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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
April 9, 2024
"Not
A Cosmic
Coincidence"
Message
summary:
We have a
decision to
make: Is life
a cosmic
coincidence or
a result of
God's creative
design!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"The
god of this
age has
blinded the
minds of
unbelievers,
so that they
cannot see the
light of the
gospel of the
glory of
Christ, who is
the image of
God" (2
Corinthians
4:4).
Yesterday
afternoon we
both were out
on our front
porch during
the solar
eclipse. l
took a very
brief glance
upward at the
peak time to
see a sliver
of the sun
during the
eclipse
through the
clouds.
I
actually
expected it to
get darker
than it did.
Bluntly it was
rather
underwhelming,
appearing more
like a quarter
moon.Mike
Book, a friend
shared a photo
(right) he
took so this
gives you an
idea of our
view but
that's the
moon blocking
the sun and
not the earth
shadowing the
moon.
But
I also watched
the solar
eclipse
coverage live
online and saw
the images in
areas that
were in the
"path of
totality".
It was an
amazing
spectacle and
although I was
happy to watch
it on TV I can
also imagine
how amazing it
must have been
for those
watching where
it got totally
dark for a few
minutes.
In
some cases
there was
applause which
reminded me of
another
spectacle of
God's creation
we witnessed,
a sunset many
years ago from
Menemsha
Harbor on
Martha's
Vineyard. Each
evening a
group gathers
at the beach
to watch the
stunning
sunset and
then stands,
claps, and
shouts
"Encore"
"Encore"!
However there
was no more an
encore to the
sunset than
there was to
the eclipse!
It
was also
interesting
listening to
the various
scientists
being
interviewed
throughout the
afternoon but
one comment
especially
struck me. He
pointed out
that the sun
is around 400
times larger
than the moon
and also
around 400
times farther
away from
earth than the
moon. Because
of this the
moon and the
sun may appear
to be almost
the same size
when observed
from earth,
such as during
a total solar
eclipse.
He
called this a
"cosmic
coincidence".
(A coincidence
is defined as
"a remarkable
concurrence of
events or
circumstances
without
apparent
causal
connection")
Well
it occurred to
me that is an
apt
description of
the belief
anyone must
have who
denies the
Creation.
John
Polkinghorne,
(deceased) an
esteemed
scientist who
became a
believer
wrote, "God is
the ultimate
explanation
for the
existence of
the universe".
He
expressed the
reasonableness
of faith in
God in a
lecture
titled, “The
first three
minutes of the
universe”. In
his lecture he
makes this
remarkable
observation
based on
science:
“Do
you know that
the balance
needed in the
early seconds
of the
universe
between its
expansion and
contraction
rate had to be
so specific,
so on target,
with a margin
of error so
small it would
be the
equivalent of
taking aim at
a target at
the other end
of the
universe 20
billion light
years away
aiming at a 1
square inch
target and
hitting it
straight on.”
Now I don’t profess to know what this means and concur with Brooksyne who said, “Now how in the world do they know that?” But it sure seems to me if I was a scientist that would a convincing reason for having faith in God and not a cosmic coincidence!!
Today’s
Scripture text
speaks of a
spiritual
blindness
which blinds
the minds of
unbelievers.
It's
specifically
in regard to
the "light
of the gospel
of the glory
of Christ"
but I believe
this concept
of spiritual
blindness can
affect our
view of
origins as
well.
"The
god of this
age has
blinded the
minds of
unbelievers".
The god of
this age is
Satan. Such a
statement
brings a
scoffing sneer
from the
unbeliever.
But this false
god is very
actively at
work as
demonstrated
in the evil we
see all around
us, including
false,
idolatrous
religious
systems that “deny
Jesus Christ
our only
Sovereign and
Lord”
(Jude 1:4).
This
text says he
has "has
blinded the minds
of
unbelievers".
We normally
associate
blindness with
the eyes and a
physical
impairment but
in this case
the mind
is blinded by
spiritual
darkness.
There are basically two outlooks in life. My personal mission statement that I include in the footers with each daily encouragement does not encompass all that’s true; it simply asserts my foundational outlook and basic mission:
There are basically two outlooks in life. My personal mission statement that I include in the footers with each daily encouragement does not encompass all that’s true; it simply asserts my foundational outlook and basic mission:
“I am created
by God to
bring Him
glory. Through
God’s Son,
Jesus Christ,
I have been
redeemed and I
make it my
life’s goal to
please the
Lord. My
mission in
life is to
honor God
through my
faith and
obedience and
to prepare
myself and all
whom I may
influence for
eternity.”
The other outlook denies this and so many feel they have been "enlightened" to reject what they see as a very simple and primitive religious expression. To them we are simply a product of evolution, cosmic coincidence and "god" is merely a figment of imagination to those they might see as weak, simple, uneducated and unenlightened.
However, in reality they have not been enlightened, but rather blinded. Indeed, "they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God".
Following his salvation conversion Paul received his call to ministry directly from the Lord: “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17,18).
We all have a decision to make: Is life a cosmic coincidence or a result of God's creative design?
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Jesus, though
You do not
walk visibly
among us You
do reveal
Yourself
through
Scripture, and
also through
the minds, the
hearts, and
the actions of
Your
followers. May
Your light
shine forth
from us so
that the
unbeliever can
sift through
the confusing
ungodly
messages of
this world and
the
counterfeits
of this age.
May they see
“the light of
the gospel of
the glory of
Christ, who is
the image of
God". We
especially
lift up to You
our loved ones
who have
chosen the
wrong path,
view the wrong
messengers and
listened to
the wrong
voices. We
pray that You
would open
their eyes to
the true
messengers
that uphold
biblical
teaching and
eternal truths
in the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"He's
Everything To
Me"
Watch
on YouTube
Carroll
Roberson
In
the stars His
handiwork I
see,
On the wind He speaks with majesty,
‘Though He ruleth over land and sea,
What is that to me?
On the wind He speaks with majesty,
‘Though He ruleth over land and sea,
What is that to me?
Till
by faith I met
Him face to
face,
and I felt the wonder of His grace,
Then I knew that He was more than just
A God who didn’t care,
That lived a way out there and
Now He walks beside me day by day,
Ever watching o’er me lest I stray,
Helping me to find that narrow way,
He’s Everything to me.
and I felt the wonder of His grace,
Then I knew that He was more than just
A God who didn’t care,
That lived a way out there and
Now He walks beside me day by day,
Ever watching o’er me lest I stray,
Helping me to find that narrow way,
He’s Everything to me.
Information
about John
Polkinghorne
and more
quotes
Here's an
example, "The
fact that the
universe is
intelligible
to us is
evidence of a
mind behind
it". John
Polkinghorne
A
spring runoff
waterfall
along the
Enola Low
Grade rail
trail.
This
morning we
plan to ride a
rail trail
together on
the Schuylkill
River Trail
above Hamburg,
PA. Temps
should be in
the 70's which
Brooksyne says
is heaven's
temperature.
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Weber -
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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Encouragement
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Stephen
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Weber
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Church Road
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Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
offerings YTD:
$7,065.00
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA