DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 9.10.22

My Strength and Defense By Emma Danzey Isaiah 12:2 says, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.� Surely God Is My Salvation It is great to be reminded that we have salvation through Jesus. In Isaiah 12, the promised Messiah, Jesus, had not yet come to earth. However, the people of God believed Him at His Word. The Lord used many prophets to speak truth into hard situations and to share about the coming Savior. Isaiah was one of these prophets.In Isaiah 12, Isaiah writes a song of praise after Isaiah 11 just shares about the coming Messiah. The Israelites were well aware that they were sinful and rebellious people. This start to Isaiah 12:2 �Surely� is a confidence that the promised Messiah would be coming and their faith in the Lord who had a redemption plan to cover their sins once and for all. I Will Trust and Not Be Afraid The Israelites were a fearful people. Many of them wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt in the difficulty of escape, many of them did not trust in God and took matters into their own hands, and many of them lived out of fear and not faith in the Lord. In thistime, Isaiah is reminding the people of their anchor in the Lord. Isaiah encourages us still today to place our trust in the Lord because He is our Peace, and we do not have to be afraid when we are resting in Him. Our momentary trials and hardships might be extremely painful and difficult, but we can get through knowing that the Lord is with us and we have eternal security in Heaven because of Jesus. We can each declare this in our own lives today, �I will trust andnot be afraid.� The LORD, the LORD Himself Is My Strength and My Defense When LORD is mentioned in all caps, it is referring to the proper name of God, YHWH. We as believers agree with Isaiah�s statement that God, our God Himself, is our strength and our defense. He helps us to move forward but also protects us from the attacksof the enemy. He is the perfect sacrifice from eternal separation from the Lord. When we undergo spiritual attacks from the enemy, His Spirit within us strengthens and empowers us to stand firm not in our own strength but in leaning on God�s. In what ways do you need to be reminded that God is your strength and your defense? He is fighting for you, and He is guarding You. I love how we know that it is the Lord who holds the victory, and we are His beloved children. Even when the war seems totarry, our Savior reminds us of His everlasting presence and His power in the midst of the battle. We can have eternal mindsets with the help of His Spirit. He Has Become My Salvation More valuable than a temporary victory is the fact that when we place our faith in Jesus, He has become our salvation. This is eternal security. This is forever hope and confidence of life with Him in heaven. I love how Isaiah begins and ends this verse withthis truth. He is reminding us twice that our story, our lives, begin and end with God. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Intersecting Faith and Life: Is Jesus your salvation? If you have never accepted this gift through His death and resurrection, ask Him into your heart today. When He is our salvation, we have full victory in Christ. In what ways has it been difficult for your to trust God right now? Howcan this verse remind you not to be afraid and to fully rely on Him? How has the Lord been a strength and defense on your behalf in the past? How does this give you encouragement that He is fighting for you now and in the future? Further Reading: •Exodus 15:2 •Psalm 59:16 •Revelation 22:13 ------------------- TheFather Testifies of the Son “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and willglorify it again.” (John12:28) This is the last of three remarkable occasions during the earthly ministry of Christ when God the Father spoke directly from heaven concerning His only begotten Son. The first was at His baptism. “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son,in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew3:17; also Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22). This thrice-recorded testimony was given primarily to the forerunner, John the Baptist, who said, “And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remainingon him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost” (John1:33). The second was to three chosen disciples at the transfiguration. “Behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew17:5). Years later Peter recalled, “This voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount” (2Peter 1:18). Finally, the Father spoke in the words of our text for the day in direct response to the prayer of His Son at the beginning of the final week before His crucifixion. The message was to His Son but for the people. Jesus said, “This voice came not because ofme, but for your sakes” (John12:30) as He spoke of His imminent death on the cross. When God spoke from heaven, the message was to assure and encourage His own dear ones: John, the disciples, and Jesus Himself. But it has also become an exhortation to all people for all time. