Do You See What I See?

Several years ago when I was "hotly" involved in the debate over creationism and evolution it became apparent to me that those who believed in a "creator" and allowed that to "taint" their perspective were accused of possessing a starting assumption that "real" scientist didn't.

I've since come to realize that we all carry starting assumptions to the table. The question then becomes, "Do our starting assumptions make sense with the world we find ourselves in? Do they make sense with the way things are and the way things have been (ie. Our history)?

Kepler discovered the "Laws of Planetary Motion" before Newton discovered the "Laws of Gravitational Pull & Motion". Although Kepler did not comprehend why the planets moved around the sun in the way and at the altering speeds they did, he still acknowledged that this is how things "were". Even with the discovery of gravitational pull more questions have been created than answered. There are many things in our world that we accept because it's the way things simply "are".

Did you know that earth's gravity pulls an object at 9.8 meters/ second when it drops. For every second of fall time the object increases speed by 9.8 m/s. This is why we don't panic when someone threatens to end their life by jumping off a chair but we do panic when they threaten to jump off a building. Although we don't fully understand the Law of Gravity, nor do scientist, we do believe that its effect will always be the same. So we yell at the kid on the chair "get your feet off that chair!" but we plead with the one standing on the precipise of certain death "Please come down, if you take this road it will produce death, NOW CHOOSE LIFE!"

As we launch into our new series, "Now Choose Life...", we begin to see that this is the mantra of Numbers and Deuteronomy. God is calling out to this new nation of people, He is telling them how the Laws of His Interaction with them work, and He is challenging them to "CHOOSE LIFE". (Deut. 30:19)

As we enter the text in Numbers 13 & 14 we are struck with the fact that the Israelites are now on the boarders of the land God/Yahweh is giving to them. The journey home is over, the have arrived, the proverbal question "Are we there yet?" is answered with a resounding yes!

The Israelites aren't sure they trust this God quite yet though (take a look at their questions they want the spies to answer in Num 13:1-4) and so they request that spies be sent in first to give them a report. (Deut 1:22, Num 13:1-2) God grants their request through Moses and the spies head in.

The land is truly good. The spies use a phase that denotes a healthy ecosystem, they call it "a land flowing with milk and honey" both of which are a by product of healthy cattle and live stock and healthy plants and flora for bees to make honey from. But ten of the spies aren't convinced that the Israelites are strong enough to conquer the inhabitants of the land. Although the evidence is overwhelming thus far in their journey out of Egypt, you know... the most powerful nation in the world that God crushed without the Israelites having to lift a finger, they aren't convinced He could pull that sort of thing off twice.

BUT... two of the spies see the world through an entirely different lens. Oshea, who name is changed to Joshua (Yahweh is Salvation), and Caleb are completly confident that although they cannot "see" God, the evidence is overwhelming that He exist and interacts with His people.

Needless to say, the ten spies win the frightened crowd over and we have a series on Numbers and Deuteronomy about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty years (one for each day they were spying out the land, Num 14:34)

The question we're left with (If you've made it this far in our longest blog ever) is a question about perspective and starting assumptions. If everyone chooses to embrace a starting assumption and that assumption shapes their perspective, then we must ask ourselves, "What is it that I believe about God?"

Is He good, does He exist, how has He operated in the past, are His "ways" THE "ways" in which our world functions properly, are His ways Life?

So... may you discover the Good God of the universe as we journey through the Scriptures, may you realize that He IS calling out to you "NOW CHOOSE LIFE", may you begin to see the world around you through His lens, and may you begin to align your assumptions with His perspective. It WILL change everything!

Peace To You,
Pastor Jonathan Walker

Pick Your Poison - June 7th, 2009

I can't imagine walking out of Egypt from slavery into freedom having escaped the bondage and constant threat of an insane king only to die in the desert because I complained about the food. Seems harsh.

As harsh as it seems God knew that the negative outlook of the Israelites was going to prove very costly. Ultimately it killed the entire generation as they chose to complain their way right out of their inheritance. The reality is the complaint was more than just about food. Numbers 11 makes it clear that the people had rejected God's plan, they had rejected Him. If I believe that God is sovereign; all complaining is ultimately against Him.

I am generally a positive outlook person and yet I still find reason to wine; probably just because I like to pitied every now and then. Well I want you to know I am done. Not that it won't ever happen again, but I am determined to obliterate complaining in my life. I am determined not to allow ingratitude to rob me of the greatness of what God has for me, my family, my friends, my community. I looked just to check and see if Jesus ever complained as He made is way to die on my behalf. Well, I couldn't find an example. I figure that settles it.

My goal is to lay my life down for the sake of others, and to do so with a constant attitude of contentment and thankfulness. Sound lofty? I think it is... so you are gonna have to hold me accountable. Deal? Deal.

Thankful for Him and each of you,

Aaron