The King’s son says:
“Do not say “Why were the old days better than these?
“For it is not wise to ask such questions.”
Are things getting better or worse? Physically? Socially? Morally?
Are “the old days better than these?”
Some years ago I realized that the question of whether things are getting better or worse is central to a person's world view. Christians believe that the world is going from better to worse, and they are excited about it. You could call this Optimistic Pessimism.
There are at least three ways in which optimistic pessimism is foundational to Christianity.
1. It powerfully points to the existence of God
2. It fulfils prophecy pointing toward the second coming of Jesus
3. It demonstrates the totality of sin and salvation
First, it powerfully points to the existence of a life-sustaining God. You see, not everything around us runs down. Living organisms grow from less complex to more complex. There is a life force in the universe that allows living organisms temporary exemption to the rule of decay. A seed planted in the ground is a catalyst for the combining of nutrients, air and water to develop an intricate organism. Doesn’t that contradict the second law of thermodynamics? No, the seed is receiving energy from the sun in the form of light. This raises the question of the ultimate source of this energy.
We could shine sunshine on a stone forever and it would never grow into a tree. It is the fact that a seed is living matter that allows it to grow. What is this mysterious life force that results in the creation of order from disorder? Evolution? No, evolution is inconsistent with the second law of thermodynamics. It assumes that inanimate objects sponetaneously gain the spark of life. What is this life force? I believe that it is tangible evidence of God’s power in the universe. This concept of life as a force that provides temporary reprieve from the incessant march to greater levels of disorder has led atheist scientists to seek God.
Here are some Bible passages that equate Christ with life.
Acts 17:28 (Paul reasoning with the Greek philosophers at Mars Hill)
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”
John 1:3,4 (Amazing passage, indicating that Jesus Christ is the creator and life sustainer of this world. He is the light, the external source of power and catalyst for Growth)
“All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
The whole book of John is full of references to Christ as life, light or water. For example, Chapter 4, and the story of the Woman of Samaria.
John again. John 8:12
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Now I suppose that biblical scholars would tell us that Jesus is talking about giving us spiritual life, eternal life. And of course that is correct. But these texts and many others like them are telling us something so much more amazing. Jesus Christ is also the life-sustaining force of this universe! He is as essential to life as light is.
So, the first way in which entropy, increasing disorder, is important to Christian belief is that it provides evidence of God’s life-giving power. Without the external power of Christ and his life-force, nothing would stem the increase in entropy.
Lets look at the second way in which entropy is important, ... it fulfils prophecy pointing toward the second coming of Jesus. Matthew chapter 24 is well known to us. Jesus foretells social and physical decay as signs of the end. Then in verse 32 he tells the parable of the fig tree.
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So, likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
So, signs that things are getting worse not better are signs that the coming of the Son of Man is growing closer. Earlier in the same chapter Jesus had foretold increasing warfare, but had urged his disciples not to be troubled by this, but to simply note it as further evidence that their deliverance is drawing closer. That is why we as Christians can say “things are getting worse. Praise the Lord.” They are signs of the second coming of our Redeemer just as much as buds on a tree herald the coming of summer. Can you say with me, “things are getting worse. Praise the Lord”?
So the concept of entropy is important to Christian belief firstly because it illustrates the life power of God, and secondly because it points to the second coming of Christ.
The third way that the concept of increasing entropy is important to Christian belief is that it demonstrates the true nature of sin and salvation. You see, sin did not just make things worse. The bad news is far worse than that. And salvation does not just make things better. The good news is far better than that. You see, when Adam and Eve sinned, this world did not just get worse; continual decay set in. The second law of thermodynamics kicked in, and this world started to spin down like a child’s spinning top. ... We start to understand the enormity of sin and its consequences. We also begin to understand what God said when he created Eden. Genesis chapter 2. Genesis chapter 2, verse 16,17.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die
Chapter 3 of Genesis records the terrible effects of Adam and Eve’s sin. Did they die? No, not immediately. The effects of their sin extended to the whole world, since the entire world began to decay, to die. A Christian author by the name of Ellen White writes dramatically of the temptation and fall of man in a book called Patriarchs and Prophets.