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and God is glorified in Him. Hear Him!HMM ------------------------ Manand His Labor “Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.” (Psalm104:23) The 104th Psalm is a beautiful psalm of creation and the Flood, supplemented by God’s providential care of His creatures in the post-Flood world. Our text makes man’s activity seem almost incidental in the grand scope of God’s activities on behalf of His wholecreation. Nevertheless, it reminds us of God’s first great commission to mankind concerning that creation. “Have dominion...over all the earth...to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis1:26; 2:15). This primeval mandate, though still in effect as man’s stewardship responsibility for the earth and its creatures, has been seriously impacted by sin and the curse. “Cursed is the ground for thy sake,” God told Adam; “in the sweat of thy faceshalt thou eat bread” (Genesis3:17, 19). And so it is that men and women must work, and the work often is laborious, stressful, and unappreciated. Yet, the divine rule is “that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands...That ye may walk honestly...and thatye may have lack of nothing” (1Thessalonians 4:11-12). “For... if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2Thessalonians 3:10). Thus, labor is necessary, even for those who don’t know the Lord. But it is far better if we work not just to earn a living but to please the Lord. “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians3:23). Whatever our job is (assuming it is honorable), it can be regarded as serving Christ and helping to fulfill His primeval dominion commandment, and even as helping to lead others to know Him. Therefore, whether the work is easy or hard, we should be “alwaysabounding in the work of the Lord...your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Corinthians 15:58). HMM -------------------- Howto Respond to Defamation “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certaindwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.” (1Corinthians 4:11-13) Bible-believing Christians today, especially creationists, have become the object of intense vilification by the news media and by self-appointed spokesmen for the scientific and educational establishments. The natural reaction is to respond in kind. But this is not the spiritual reaction. “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatenednot; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1Peter 2:21-23). We not only have Christ’s example before us but also His direct commandment. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake....Love your enemies, bless them that curse you” (Matthew5:11, 44). The apostles endured far more insults and opprobrium for Christ’s sake than any of us shall ever have to suffer. Yet Paul, speaking for them all, could say, in effect, “Being reviled, we bless; being defamed, we entreat, even though they call us the filth ofthe world!” We can trust the Lord to take care of our reputations, for He is more concerned even than we, and His Word tells us: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans12:19). HMM ------------------- TheRiver of God “Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is fullof water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.” (Psalm 65:9) The inexhaustible river of God, watering the whole earth, is nothing less than the refreshing rains coming down from the heavens, “visiting” the earth on its amazing journey to the oceans, whence it flows back up to the skies again. This river incorporatesall the rivers of Earth, yet it is like no other river, for once it reaches the ocean, it rises into the heavens, there to flow back over the thirsty ground and finally descend once more on its endless journey. What a wonderful provision is this river of God! Without it, all life on Earth would soon die. Far more valuable than gold, it continually “enriches” the earth on its regular visitations “to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of thetender herb to spring forth” (Job 38:27). Thereby does God also prepare corn to feed man and beast. The word “corn” in this and other passages probably refers generically to any of the cereal grains that provide the basic foodstuffs for people and animals all over the world. This is implied in thecreation passage itself. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth....And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein thereis life, I have given every green herb for meat” (Genesis 1:29-30). This is God’s wonderful life-giving river. “He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth” (Psalm 104:13-14). The Creator is also the Sustainer (Colossians1:16-17). HMM -------------------- OurNeeds Philippians 4:19 Jim saved for a long time to take an Alaskan cruise. At last he was on board with two carefully packed suitcases. The first evening, when he heard "Dinner is served" announced over the loudspeaker, he took peanut butter crackers from his suitcase and satat the table in his small cabin. Every day at mealtime, he repeated the ritual. It wasn't that Jim didn't like the ship's tasty banquets. He simply didn't know that his meals were included in the price of the