Man-Made Body Parts by Ron Livesay

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:14, NASB).

It seems impossible that anyone could do even a cursory study of the human body and come away with the conclusion that there is no intelligence behind the design. We are quite obviously fearfully and wonderfully made, and no amount of conjecture, denial, and theorizing can change the fact that we are a special creation of God. What someone believes to be true has absolutely no impact on truth and reality. These things never change.

All of God’s creation was perfect in every way. That being the case, it could be concluded that all parts of our bodies are permanent and will never wear out. However, that logic breaks down when the fall of man into sin is factored in. There was no death, bloodshed, or suffering before Adam sinned. As it has been since then, we are all subject to death. This cannot be denied.

In 1973, I had a collision with another player in a basketball game, which resulted in torn ligaments in my left knee. I had surgery to repair the damage, and I was told that I would someday need knee replacement surgery. I decided not to worry about it and sort of dismissed it from my mind for many years. Eventually, my right knee became very painful and unstable. By this time, both of my knees were bad. I tried, with mixed results, a brace, cortisone injections, gel injections, etc., but eventually nothing helped. 

For a number of years, I struggled with simple activities, yet I steadfastly refused to consider knee replacement. One line I used when people would ask if I planned to get the surgery was, “Anything made by man is inferior to what God has created, so I’ll just keep the knees He gave me.” 

The first half to that statement is, of course, true. However, it fails to factor in the impact of sin on our human bodies. Because of Adam’s sin of disobedience, the human race inherited the sin nature from him, and therefore our bodies deteriorate from infancy through old age. I finally faced the reality that while God created the human body to be perfect for the function of living on this earth, the parts of our bodies do wear out. 

Thank the Lord that He has given many people the desire, strength, ability, and wisdom to make replacement parts. We ought to appreciate the work of such scientists and doctors, but even more so, we should be thankful to our Lord for giving them the ability to come up with such things. 

The Lord receives all the glory for these advancements. This is true in every area of life. Did the Wright brothers invent the principles of aerodynamics? Of course not – they merely took the principles they discovered to make (not “create”) the first heavier-than-air powered flying machine. Flying has gone from simple beginnings to where it is now. God knew the principles of aerodynamics long before the Wright brothers because He created them. God created the principles in the beginning, and humans, after several thousand years, made a flying machine. Whether humans choose to give God the glory or not, the fact remains that He gets the glory for every advance that has been made in human history. This could be illustrated in a myriad of ways.

I had my first knee replacement last Wednesday, and the second is tentatively scheduled for three months from now. This is in addition to the fact that last summer I had stent grafts placed in my iliac arteries and my aorta. I may soon be a bionic man.

This does not negate the fact that what God created in the first place is far superior to man-made devices. I have been told that my new knees should last 20 or 25 years. Obviously, this is not anything like the expected wear-out date for the parts of the human body. While I am very thankful for those who invented these things that potentially will give me a better quality of life, I am far more thankful for the Creator of all things, the One in whom …we live and move and exist…(Acts 17:28, NASB). 

The Trinity

By Ralph M. Petersen, 4/23/20

I don’t understand the doctrine of the Trinity. I cannot comprehend a triune God nor can I explain Him. But I do know that stupid analogies always fail and are heretical. God is NOT like an egg, water, a man, pie, a triangle, a three-leafed clover, or Pla-doh. Furthermore, there are lots of people who reject the doctrine of the Trinity simply because they think these analogies don't make sense. And they are right. There are no analogies that can explain the Trinity and we have no right to try to invent such nonsense.

Nor do we have the right to disbelieve the doctrine of a triune God; JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRINITY IS NO REASON TO DISBELIEVE IT.

Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.”

And this is one of those secret things. The tri-unity of God is a doctrine of special (biblical) revelation but He has NOT revealed how that can be or how we can understand it. Ours is just to take Him at His Word and believe it. No analogy can explain the Trinity because there is nothing in all of God's creation like Him. He is holy; there is none like Him.

“God Said It, I Believe It and That Settles It For Me,” was a song that was popularized in the 1970s. At first glance, it sounds good but the obvious error in the song is the phrase, “I believe it.” That seems to imply that the veracity of the declared Word of God is dependent on my belief. The better lyric would be, “God Said It and That Settles It Whether I Believe It Or Not.”

