Psalm 14:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (KJV)

This is the state of man after the fall, Romans 5:12 “For in Adam sin entered into the world, and so death by sin and so death passed to all men, for all have sinned.”  And yet God in his mercy extended his grace to all through his Son (read John 3:16).  John simplifies this message in using only one syllable words in I John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”.  Paul describes the simply preaching of this grace of God to those who reject this message as foolishness. I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”.  While we by faith believe in Jesus as the gift of our salvation the wisdom of this world rejects God plan of salvation and instead creates their own plan, each according to their desire. 

As I study verse one of this psalm, I realize that the fool in all of his wisdom is not only corrupt, and rejects God, but they also deny God’s existence to all those around him, but deep down they know that God exist.  In Romans chapter one we see that because of this rejection, God has given them up to uncleanness and a reprobate mind through the lust they have within themselves.  And since the wisdom of this world rejects God plan of salvation, while deep down the wicked know the judgement of God they not only continue their sinful ways but also have pleasure in them.   Therefore, there is only one way for anyone to escape this fate and that is by excepting Jesus as your Savior.  As Paul states in Romans 8:1 “There is therefor now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but by the Spirit.”.

II Peter 3:14-16 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation: even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.  As also in all of his epistles, speaking in them of things in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction.

I came across this reference of the above verse in the book I am now studying, Bible History Old Testament written by Alfred Edersheim.  He makes the following statement the Bible “That in a work composed of so many books, written under such very different circumstances, by penmen so different, and at periods so widely apart, there should be “some things hard to understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,” can surely not surprise us, more particularly when we remember that it was God’s purpose only to send the brighter light as men were able to bear it.”  He goes on in his introduction and states “Yet the ultimate object of our reading is not knowledge, but experience of grace… And so indeed every event points to Christ.”  That is why when studying the Bible, we need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths that are found in the words we read.

The key to understanding scripture is Christ.  The Bible is the special revelation God has given mankind to point them to Christ.  In Christ we find the way, the truth, and the life by which we can know God.  To believe in God we must first believe in Christ.  To try to understand the Bible without using Christ as the key will only cause those that are unlearned and unstable to wrest unto their own destruction.  But for those who know Christ not only have the key to understand the scriptures, but can be find the peace that passes all understanding as they strive to live a life that is without spot, and blameless. 

Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

One of the pleasures I have in my golden years is my daily walk.  During these walks in the early spring, I witness the beauty of nature awakening from the cold darkness of the winter to the warmth and sunshine that this time of the year brings.  However, it is in the yards and gardens that the beauty of this time of the year seems to explode into color. 

These yards and gardens are like the congregation of the righteous.  God has planted them in the right location for sunlight and moisture.  They bring forth their fruit in their season and even in times of drought their leaves do not wither.  They prosper in all their endeavors.  This congregation of the righteous are those that walk daily with the Lord.  They understand the simple nature of living day by day in the light of His guiding Word.  Their daily prayer is simple, because they realize that their heavenly Father knows what things they need before they ask Him. 

Walking this journey of life is simple.  We realized that His will be done both in heaven and on earth.  We are to live daily, forgetting the things of the past and pressing forth to the high calling of Christ.  We must also look to forgive others as we also seek forgiveness from God for our daily transgressions.  We must not follow after the ways of the ungodly but stay away from anything that is ungodly.  This is the secret of the Lord’s Prayer as well as verse two of this Psalm.  Make your delight the law of the Lord.  Meditate day and night on His word and you enjoy being the tree that is planted by the river of waters that brings forth your fruit in the season that God has planned for you.

Choosing the right path

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.  (KJV) 

Genesis 4:6,7 And the Lord said unto Cain, “Why are you angry?  And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.  And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”  (NKJV)

Matthew 7:13,14   Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life and there are few who find it. (NKJV)

David gives us two different ways in this Psalm.  We can either walk in the ways of the world or we can delight in the law of the Lord.  In Genesis chapter four God gave Cain the same choose and in Matthew chapter seven Christ explains the two difference ways.  These ways are simple.  One is the way of the Godly, which is the narrow way, and the way that is acceptable to God’ s standards (his law).  The other way is the path that rejects God and his way. 

The starting point however starts with John 3:16 “For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  In Revelation chapter four we are told that Christ stands at the door and knocks and whosoever hears his voice and opens this door he will come in dine with you.  God has provided a way for man to know and learn about Him.  The door to this knowledge is his law which is his Word (the Bible), and the key is Christ.  I have been on this journey for over sixty years, and yes my life could also be read like the poem “Footprint in the Sand”; and looking back I can see God’s hand in directing my path. 

The starting point is knowing Jesus as your Savior.  However, it is still a narrow path.  It is not an easy path.  For the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are always in our ways.  Satan as well as his wicked followers gives us half-truths that sound to good to pass up which can lead us off this narrow path.  However, the Bible has given us many examples (Luke 15:11-31 The parable of the Lost son) to show us the way back to God.  So, as you start your journey in life remember there are only really one of two paths to choose: the Godly or the Ungodly.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

How must I live?  Paul gives us the secret of living life as we go about our journey on this earth.  For me to live is Christ.  Just imagine how rich life would be by having Christ walking beside you every day.   In time of uncertainties, you could just look over to Christ for the answers.  David gives this type of walk in Psalms one hundred and nineteen.  Each of these one hundred and seventy-six verses gives the believer the secrets of walking with the Lord and having Him create in us a clean heart.  As Paul states in Philippians the purpose for the believer is to live a life that magnifies Christ in our life.