ticket. For two weeks he enjoyed beautiful sceneryoff the decks but ate dry, stale food in his cabin. This sad story is a metaphor for how some believers live the Christian life. God has promised to meet every need of His children—His riches are included in the price Christ paid for their salvation (Eph. 1:18). Yet many folks are trying to live out of their own resources. They don't know that the wealth of God's love,power, and provision is on their menu. A believer's relationship with the Lord is one of complete unity. Jesus is our life. His Spirit lives through us. Therefore, everything that is available to Him is also available to the brothers and sisters in Christ—all power, strength, and endurance, aswell as whatever is required to fulfill physical and emotional needs. Jim didn't know he had the right to satisfy his hunger in an extravagant way. Learn from this exaggerated example. Read your Bible to learn what riches you are entitled to through faith. God offers believers everything required for living well and wisely. Trust Him for all your needs. ------------------- God Is Our Helper By Jessica Van Roekel “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm121:1-2, ESV). Have you ever felt overwhelmed by so much to do in a day? There are times when it feels like I wander around my home and wonder what to do next. The list seems long and never gets shorter. I wake up the next day, and there’s more added to the list. Cleanthe bathroom. Go to the bank. Call the accountant. Make dentist appointments. Take care of clients. Take care of yourself. Pretty soon, it’s weeks before I finally get around to making that dental appointment and even longer before I sweep the dust bunnies.These are the tangible items that press in to take our attention, but there’s more than just the external living that we do. There’s the internal too. The internal place is where we feel anxious about the future or frustrated with the present. It begins to demand attention if we ignore it for too long. Our worries linger on the edge of our consciousness, and we lost sleep. Then we snap at our loved onesbecause the tension inside us reaches a breaking point. After that, we add guilty conscience to our list of things. The next day comes, and more instances like these get added to the list. Eventually, we can’t add any more, and we’re left sidelined becauselife has become too much. Instead of living from a place of victory in Christ, we’re barely able to see our next step. In Mark 10:46-52, we read about a blind man named Bartimaeus, who was sidelined from life. He begged from the side of the road and his daily sustenance came from those who took pity on him. One day, he heard that Jesus was near, and he began to cry out, “Jesus,Son of David, have mercy on me,” (Mark 10:47, ESV). Those on street told him to be quiet, but he ignored them and cried even louder. Jesuscalled for him to come and Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, sprang to his feet, and stood before Jesus. Jesus looked at him and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark10:51). There are three things we can learn from Bartimaeus. One, he knew what Jesus could do. He had heard the stories of Jesus’ miracles, and he believed. In our days filled with life’s ups and downs, we can forget that he walked on water, healed hearts, and rosefrom the dead. We need to remember that he is more than a great teacher, he is our help, and he makes his power available to us. When was the last time you begged Jesus for help? Or are you like me and try to solve problems on your own first? Sometimes we value independence and view dependence as weakness. Jesus becomes a last resort instead of our first choice. There is great powerin admitting we need help. He loves it when we call out to him. The next lesson we can learn from Bartimaeus is that he ignored the voices that told him to be quiet. Maybe there’s someone in your life or your own voice that tells you that Jesus can’t be bothered by your requests for help with the ordinary problems inlife. Maybe you think that you need to reserve your requests for big issues. But God cares and desires to help us in our everyday lives, from helping us through difficult situations to knowing the next step to take in the unending to-do list. Third, Bartimaeus knew what he wanted Jesus to do for him. He wanted to see again. Do you know what you want Jesus to do for you? Maybe you need peace because you’re anxious about many things. Or you need strength because your journey has an unwanted diagnosis.But maybe you don’t know, and that’s okay. The beautiful thing about following God is that you can ask him what you need. You can say, “Lord, I know I need help, but I’m not sure what kind of help. Would you show me?” Then, take a moment in silent prayer and listen for his voice. Intersecting Faith and Life: God is our main source of help, not our jobs, families, or friends. He is compassionate toward us in our needs and desires to act on our behalf. When we look beyond the factors that overwhelm us, we can call on God to be our help. He answers us andmeets us right where we’re at. We can call on his name and expect his reply. Further Reading: •Psalm 121 •Mark 