July - 2010
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Why the Flood? |
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By Ty Gibson |
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Q: If God is so good, why did He drown the whole world with a flood? This seems like an extreme act of rage or, worse yet, an act of mass murder. How could God do such a thing? read more... |
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A: The short answer is that the Flood was a radical emergency
intervention God needed to perform in order to save the human race from
extinction, and He did so in perfect consistency with His good character. He
did the right thing and the best thing.
If we fail to read and grasp the account as it is told in Scripture, the Flood may easily appear in a false light, especially to minds that are inclined to judge God harshly. But notice the picture that emerges if we allow all the elements of the story to inform us:
1. God was in anguish over the situation. "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart" (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). This was not easy for God. The account does not reveal a harsh God eager to pounce with fury, but an agonizing God who longs for the human situation to be different. That's the first point that needs to be figured in.
2. The prominent aspect of human evil confronting God at the time was that violence was being universally practiced. "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" (6:11-12). Note the language. The whole world was like Rwanda during its genocide or like Western Europe engaged in World War II. Rampant violence.
3. The violence was so extreme that the self–extinction of the human race was inevitable without divine intervention. "God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh (extinction) has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth'" (6:13). In the face of the threat of humanity's complete ruin, God found it necessary to implement a radical surgical rescue mission–to end the violence before it ended the race.
4. In anguish God brought the Flood, but only with the qualification that He would do so while establishing a covenant with Noah. "And behold, I Myself am bringing the flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; and everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you" (6:17-18). While God found it necessary to bring the Flood, He only did so as a salvation measure for the ultimate good of humanity. He would not let us go. Rather, He established covenant with Noah. A righteous pool of humans would be preserved. The covenant means that God's long–range plan is to eternally save mankind from its sin by sending Christ into the world.
Here is the heart of God: anguish, intervention and salvation for humanity. That was His motive and plan in bringing the Flood. To a world on the verge of self–destruction by its own violence.
If we fail to read and grasp the account as it is told in Scripture, the Flood may easily appear in a false light, especially to minds that are inclined to judge God harshly. But notice the picture that emerges if we allow all the elements of the story to inform us:
1. God was in anguish over the situation. "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart" (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). This was not easy for God. The account does not reveal a harsh God eager to pounce with fury, but an agonizing God who longs for the human situation to be different. That's the first point that needs to be figured in.
2. The prominent aspect of human evil confronting God at the time was that violence was being universally practiced. "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" (6:11-12). Note the language. The whole world was like Rwanda during its genocide or like Western Europe engaged in World War II. Rampant violence.
3. The violence was so extreme that the self–extinction of the human race was inevitable without divine intervention. "God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh (extinction) has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth'" (6:13). In the face of the threat of humanity's complete ruin, God found it necessary to implement a radical surgical rescue mission–to end the violence before it ended the race.
4. In anguish God brought the Flood, but only with the qualification that He would do so while establishing a covenant with Noah. "And behold, I Myself am bringing the flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; and everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you" (6:17-18). While God found it necessary to bring the Flood, He only did so as a salvation measure for the ultimate good of humanity. He would not let us go. Rather, He established covenant with Noah. A righteous pool of humans would be preserved. The covenant means that God's long–range plan is to eternally save mankind from its sin by sending Christ into the world.
Here is the heart of God: anguish, intervention and salvation for humanity. That was His motive and plan in bringing the Flood. To a world on the verge of self–destruction by its own violence.
Light Bearers in Africa |
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By Beth Boram |
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Here is a report of how your literature has blessed Africa: Every year we take Laurelwood Academy students to do mission work for the month of March. This year one of the groups went to Kisii, Kenya, East Africa. I was with this group of seven students. read more... |
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Light Bearers Ministry gave us 50 pounds of literature to share.
When we first got there, I took out a small amount of literature to share
throughout the day. I didn't ask any of our youth for help. They were
building a church, holding adult and children's meetings, and visiting
schools and orphanages.
When our youth saw how eager and excited the African people were for literature, they begged to have some to hand out! After that, the adults let the youth have the privilege of sharing–it was so fun! They were so eager to do it and would take each other's literature to have enough.
The people were so eager that they would run up to us to receive it. Sometimes there would be a frenzy which reminds me of Matthew 11:12 ". . . the violent take it (the kingdom of heaven) by force."