“In order to possess an endless existence, man must continue to partake of the tree of life. Deprived of this, his life would gradually diminish until life should become extinct. ...“In humility and unutterable sadness they bade farewell to their beautiful home and went forth to dwell upon the earth, where rested the curse of sin. The atmosphere, once so mild and uniform in temperature, was now subject to marked changes ...“As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of decay, Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. The death of the frail, delicate flowers was indeed a cause of sorrow; but when the goodly trees cast off their leaves, the scene brought vividly to mind the stern fact that death is the portion of every living thing.” Pg 60-62
Sin had consequences far beyond weeds, thorns and human death. The whole world began to die, and it continues its decay even today. Understanding this enables us to understand the enormity of sin.
However, lets not linger here, because moving on from an understanding of the enormity of sin leads us to understand the totality of salvation. For we're not only afforded eternal life. That would be sufficient cause to praise God. ... But God tells us that he will remove all the effects of sin and return this world to its Edenic state. God will remove all the effects of sin including the continual decay of the world. But that’s not all. God will not only halt the process of things getting worse. He will not only return them to their original state, but things will then continue to get better. You see, God set up Eden to continually improve.
In Great Controversy, another book by the same author,
“[In the holy city] immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming power. ... Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprise may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realised; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of the mind and soul and body.”
Amazing. Things will go from great to fantastic just as surely as they currently go from bad to worse. Our pessimism for this world is like the budding of a fig tree heralding optimism for the next world. God's life-sustaining power will once again quicken this old world.
God's gift of eternal life is amazing. More amazing is his plan to restore us to the original dominion of Adam, to restore us to our intended role as rulers of the earth. But it is beyond my comprehension that Adam's dominion was not static. And neither will our dominion be. We are not to have eternal life in a static perfect state, but are to have eternal life in which that perfect state continually improves.
Yes, the question of whether things are getting better or worse has important implications.
* That this world is decaying socially and physically contrasts with the order created within living organisms and demonstrates God’s hand as the source of energy and life force.
* That this world is decaying socially and physically fulfils prophecy pointing to the imminent second coming of Christ.
* That this world is decaying socially and physically indicates the enormity of sin and the totality of salvation.
I’m glad I'm a pessimist when it comes to the future of this earth. Because it is my source of hope for the future. Christians are optimistic pessimists. The world thinks of life then death. Christians think of death then life. This world is getting worse to get better. Things are getting worse, and I for one am happy about it because it tells me that the New Jerusalem is even closer.
“Do not say “Why were the old days better than these?
“For it is not wise to ask such questions.”
Are things getting better or worse? Physically? Socially? Morally?
Are “the old days better than these?”
Some years ago I realized that the question of whether things are getting better or worse is central to a person's world view. Christians believe that the world is going from better to worse, and they are excited about it. You could call this Optimistic Pessimism.
There are at least three ways in which optimistic pessimism is foundational to Christianity.
1. It powerfully points to the existence of God
2. It fulfils prophecy pointing toward the second coming of Jesus
3. It demonstrates the totality of sin and salvation
First, it powerfully points to the existence of a life-sustaining God. You see, not everything around us runs down. Living organisms grow from less complex to more complex. There is a life force in the universe that allows living organisms temporary exemption to the rule of decay. A seed planted in the ground is a catalyst for the combining of nutrients, air and water to develop an intricate organism. Doesn’t that contradict the second law of thermodynamics? No, the seed is receiving energy from the sun in the form of light. This raises the question of the ultimate source of this energy.
We could shine sunshine on a stone forever and it would never grow into a tree. It is the fact that a seed is living matter that allows it to grow. What is this mysterious life force that results in the creation of order from disorder? Evolution? No, evolution is inconsistent with the second law of thermodynamics. It assumes that inanimate objects sponetaneously gain the spark of life. What is this life force? I believe that it is tangible evidence of God’s power in the universe. This concept of life as a force that provides temporary reprieve from the incessant march to greater levels of disorder has led atheist scientists to seek God.
Here are some Bible passages that equate Christ with life.
Acts 17:28 (Paul reasoning with the Greek philosophers at Mars Hill)
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”
John 1:3,4 (Amazing passage, indicating that Jesus Christ is the creator and life sustainer of this world. He is the light, the external source of power and catalyst for Growth)
“All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
The whole book of John is full of references to Christ as life, light or water. For example, Chapter 4, and the story of the Woman of Samaria.
John again. John 8:12
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Now I suppose that biblical scholars would tell us that Jesus is talking about giving us spiritual life, eternal life. And of course that is correct. But these texts and many others like them are telling us something so much more amazing. Jesus Christ is also the life-sustaining force of this universe! He is as essential to life as light is.