10:46-52 •Bartimaeus: A Blind Beggar Meets Jesus ------------------ The Life-or-Death Choice - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. —John 10:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-life-or-death-choice/- Listen According to a report by the American Psychological Association, 91% of Generation Z (those born within the period from 1997 to 2012) have high levels of anxiety and stress. I think one of the reasons that things are harder for Generation Z is that many in this generation come from broken homes. In addition, violence has escalated and, of course,social media amplifies everything and has changed things dramatically. One-third of those in Generation Z also struggle with suicidal thoughts. To those who have contemplated or even attempted suicide, I want you to know this: You are loved.You’re loved by more people than you could ever imagine. You are wanted. And God has a special plan for your life. You matter, and we need you. Whatever you’re going through, you’ll get through it. Don’t ever let the devil whisper in your ear that you should take your life. The Bible says that the devil is a liar,the father of lies (see John 8:44). Jesus said, speaking about Satan, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 NKJV). In contrast, Jesus also said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (verse 10 NKJV). You have a choice: life in a relationship withGod or death outside of a relationship with God. I don’t know the trajectory of your life today or what decisions you have made. But it’s never too late to change. It’s not a matter of changing the way you feel. You needto change the way you think. Would you like to have a fresh start right here, right now? If you turn from your sin and put your faith in Jesus, He will come into your life and change your eternal destinationfrom Hell to Heaven. He can change the course of your life, starting today. --------------------- Seek First the Kingdom - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. �Matthew 6:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/seek-first-the-kingdom/- Listen If I had the opportunity to speak to my younger self, here�s what I would say: Put God first in your life. Of course, this starts with asking Christ to come into your life.Then it means following Him. Jesus summed it up this way: �But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you� (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Now, what did Jesus mean by �all these things�? We find the answer in the earlier verses, where He said, �So don�t worry about these things, saying, �What will we eat? Whatwill we drink? What will we wear?� These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs� (verses 31�32 NLT). We�re obsessed with what we�ll eat, drink, and wear. These are not necessarily bad things to think about, but Jesus is saying that we shouldn�t make them the focus of ourlives. Instead, we should put God first. We should seek first the kingdom of God: the rule and reign of Christ in our lives. One day, we will go to Heaven and enter the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God will come to Earth. But when the Bible tells us to seek the kingdom of God first, that meanssimply putting Jesus first in our lives. Think about God�s will when you make decisions. Don�t put money first, career first, politics first, or even ministry first. Put God first in your life, and the rest willbe blessed. This doesn�t mean that God will make you incredibly wealthy. What it means is that God will �supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus� (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). So put Him first. ----------------- PreachingAgainst False Teachers �But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstonewere hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.� (Matthew18:6) Jude, an earthly brother of our Lord, had become a leader in the early church by the time he wrote his epistle. He had intended �to write unto you of the common salvation� but instead was compelled by God�s Spirit to write and �exhort you that ye should earnestlycontend for the faith� (Jude1:3) against the onslaught of false teachers. He writes �to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him� (Jude1:15). Few categories of people are so summarily denounced in Scripture as false teachers, those who teach error from within. Nearly every biblical writer echoes God�s hatred of them and their work. Here, Jude refers to Enoch�s ancient teaching to demonstrate thefact that God has always hated false teachers and has warned them of their doom. Unfortunately, many of today�s pulpits and �Christian� airwaves are filled with false teachers and their teaching, leading many astray. But this is also a lesson to be learned by any who would teach, even born-again, God-gifted teachers. Error is a serious thing in God�s eyes, and a Bible teacher must continually submit to God�s Word and Spirit to discern and teach only truth. Evidently, itwould be better for those teachers, seminarians, and others who espouse errors such as humanism, evolution, and other false concepts that a millstone were hung about their necks and that they drowned in the depth