So, regarding the doctrine of the Trinity (and all other doctrines of God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture), our belief (or even our understanding) is irrelevant. There are a lot of things about Him that I don't understand. I can't comprehend eternity apart from and unaffected by time. Nor can I understand how God can exist apart from His created universe and yet inhabit His creation. Nevertheless, God’s Word is true even if no one understands it or believes it. We are not privileged to a complete understanding. All we can know about Him is what He has revealed to us in His Word. That’s it! That settles it! That’s all! End of discussion!

Grace Bible Church Encouragement Email: Psalm 119, Part 2

We are back in Psalm 119 talking about God and His word. Let’s zero in on verses 33-40 and I trust this will encourage you as you are praying to God for your own spiritual growth. Let’s finish with part 2 today (verses 37-40). 

1. Turn my eyes – The psalmist speaks of the eyes (v. 37). His eyes see things that can be desired both good and evil. There are many things that would desire to take his time and attention and yet, he needs to direct his eyes and ultimately his thoughts to those things that are worthwhile. Covetousness is just another expression of the selfishness that is lurking inside of us. Instead of an attitude that treasures God first and then seeks to serve others, often the eyes seek for selfish things, attention, wealth, prestige, power, etc. Chasing these things is like chasing things that have no substance (mirages, rainbows) and instead results in the emptiness that comes with chasing things that are of no value. Turning our eyes is similar to an infection that we don’t want to have spread. Each time I’m visiting in the hospital, they have hand-disinfecting stations around the hospital and warnings and messages about using them to keep disease from spreading. If we are not cleansing ourselves from the “infection” of our eyes, it can spread to our heart and mind. This infection goes by many names but for today, let’s just call it covetousness. Ultimately it is an expression to God of our dissatisfaction with how He is meeting our needs or how He has made us.

2. Reassure me - The psalmist is asking for God’s word and his promises to be kept and brought to his mind (v. 38). The psalmist wants to fear and be in awe of God but desires to be reassured. Everyone needs reassurance from time to time. Even with our families, we express our love on a frequent basis. Very few of us practice the attitude of, “I told you once that I loved you and if that ever changes, I’ll let you know.” We need to be reminded and that reminder serves to bring hope and comfort to our lives. Is it any different with our God?  We want to be reminded of His care for us. Our hearts desire to see His promises fulfilled. Every time a promise is carried out, our fickle and insecure hearts are reassured. Our doubts are calmed for at least a little while.

3. Turn away the reproach – the psalmist is not being motivated by a selfish ambition to avoid embarrassment. He does not want to do that which would cause God’s name to suffer. There are those around David who are trying to destroy him. Consider Psalm 119:21-23. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes (ESV). The psalmist commits his reputation to the Lord.

4. Give me life in your righteousness – the psalmist shows his desire for God’s word and asks for God’s help in following his righteousness. All of us need God’s help each day as we seek to follow Him. We need God’s help to face the challenges of right now. 

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Sent out to all who attend Grace Bible Church by Pastor Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Pastor Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor.

Grace Bible Church Encouragement Email: Psalm 119, Part 1

Most of you know that Psalm 119 is about God and His Word. Let’s zero in on verses 33-40 and I trust this will encourage you as you are praying to God for your own spiritual growth. Let’s start with part 1 today (verses 33-36). 

Look at all that David, the psalmist, is asking for God to help him with. Almost every verse contains the thought of “me” or “my” as he is asking God for help. Not in some selfish way but in his desire to please God, he is realizing his own shortcomings and where he needs improvement towards God. Let’s run down some of his list and see if some of these same things should be on our list as well.

1.  “Teach me” (submissive spirit) – He desires to be taught by God. He wants to know how God wants him to live. His understanding is that there is a way to walk and he desires to follow that way. His goal then is to live according to God’s statutes for the rest of his life (v. 33). What a wonderful thought for us today…God, teach us and once you do, we will be committed to your teachings as long as we are on this earth.

2.   “Give me understanding” – This implies that he was lacking something. The Psalmist needs understanding and he is not asking for knowledge for its own sake. There is also the comprehension that unless God was the one teaching him, his struggle to understand would be endless. Once he has gained this understanding from God, he will then respond in obedience to God’s Word. This obedience will go far beyond an outward compliance but will encompass his whole being. Even today, God gives us understanding and wisdom as we read, hear, and obey His word (v. 34). God desires believers who are more than just shopkeepers’ bright window dressings. He desires an obedience that completely envelopes the believer.

