, I wonder if that guy is real?” You probably never asked this question after speaking with someone on the phone that you have never met. Why? Because the fact that you can hear their voice proves their existence.
The same goes for God. Those of us who know God is real, can hear His voice. In fact, every saint in the Bible, had a relationship with a living Spirit that we call “God.” How do we know this to be true? They documented their conversations and encounters with God, and it was eventually collected into a book that we call The Holy Bible. We know God is real because God spoke with people. As a matter of fact, God still speaks today, it’s simply a matter of learning how to hear His voice.
Let me take this one more step further. Let suppose you are deaf and cannot hear a human voice. Let’s also say you dial my phone number and I answer. Unless you are using a special device to translate, you can’t hear me or comprehend what I am saying. Does the fact that you can’t hear me prove that I don’t exist? Nonsense. You are deaf but I am real. You simply can’t hear my voice.
Now let’s apply this example to God. Are you deaf or can you hear? If you are spiritually deaf, does this mean God doesn’t exist? God is talking, you just can’t hear Him because you are spiritually deaf. Your inability to hear God does not refute His existence, it simply means you have yet to learn to hear His voice. There is good new though. God is in the business of making blind eyes see and deaf ears hear. Yes, indeed, my friends, God is very real.
2. Does Truth Exist?
There are many today who believe that definitive truth does not exist, but this thought is entirely bogus. Definitive truth does in fact exist. Let’s take mathematics for example. Does 1+1 = 2? Yes, 1+1 does in fact = 2. This is definitive truth. In fact, all banking institutions rely upon this fact. Your monthly bank also statement reflects this truth.
We humans have set up a system of mathematics whereby there are definitive rules that govern all mathematical equations. 1+1 = 2. 1 x 2 = 2 and so on. The entire world is governed by these mathematical equations as unarguably true.
The same goes for the moral, physical, and spiritual universe. There are in fact definitive truths that dictate the moral, physical, and spiritual universe. One of the greatest lies propagated in the world today is that there is no God, and therefore no moral, physical, or spiritual absolutes. Think of it like this, if there is “No God” there is no moral compass. Nor is there an absolute right or wrong. If this were true, then the prevailing opinion of humanity could dictate what is either right or wrong. The problem with this type of thinking is that not everyone agrees.
So, does moral, physical, and spiritual truth exist? Absolutely yes it does, just as mathematical truths exist. Problem is, many seem to have a different opinion of this subject, but the Bible however is clear. God exists and He is the author of all truth.
In fact, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus claimed that He Himself was truth, and that everything He spoke was truth. This statement made by Jesus makes Him either a liar, a lunatic, or indeed the author of truth.
Now you have a choice to either believe or not believe, but somewhere along the line, you must decide: Does moral and spiritual truth exist just like mathematical truth exists, and if so, where do we discover it?
I firmly believe, God is real, and He is the source of all truth. In His lovingkindness and desire for us to discover the truth, He authored a book (through Divine inspiration to humanity) we call The Bible. And if that is true, then the Bible is the source of truth.
We have now have briefly “proven” that God is real, just as wind is real. And since God is real, we conclude that God must be the Author of all truth. And if He is the Author of all truth, we conclude that He inspired a book (the Bible) that reveals truth about Himself and both the origin and nature of humanity.
3. What Does God Have to Say About the Light and Darkness? And, What or Who is the Light?
To answer this question, lets start in the very beginning of the Bible, because that is in fact where the subject of the light vs. the darkness begins. I have BOLDED all the words light and darkness so that you can easily see this theme.
Genesis 1:1-5 (NIV)
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Notice with me these fundamental truths that God explains at the very beginning of His own book.
1. God created everything, ie. the heavens and the earth (the heavens also implies stars and galaxies).
2. The term “Creator” implies ownership. If you create something, you own it unless or until you decide to sell it, trade it, or give it away. Think: Creator = Ownership
3. Upon God's act of creation, the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was upon the surface of the deep. (First, and before the light was darkness.)
4. Then God's first recorded words were, "Let there be light." This is a profound truth that suggests God's highest priorities. God sees darkness and then expels the darkness with light.
5. God then sees the light and saw that it was good. Then a rather profound statement is made. “He separated the light from darkness.” In the world in which we live today, many attempt to intertwine the light and the darkness. Think of Ying and Yang, and the black and white image. Instead of joining them together, God separated the light from darkness.
Now let’s investigate just a few more passages about this theme of light vs. darkness.
John 8:12 (NIV)
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
In this passage Jesus clearly implies that He is “the light of the world” and that if you follow Him, you will never walk in darkness, but rather have light.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)
Do not be yoked (bound) together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
In this passage two things are contrasted: Believers and Unbelievers.
Believers = Righteousness and Light
Unbelievers = Wickedness and Darkness
Then it asks us a rhetorical question? What fellowship can light have with darkness? The implied answer is “None.” Light has no, nada, zero, nothing to do with darkness. Remember in the beginning, God separated the light from the darkness.
Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 John 1:5 (NIV)
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
God is light. In Him there is zero darkness. God is only pure light.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
Jesus speaking to His disciples said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Hopefully, you can now see the theme. Believers are light, unbelievers are darkness. God and Jesus are the light.