of the sea than to lead astray those �littleones� in their influence. JDM ---------------------- Read It. Memorize It. Treasure It. - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. �Psalm 1:1-3 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/read-it-memorize-it-treasure-it/Listen Sometimes, as Christians grow in their faith, they think they no longer need to read the Bible as much as they used to. But that isn�t true. We need to read the Bible everyday. We should start the day with it. We should end the day with it. Psalm 1 tells us, �Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditatingon it day and night� (verses 1�2 NLT). The psalmist goes on to say, �They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do� (verse 3 NLT). If you want to be a happy person, read the Word of God. Meditate on it. In Eastern meditation, people seek to empty their minds. But in biblical meditation, we fill our mindswith the Word of God. This is how we will grow spiritually. This is how we will be able to resist temptation. Psalm 119:9 says, �How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word� (NLT). We stay pure by listening to what the Word of God says. The apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy, �Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth� (2Timothy 2:15 NLT). We need to read the Bible every day because success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible we get into our lives on a regular basis and how obedientwe are to it. So, read the Word. Memorize the Word. Treasure the Word. I�ve never met a strong Christian who isn�t full of Scripture. ------------------- TheThree Appearings of Christ �When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.� (Colossians3:4) The wonderful promise of this text actually refers to the third appearing of Christ. The New Testament speaks of His past appearing, His present appearing, and His future appearing. These three appearings are all set forth in one fascinating passage of Scripture, Hebrews 9:24-28, where three different Greek words are used in reference to the three appearings. 1. His past appearing. �Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself� (Hebrews9:26). Here the Greek word is phaneroo, meaning �become apparent after being hidden.� His appearing had been prophesied since the beginning of the world (Luke1:67-70), and finally He had come. 2. His present appearing. �For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us� (Hebrews9:24). The Greek word here is emphanizo, which means �manifest or declare openly.� He is now our �advocate with the Father� (1John 2:1), where He �also maketh intercession for us� (Romans8:34). 3. His future appearing. �Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation� (Hebrews9:28). The Greek in this case is optomai, meaning �gaze at face to face.� Our text (Colossians3:4) speaks of His future appearing at the Second Coming. However, here the Greek for �appear� is again phaneroo, the same word used for His past appearing in Hebrews 9:26, as discussed above. This usage assures us that His future appearing will be just as real to us as His past appearing was to His first disciples. And when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory! HMM -------------------------- God Honors Our Commitment to Him Daniel 1 Daniel and his friends faced the same dilemma we do--how to live a holy life in a godless culture. At one time, our society readily accepted Christian values and standards, but that era is quickly passing. Our challenge today is to live under God's authoritywhile remaining in submission to the law of the land. At times we are forced to choose between the two, but if we'll seek the Lord's guidance before marching defiantly forward, He may open an alternative approach for us. Had Daniel bluntly declared, "I won't eat this food!" he wouldn't have lasted long, and we wouldn't have the book of Daniel in the Bible. But the Lord gave him the wisdom to humbly seek permission from the person who was in a position of authority over him. God honored his commitment and provided a way for him to live righteously in a pagan world. We tend to hold up Daniel and his three friends as extraordinary people who lived amazing lives. But have you ever wondered what the Lord could do in the life of an ordinary person like you? The determining factor is not the greatness of the individual but,rather, his commitment to a God who can do remarkable things in a life fully devoted to Him. That's the kind of people our Lord is looking for. Although we don't know all that God could do in our lives if we'd radically commit ourselves to Him, the thought of missing out on His plans should be enough to motivate us to obey. You don't want to arrive in heaven and discover you forfeited blessingsbecause you weren't fully devoted to Him. -------------------- Stop Worrying and Start Praying - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org So, don�t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today�s trouble is enough for today. �Matthew 6:34 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/stop-worrying-and-start-praying/- Listen Worry can ruin your day. It can ruin your week. It can ruin your month. Actually, worry can ruin your life. The root word of �worry� means �to choke� or �to strangle.