The second part of Philippians 1:21 “and to die is gain” gives the believer the joy of knowing that life after death is greater that the life we have on earth.  This is the fulfillment of I Corinthians 13:12,13 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:  now I know in part:  but then shall I know even as also I am known.  And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  For in death faith will become sight when we shall see our Savior face to face, and hope is fulfilled when we are in heaven and this corruptible will put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality.  But our love will only grow as we praise our Lord for the victory he has given us over death to live eternality with Him in heaven.

Therefore, the goal of every believer should follow Paul’s advice found in Philippians “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 

Galatians 1:16-18 To reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the heathen: immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but I went into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and abode with him fifteen days.

Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread

During my daily walks I will sometime use these moments as a time to let the Lord speak to me.   To start this conversation, I will usually focus on a verse or a song to mediate on during his time. It is during these walks I would usually focus on the psalm I was studying for the next day devotional.  However, during the last few weeks I was looking at Paul’s life as a new focus for my studies.  It was during this time I came across Galatians 1:16-18.  In these verses I realized that God did not reveal Jesus to him during this time, but God reveal Jesus in him.  The importance of this truth revealed to me that it is not just knowing about Jesus, but it is letting Jesus into our life to become a part of us. 

It was during these three years that Paul learned from the scriptures, the Old Testament, that it was Jesus who was the promised seed of the Eve, the seed of David, the promised Messiah.  It was his day-by-day mediation on God’s word that reveal this truth to him.  So now as I study daily the scriptures may my new goal be for God to reveal his son in me so that my daily life will reflect Christ in me.

Psalm 9:1,2

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Praising the Lord should be a daily activity for all believers.  The closer our daily walk is with Jesus the greater we will see how the Lord works in our life.  One of the characteristics of the Lord that was given to the angel of the church of Philadelphia in Revelations chapter three was that the Lord held the key of David.  With this key whatever door, the Lord open no man could shut, and whatever door the Lord closed not man could open.  To this church the Lord opened a door that no man could shut, because of its goods works, the keeping of his word, and not denying his name.  This church represents a church or individual that truly praises the Lord with their whole heart.

If praising the Lord is just a place that you go to on Sunday it becomes just an empty weekly ritual. Like the other church pictured in Revelation, the church of Laodicea is this type of worshiper which is characterize as neither hot nor cold.  Because of this lukewarmness God toss them away.  This was the church were Christ is picture as standing outside and knocking at the door of an individual’s heart waiting to be invited in.  This church was pictured as a church that did not have works pleasing God, but a church that was more incline to please the world around it.  This church was characterized as a church that was wretched, miserable, poor, naked, and blind.  It was a church where those that God loved he rebuke and chasten. It was a church that was in need of repentance. 

So, as we walk with the Lord on a daily basis do we see the Lord opening or closing the doors of opportunity before us.  In his book Amazing Grace by Kenneth W. Osbeck the author writes the following about the song Trust and Obey “Trust and Obey presents a balanced view of a believer’s trust in Chris’s redemptive work, and it speaks of the resulting desire to obey Him and to do His will in our daily life.  Then, and only then do we experience real peace and joy.”. So, are you praising the Lord daily or just during the Sunday morning worship service?  Are you living a life that experiences the open doors of opportunities like the church of Philadelphia or is the Lord knocking your heart’s door like the church of Laodicea waiting for you to open?

Psalm 8:3,4

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained.  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visits him? (KJV)

This is another psalm that we learn at an early age in our life.  This psalm speaks of a simple truth, the grandeur of God and the simplicity of man.  Then the ungodly try to consider the wonders of this universe the first step they must take is to put God in a box and limit his ability to speak the universe into creation.  However, as believers we must by faith understand that the universe was spoken into existence by God.  In Hebrews 11:3,6 “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.”  (NAS)

When I consider thy heavens the work of thy hands do I really truly believe that God is the creator of this universe?  As I study Hebrews chapter eleven the great chapter on faith I must consider the importance of verse three and verse six.  One of the importance of characteristics of our faith is truly believing in God as the creator of the universe.  In other words, God spoke, and the universe came into existent.  Reading the creation story in Genesis chapter the reader will realize that each day of creation started with the phase “then God said”.  God spoke and then the universe came into existence.  So, an important step in the developmental growth of a believer’s faith is to believe in God as the creator of heaven and earth.  Without this belief in God as the creator it is impossible to please Him since we must believe that God is who he says He is.

Peter also links the promise coming of Jesus to the belief a person has about the creation.    In II Peter chapter three we are given the illustration of the conditions of the latter days.  The last days will be characterized by scoffers following after their own lust.  In their eyes they are right and have all the answers and take pride in all of the knowledge.  They mock those who look for the second coming of the Lord.  They look to the second coming of the Lord as a myth, just like the teaching of Noah’s flood found in Genesis chapters six and seven that destroy the ancient world as a myth.  To them the world continues to evolve just as it has since it was created.  To some of these scoffers the world could be millions or even a billion years old.   They believe in the teaching of uniformitarianism that believes the geological ages tell the story of the earth and discounts the belief that God spoke, and the heavens and the earth came into creation.

So as your answer the question in verse three “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” is your answer God or evolution?  Does the story of the creation of the heavens and the earth found in Genesis form the basic foundation for your belief in creation?  However, the second question address in verse four “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visit him?” opens up the question how mankind fits into God’s universe.  How can a very, very small part of God’s creation (mankind) fully understands how this universe came into existence.  The answer is (we can’t), so when it comes to my understanding of creation, I must make my decision faith and not by the beliefs of those that reject God.