Notice one final thing. There are no mention of 50 Shades of Gray. There is only light or darkness. The Bible makes it very clear. You belong to the one or the other. These are the only two options.
4. How Many “Kingdoms” Do Jesus and His Disciples talk about in the New Testament? And What are They?
In the era in which we live, we tend to think of “Kingdoms” in terms of people, corporations, and countries.
1. People: Who is the richest, or who is most beautiful, or who holds the most influence?
2. Corporations: Who has the highest stock price? Who grew the most in the first quarter?
Who made the most money?
3. Countries: Who is the most powerful and globally influential?
In these terms, there are thousands of possible scenarios, but God doesn't think in these terms.
God thinks in very different, but specific and clear terms.
In God's economy there are only two primary Countries (Kingdoms), two primary corporations (again Kingdoms) and two primary Leaders (or Kings).
I will call these two, 'The Kingdom of Darkness' and 'The Kingdom of Light.'
The Bible loosely associates these terms with kingdoms, but here is one clear example.
Colossians 1:12 (NIV)
“Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
You have now seen that God begins his novel with the theme of light vs darkness, and He continues this theme throughout the entire Bible.
Although the world at large says there are multiple “kings and kingdoms,” God implies there are only two, and you belong to one or the other. You can’t belong to both. You belong to either “the kingdom of light” or the “kingdom of darkness.”
The Kingdom of Darkness
The Kingdom of Darkness is filled with lies, greed, pride, unbelief, ignorance, lack of clarity, theories, suggestions, and rejection of God and Divine truth. This would suggest that self is God and public opinion is the guide for all truth. (If enough people say that a certain "issue" is okay, then that makes it okay).
This kingdom would also say that human sexuality is defined by personal preference and would eventually succumb to lack of commitment and loyalty. This would eventually lead to prostitution, open relationships, bisexuality, orgies, and possibly bestiality. Eventually, if enough people agreed, rape might be considered okay, as well as child sexuality. You see, when you reject God, you reject truth, and when you reject truth, you open yourself to all sorts of bizarre moral implications.
Darkness rejects Divine Omnipotence, Divine Authority, and Divine truth. This type of thinking leads to spiritual, mental, moral, sexual, and emotional decay. Ultimately rejection of God and truth leads to both physical and spiritual death. When a nation rejects God, sin begins to reign, and moral decay takes over.
The Kingdom of Light
The Kingdom of Light in stark contrast, believes in God, creation, and divinely inspired truth. Truth then is the light that guides human reasoning and behavior. Truth accepts that one must answer to a higher being (God) for one's thoughts, motives, words, and ultimately behavior. If you belong to the Kingdom of Light, you don’t spread or embrace darkness, rather you spread and embrace only light.
If you belong to the Kingdom of Light, you embrace God, truth, the Bible, and divine inspiration. It also advocates that all human behavior, including human sexuality be guided by Biblical examples and truth.
I find it almost absurd that at this point that I must address this next subject, but humans will be human and misinterpret or misapply things I have just said. Light and Darkness have NOTHING to do with skin color. Light and Darkness has everything to do with hearts, motives, thoughts, words, and ultimately actions. If you belong to the light, your heart, motives, thoughts, words, and actions are “righteous,” or “good.” If you belong to the darkness, all these things are “unrighteous.” or “evil.”
In summary, there are only two true kingdoms, the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light. God, Jesus, and true believers are the light, and belong to the “Kingdom of Light.”
5. How Does God Define Biblical Relationships?
If you accept the fact that God is indeed real, truth does exist, and the world is a battle between good and evil (light and darkness), then you also understand that there is a right and wrong when it come to human relationships and sex. From the dawn of time, God clearly defined human relationships.
Genesis 1:27-28
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
The Bible makes this subject VERY CLEAR. God created mankind in His own image male and female, then He commanded them to have sex (be fruitful and multiply). The darkness in the world today wants to argue this and suggest that any type of relationship other than one male and one female is okay, but that simply isn’t so. You either accept God is real and truth is real, or you don’t. It’s just that simple.
I am not here to argue with anybody about this topic. I am simply here to set the record straight. You either believe this truth or you don’t. If you don’t believe, the Bible would call you an “unbeliever” and “darkness.” If you believe, then you are considered a “believer” and you belong to the “light.”
Any other type of sexual relationship is strictly forbidden in the entire Bible. There are multiple examples of violations of God’s original design in scripture and every time a society is eventually condemned and judged when it violates this basic relational principle. There are numerous examples which would take another long blog, or even a book to prove this truth, but that isn’t my current intention.
Two final examples that God hasn’t changed His mind on this topic can be found in the book of Revelation. These examples are prophetic in nature and occurs after the great tribulation. (Meaning these passages have not yet occurred.)
Revelation 21:2
“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Revelation 22: 16-17
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things [i]for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
Soon when Jesus returns, He is returning for a bride (a woman). The New Testament also alludes numerous times to the fact that the true Church (or light) is considered “The Bride of Jesus.” Could this subject be any clearer?
When an author pens a book there is an unspoken truth that what he/she opens the book with and closes the book with are typically the primary themes of the book. God opens the Bible with a marriage between and man and a woman. He then ends His masterpiece with a marriage between Jesus and a Bride.
Any questions?
Author: David River