� When my grandkids were much younger, they liked to come up and choke me from behind. They thought it was cute andfun, and it was okay because they were small. They weren�t hurting me. Worry, however, does hurt us. It chokes us out. That�s why we need to stop worrying and start praying. I realize that we all have things in life to worry about, but I�m reminded of the words of the apostle Paul: �Don�t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. TellGod what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus� (Philippians 4:6�7 NLT). When you worry about the future, you cripple yourself in the present. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Even when things are goingwell, we start worrying that something is going to go wrong, don�t we? Jesus said, �So don�t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today�s trouble is enough for today� (Matthew 6:34 NLT). Turning worry into prayer is a conditioned reflex. It�s something that we learn how to do. In contrast, a natural reflex is something that we automatically do. For example,if you accidentally touch something hot, you immediately pull your hand back. That�s a natural reflex. No one has to teach you to do that. We need to develop the conditioned reflex of turning worry into prayer. When worry creeps in, when panic hits, stop and pray right away. Remember, God is in control of yourlife. As Christians, we don�t believe in fate; we believe in faith. ----------------------- ByMan Came Death �For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, evenso in Christ shall all be made alive.� (1Corinthians 15:21-22) These verses, coupled with others throughout the Old and New Testaments, teach a very important principle not fully appreciated by those Christians who would hold that man evolved from lower animals or even that his tenure on Earth was preceded by millionsof years. For if the earth is old, then death is part of the natural order of things, and billions upon billions of organisms have lived and died, struggling for existence, surviving only if they were �fit.� Taken at face value, however, the Bible indicates a far different scenario. Evidently, at the beginning, all living creatures (i.e., conscious life as opposed to plants and non-conscious �animals�) were created to live forever. There was no death, for all weredesigned to be vegetarian (Genesis1:30). God had warned them of disobedience to His one command: �For in the day that thou eatest thereof [i.e., of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil] thou shalt surely die� (or more literally, �dying thou shalt die�) (Genesis2:17). All of creation was placed under the curse of death at that time, the animals (3:14), the plants (v. 18), the ground (v. 17), and mankind (vv. 15-17, 19); all would be dying. Sadly, as we know all too well, this situation continues today (see Romans 8:22). But if death is a part of the created order, what can our text mean? Furthermore, if death was not specified as the penalty for sin, what does the death of Christ mean? Belief in the concept of the old earth destroys vital doctrines, including our redemptionthrough Christ�s death. Thankfully, the reign of death and the curse will end one day (Revelation21:4; 22:3) as God restores the creation to its intended state. JDM ----------------------- Character Over Charisma - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. �Psalm 119:1 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/character-over-charisma/- Listen There are people who cheat, lie, steal, and cut corners, yet they seem to get away with it. Maybe you�ve thought, �Why shouldn�t I do that? Why should I play by the rules?� Here�s why: In the end, those people will reap what they sow. The Bible tells us, �Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap� (Galatians 6:7 NKJV). The longer I live, the more impressed I am with character over charisma. I�ve seen a lot of preachers with dynamic personalities flame out because they didn�t seek to maintainhonesty and integrity. The psalmist David wrote, �I will be careful to live a blameless life�when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home� (Psalm 101:2 NLT). And in Psalm 119:1 we read, �Joyful are people of integrity, whofollow the instructions of the Lord� (NLT). The great evangelist D. L. Moody said, �If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.� In the Old Testament, we read about Daniel, a man of integrity, someone who always sought to do the right thing. On one occasion, it caused his arrest. After the king signeda decree that no one could pray to any god, only to him, Daniel prayed to God anyway. His enemies had him arrested and thrown into a lion�s den. What a bleak scenario that was. But how did the story end? His enemies ended up being eaten by lions, and Daniellived to pray another day. The same thing happened to Joseph, whose story we find in the Book of Genesis. Joseph lived with honesty and integrity, and although Potiphar�s wife falsely accused him ofrape, he received vindication in the end. If you live with honesty and integrity, you will, too.