3.   “Lead me” – Consider that the psalmist is asking for help to walk the correct path. When a person asks for a guide, he/she is giving up some of their own liberty/authority. This person will now go where the guide points to rather than following his own path. The psalmist wants to walk in the right way and more than that, he wants to want to walk in God’s ways. His delight is to walk in the way of God’s commands. He does not express it as a heartless duty (v. 35). What a blessed path that a believer can walk as he treads in the way that God desires of him!  Am I willing to give up control of my own life and truly rely on God’s direction to lead me?

4.   “Incline my heart” – The psalmist identifies that his heart can go two different directions. He is asking for God to keep his heart focused on the things of God. The psalmist understands that his human heart, if left to itself, does not desire the things of God, so he needs God’s help. The other direction is one of “selfish gain” or dishonest profit. This type of attitude is condemned in passages such as Isaiah 56:11, “The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all” (ESV). Also Jeremiah 6:13, “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely” (ESV). During this time in history, is your heart being drawn towards God?  Ask God for His help to refocus you.

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Sent out to all who attend Grace Bible Church by Pastor Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Pastor Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor.

Grace Bible Church Encouragement Email: What About Death?

Ever heard the statement, “Death is a part of life”? I hope the death of logic in that statement is apparent. Death is a part of death, not life.

I listened in on a few sermons yesterday on TV before we had our own family church together. Apparently, the resurrection of Jesus Christ happened to give you peace in the midst of life’s storms. Funny, I don’t ever remember any apostle putting it quite that way. They cared about people, I’m sure, and the common sufferings we all go through – including struggles with anxiety and peace.

But doesn’t it seem to you that resurrection deals with death more than life here and now? I think it does. And I also believe that we all struggle with anxiety because we are sinners, fallen mentally and emotionally, and shall be until the resurrection. And frankly, being a sinner means making myself and my problems in the center of this life, and putting my emphasis in life on the wrong things – like making anxiety my greatest problem. You too.

Anxiety is not, in case you’re wondering, your biggest problem. Getting along with a holy God is, in this life and the next. And resurrection provides the foundation for getting along in both. If God shall give you a promise of resurrection, then the worst thing that can happen to you is the best thing that can happen to you:  death.

And if you are shot through with sin having learned it at your mother’s knee, then the best thing that can happen to you is resurrection.

And if you struggle in this life, unhappy with yourself, your well-being, your job, your everything, then again, resurrection is the best thing that can happen to you.

The Declaration of Independence promises you “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” God doesn’t. He does it better by promising resurrection to all who trust in Christ for their sins before God.

Your biggest concern is a holy God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And every problem in life is only as big as He is small in your eyes. Can not a God who freely grants resurrection based on His Son’s work on the cross not also give you freely all things to enjoy with Him? Why would He promise the greater and renege on the lesser?

Look death squarely in the nose, right now. It isn’t your greatest enemy, because the One who holds death is more powerful than it:  “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18, NKJV).

“He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-18).

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Sent out to all who attend Grace Bible Church by Pastor Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Pastor Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor.

Encouragement Email – Resurrection Sunday!

What a happy morning! A few women scurried to the garden where your Lord was laid in a tomb three days ago after being crucified. They were in such a hurry they forgot to make plans on how to roll away the massive stone covering the entrance into it (Mark 16:2-3).

What a happy surprise awaited them as a young man dressed in brilliant white, telling them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6, NKJV). Only, he wasn’t a man. He was an angel (Matthew 28:5)!

Well, that’s revealing.

Yesterday your Lord had preached His victory to the demonic spirits already in prison (1 Peter 3:19). It may have continued in assembly of the great ranks of demons, whose only perspective is slander and hatred of God’s holy Son, and our human race. They delight in human sin.

But what they can’t understand, because they are blinded by hate, is the glory of the sacrifice of Jesus. He came to earth from heaven and disrobed Himself of all dignity, becoming a man. Then He disrobed Himself of the dignity of a man, and took the cross. All of this was Jesus making Himself a sacrifice. His holy soul, for your sinful soul. He did this in order to redeem a vast multitude and one day present them all as a love gift to the Father.

The demons can’t enjoy the resurrection, so why follow them in their promotion of sin? They hate everyone, Jesus, the cross, and the resurrection. They only want to think of themselves, but the resurrection not only redeems us from our sins and death, but also seals their fate in the worst pain and shame and misery, without hope for relief, for all eternity.

