Recently, we’ve all witnessed several spacecraft departing the atmosphere of our planet with a handful of civilians being able to truly experience new heights. And, it appears this is only the beginning of many more opportunities for those who can afford the exhilaration of spaceflight.
At the same time, we are making remarkable strides into the depth of our oceans as we uncover the mysteries that lie miles beneath us.
Reaching new heights and depths will undoubtedly allow us to gain new knowledge about our planet and solar system that will bring many advancements, which will potentially make life better for all humanity.
Unfortunately, the heights of pride and the depths of depravity confronting this world may soon lead to our eventual demise.
The tug of our sin nature has been with us since the beginning of time, commencing with Adam’s original sin in the Garden of Eden some 6,000 years ago. That sin nature affects all humanity and we would be wise to recognize its existence.
I first came to grips with the reality of sin in my life in 1984. It’s quite possible you have never given much thought at all to the impact of sin in your personal life. Sin is real and, when unchecked, it can create all kinds of trouble in this world in which we live.
Please hear me out. It’s amazing how we continue to uncover more and more of what God has created.
Our scientists and explorers solve the mysteries of life, yet they don’t create anything. God has given some souls truly inquisitive minds that continually seek answers that benefit us immensely.
Many of those who have been used by God to give us answers and solutions through the centuries, recognize the Source of all that exists. Unfortunately, some take credit themselves and deny God’s existence at all. That has always puzzled me since it’s so obvious that the intricacies of design could not have come into existence haphazardly.
What amazes me is how those who study the sciences can even consider that a Creator does not exist.
Then again, God’s Word tells us in Psalm 14:1-3, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
These are the words of King David simply surmising man’s hardened heart. Our sin can be summed up in the fact that many would prefer to sit in the throne that rightly belongs to our Savior and Lord.
The pride of the human race has been the problem from the beginning. Let me share these words exhorted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:29-32: “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, relentless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
Certainly, sin will remain in this world until Jesus’ imminent return. For now, let’s simply deal with our individual sin. We must acknowledge Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, turn from our wicked ways, repent of our sin and start loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and genuinely love others as we love ourselves.
To God be the glory!
Passages to Ponder
— Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent in Santa Barbara. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God, and his goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. As a longtime member of CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection), he started writing Fourth Quarter Strategies columns in 2014, and he now reaches an international audience through the CBMC International devotional Monday Manna. He can be contacted at jim@fourthquarterstrategies.com for more information. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.