Sometimes our youth would pass literature out the van window. Motor bikes, with up to four people on them would take it as they drove by. People in the markets and on the road side would run to get leaflets. Vans would drive by us and the people packed in them would reach out to receive God’s Word– even at the speed of 80km/hr (much to the adults'consternation). What a pleasure it is to share with those so hungry for truth!
Moses was an armored truck guard we met at a bank. He was thrilled to accept the printed Word and later came to visit us at the church.
A Catholic car rental businessman longed for written material and was so thankful when we offered him some.
A Church of Christ pastor was deeply grateful for this literature to help him with his sermons. At numerous road stops we shared literature with policeman, who gratefully received it. The Kenyan people (young and old) are very literate and love good reading. They share the printed page with friends and neighbors. They are not saturated with TV and media. Their hearts are open to God’s Word. They want to say thank you. They want to tell Light Bearers how much they appreciate knowing more about Jesus. We want to communicate their thanks to you and add our own for being allowed to be the hands to share the Light of the World!
Love and prayers,
Beth Boram
When our youth saw how eager and excited the African people were for literature, they begged to have some to hand out! After that, the adults let the youth have the privilege of sharing–it was so fun! They were so eager to do it and would take each other's literature to have enough.
The people were so eager that they would run up to us to receive it. Sometimes there would be a frenzy which reminds me of Matthew 11:12 ". . . the violent take it (the kingdom of heaven) by force."
Sometimes our youth would pass literature out the van window. Motor bikes, with up to four people on them would take it as they drove by. People in the markets and on the road side would run to get leaflets. Vans would drive by us and the people packed in them would reach out to receive God’s Word– even at the speed of 80km/hr (much to the adults'consternation). What a pleasure it is to share with those so hungry for truth!
Moses was an armored truck guard we met at a bank. He was thrilled to accept the printed Word and later came to visit us at the church.
A Catholic car rental businessman longed for written material and was so thankful when we offered him some.
A Church of Christ pastor was deeply grateful for this literature to help him with his sermons. At numerous road stops we shared literature with policeman, who gratefully received it. The Kenyan people (young and old) are very literate and love good reading. They share the printed page with friends and neighbors. They are not saturated with TV and media. Their hearts are open to God’s Word. They want to say thank you. They want to tell Light Bearers how much they appreciate knowing more about Jesus. We want to communicate their thanks to you and add our own for being allowed to be the hands to share the Light of the World!
Love and prayers,
Beth Boram
| Consider This ... | Speaking Schedule | |||
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Sin, that cost Adam beautiful Eden, exists everywhere
in our world. Evil triumphs wherever God is not known or
His character contemplated. We could not commit sin if we
realized the presence of God, and thought upon His goodness,
His love, and His compassion. Satan knows that if he can
obscure the vision so that the eye of faith cannot behold God,
there will be no barrier against sin. It is necessary to know
God in order to be attracted to Him. And the perception of His
image as represented in Christ changes the sinner’s views
of evil. The shadow of Satan obscures the character of Jesus
and of God; but if we by faith gain a knowledge of God, and
hold steadfastly to Jesus, we shall be changed. In Jesus is
manifested the character of the Father, and the sight of Him
attracts. It softens and subdues, and ceases not to transform the
character, until Christ is formed within, the hope of glory.
Ellen White,
Ellen White,
Ellen White, |
July 6–10 Light Bearers' Annual Convocation Jasper, OR James Rafferty & Ty Gibson • (541) 988–3333 July 13–16 Alaska Conference Camp Meeting Anchorage, AK Ty Gibson • (907) 346–1004 July 19–25 Central California Conference Camp Meeting Soquel, CA Ty Gibson • (559) 347–3000 July 29 British Columbia Conference Campmeeting, Vancouver, BC Ty Gibson • (604) 853–5451 August 4–7 ASI International Convention Orlando, Fl James and Risë Rafferty • (301) 680–6450 August 21 Fall Creek SDA Church, WA James Rafferty • (541) 937–3526 September 2–14 Lusaka, Zambia Ty Gibson • 260–211–21–24–15 September 18–25 Revelation Series, Mount Shasta SDA Church, CA James Rafferty • (530) 926–2803 September 24–25 Montana Men's Summit, Bozeman, MY Ty Gibson • (406) 369–1832 (406) 287-3465 September 28 Bible Study, Light Bearers Ministry Ty Gibson • (541) 937–3526 |
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