The holy angel at Jesus’ empty tomb bridged the two worlds of heaven and earth. One day both shall be one in perpetuity, as holy angels and redeemed men and women made holy unite in worship and service to Jesus, His Father, and their Spirit.

Hope is the rib cage of Christianity that protects the heart of faith. Like faith, it is not a wished-for outcome of good circumstances. Hope is the certainty that God unwinds evil and makes all things new and good. Hope is the cheerful confidence that if there’s no food in the cabinet, God will provide one way or another. It needs to be especially strong as the days wind down, hopeful that He is good to His promises. Even in death.

Jesus Christ defeated death, my beloved Christian friends. Unless he returns soon, most of us shall taste it, I’m sorry to say. But the glories on the other side of death are so great, that the experience will be like nothing compared to the glories to follow.

Had I preached today, I think I would have made much of the Corona virus, because it puts people in touch with the pain of death. We despise it so much we’ll stay inside and avoid social functions, work, and handshakes. But I’m pretty sure I would have stayed away from saying, “There’s a worse virus, and it’s called sin!” I’m sorry, I find that a bit confusing. A lot of people survive the virus, but no one survives sin.

How about this instead? The wages of the Corona Virus might be death for you. And if it’s not this virus, it might be another virus or something else. A car crash, an unforeseen circumstance.

Now if death for you means entrance into Life, then it’s a servant of the God who makes promises about such Life after death. Death then has lost its sting, because Christ took away its power to kill. Christian hope is certain of this.

On the other hand, if death for you is an entrance into the demonic realm, the abode of the dead where you suffer in agony with demons forever and without any hope of relief, won’t you repent of living in your sins and preferring them to the love of Christ for you?

He wants to rescue you, so please, call upon Jesus to save you.

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Sent on April 12, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.

Encouragement Email – Saturday, Passion Week

Silence on earth, but not in heaven!

As the earth slumbered on, unperturbed that its Creator had been slain by wicked men, the angels rejoiced! Yesterday their Lord returned with a brand plucked from the fire, the thief on the cross! It wasn’t for poetry sake He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, NKJV). But He had left again.

In Jerusalem, Saturday morning’s sun arose just like every Saturday’s sun had for eons. True, the markets were quiet because of the Mosaic Law, and had been Sabbath-quiet since Israel had taken possession in the days of Joshua, in the division of the Promised Land. Somewhere out on the slopes the women cried and the men hung their heads low, as the elect of elect Israel dropped their heads in that familiar shame that clings to God’s people in this world.

The Prince of Life lived no more, they all knew. The word had spread by the women who had seen where He was laid. His disciples were nowhere to be seen, and strangely, none sought them out for counsel, or to get a word in with their Teacher.

Then came evening and the familial social distancing of the Sabbath lifted. The women who anointed the dead Messiah’s body went back to the markets and bought even more spices to honor it again (Mark 16:1). They would make the lonely trip early the next morning, perhaps not knowing the tomb was sealed and guarded by crack Roman troops.

And earth lumbered on. The Roman military planned their conquests, asking the gods of war for success. Citizens and peasants alike plowed fields, farmed animals, cooked meals, and made sacrifices of animals and their baser appetites at the temple. While students studied and newborns cooed, and while the drunkards drank and the sluggish slept all afternoon, the philosopher and priest earned ridicule for claiming sin to be good and the gods to be fickle. Blindness continued another day. The earth continued on its axis, seemingly none the worse for wear. Across the oceans undiscovered tribes hunted buffalo and fought for territory, raised their families and prayed to the sun. The demons and their hapless subjects, the sons of Adam, didn’t even question, “Why?”

But something else had happened, apart from hapless eyes. The glorious Son of Man proclaimed a great victory to them on Saturday, first in their eternal prisons, for He had been “put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison…” (1 Peter 3:18-19, NKJV). Then I picture the glorious Son of God, now triumphant Son of Man, ascending the mountain of the Lord where the ranks of Satanic intelligentsia and powers howled their protests against the LORD when He prophesied: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You” (Hebrews 2:12, NKJV).

Could it be a complete domination of Lucifer and His hundreds of millions army, all arrayed against the sons of men to secure their misery and deaths right before the face of God? Could it be? “Oh yes,” they told each other, from the depths to the heights.

“Defeated by a mere man?” they asked each other. “Oh yes,” they confessed.

“Well,” hissed their Leader, “Not so fast. He’s still with us and not with them, isn’t He?”

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Sent on April 11, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.