So, the first way in which entropy, increasing disorder, is important to Christian belief is that it provides evidence of God’s life-giving power. Without the external power of Christ and his life-force, nothing would stem the increase in entropy.
Lets look at the second way in which entropy is important, ... it fulfils prophecy pointing toward the second coming of Jesus. Matthew chapter 24 is well known to us. Jesus foretells social and physical decay as signs of the end. Then in verse 32 he tells the parable of the fig tree.
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So, likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
So, signs that things are getting worse not better are signs that the coming of the Son of Man is growing closer. Earlier in the same chapter Jesus had foretold increasing warfare, but had urged his disciples not to be troubled by this, but to simply note it as further evidence that their deliverance is drawing closer. That is why we as Christians can say “things are getting worse. Praise the Lord.” They are signs of the second coming of our Redeemer just as much as buds on a tree herald the coming of summer. Can you say with me, “things are getting worse. Praise the Lord”?
So the concept of entropy is important to Christian belief firstly because it illustrates the life power of God, and secondly because it points to the second coming of Christ.
The third way that the concept of increasing entropy is important to Christian belief is that it demonstrates the true nature of sin and salvation. You see, sin did not just make things worse. The bad news is far worse than that. And salvation does not just make things better. The good news is far better than that. You see, when Adam and Eve sinned, this world did not just get worse; continual decay set in. The second law of thermodynamics kicked in, and this world started to spin down like a child’s spinning top. ... We start to understand the enormity of sin and its consequences. We also begin to understand what God said when he created Eden. Genesis chapter 2. Genesis chapter 2, verse 16,17.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die
Chapter 3 of Genesis records the terrible effects of Adam and Eve’s sin. Did they die? No, not immediately. The effects of their sin extended to the whole world, since the entire world began to decay, to die. A Christian author by the name of Ellen White writes dramatically of the temptation and fall of man in a book called Patriarchs and Prophets.
“In order to possess an endless existence, man must continue to partake of the tree of life. Deprived of this, his life would gradually diminish until life should become extinct. ...“In humility and unutterable sadness they bade farewell to their beautiful home and went forth to dwell upon the earth, where rested the curse of sin. The atmosphere, once so mild and uniform in temperature, was now subject to marked changes ...“As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of decay, Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. The death of the frail, delicate flowers was indeed a cause of sorrow; but when the goodly trees cast off their leaves, the scene brought vividly to mind the stern fact that death is the portion of every living thing.” Pg 60-62
Sin had consequences far beyond weeds, thorns and human death. The whole world began to die, and it continues its decay even today. Understanding this enables us to understand the enormity of sin.
However, lets not linger here, because moving on from an understanding of the enormity of sin leads us to understand the totality of salvation. For we're not only afforded eternal life. That would be sufficient cause to praise God. ... But God tells us that he will remove all the effects of sin and return this world to its Edenic state. God will remove all the effects of sin including the continual decay of the world. But that’s not all. God will not only halt the process of things getting worse. He will not only return them to their original state, but things will then continue to get better. You see, God set up Eden to continually improve.
In Great Controversy, another book by the same author,
“[In the holy city] immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming power. ... Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprise may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realised; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of the mind and soul and body.”
Amazing. Things will go from great to fantastic just as surely as they currently go from bad to worse. Our pessimism for this world is like the budding of a fig tree heralding optimism for the next world. God's life-sustaining power will once again quicken this old world.
God's gift of eternal life is amazing. More amazing is his plan to restore us to the original dominion of Adam, to restore us to our intended role as rulers of the earth. But it is beyond my comprehension that Adam's dominion was not static. And neither will our dominion be. We are not to have eternal life in a static perfect state, but are to have eternal life in which that perfect state continually improves.
Yes, the question of whether things are getting better or worse has important implications.
* That this world is decaying socially and physically contrasts with the order created within living organisms and demonstrates God’s hand as the source of energy and life force.
* That this world is decaying socially and physically fulfils prophecy pointing to the imminent second coming of Christ.
* That this world is decaying socially and physically indicates the enormity of sin and the totality of salvation.
I’m glad I'm a pessimist when it comes to the future of this earth. Because it is my source of hope for the future. Christians are optimistic pessimists. The world thinks of life then death. Christians think of death then life. This world is getting worse to get better. Things are getting worse, and I for one am happy about it because it tells me that the New Jerusalem is even closer.
© Alister L Hunt PhD
No comments:
Post a Comment