SCIENCE & THE BIBLE by Bolton Davidheiser, Ph.D., Chairman of the Science Division, Biola College Swans
HOMILETICAL HELPS
The Editors of the King's Business in vite readers to contribute outlines for sermons, Bible readings, etc., for use in this monthly column.
1 | ' he wh ite swans o f parks and dL estates are some o f the most beau tiful and gracefu l birds. N ot on ly are they beau tiful and gracefu l but also they are models of m arital fidel ity. T h e y mate fo r life, and the par ents share the responsibilities of rais in g the young. But there is another side to a swan’s nature w h ich most people do not suspect, fo r w ithout provocation a swan can becom e sud den ly savage and cunn ing ly cruel. A small b oy was feed ing cake to some swans w h en suddenly one of them pu lled h im in to the stream and out toward the deep water w h ile the others pecked at him . H e was n early downed before he was rescued. A n other you n g b oy was p la y in g in shal low water w h ile his attendant sat on the bank near by. T h ree swans ap peared around a bend in the river and surrounded the boy. One o f them pu lled h im into deep water w h ile the other tw o kept the adu lt attendant away. Before h elp cou ld be sum m oned, the ch ild was drowned. It is not always small ch ildren that are attacked b y swans. A ten year old g irl was pu lled in to the water and drowned by a single swan. Another swan attacked an adult rid in g a b icy cle, breaking his nose and b lin d in g h im perm anen tly in one eye. Swans illustrate fo r us something o f the nature o f Satan, fo r w h en it suits his purpose he can appear as an angel of light, though his intention is to destroy man. Just what the swan’s “ m otive” is w e can on ly surmise but w e do kn ow that Satan aspired to be like God and fa ilin g becam e the en em y o f God. Since G od’s plan fo r m an is salvation from the penalty o f sin through the sacrificial death of Christ on the Cross, the purpose o f Satan is to prevent m an from obtain ing this
free gift o f salvation. Paul tells us that Satan is trans form ed into an angel of lig h t so it is not surprising that his m inisters can be transformed in to m inisters o f righ t eousness. Th is makes his w ork more insidious. M a n y w h o w ou ld shun anyth ing that resembled evil are at tracted b y the platitudes of a false gospel. A t another place Paul says, and repeats fo r emphasis, that even though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than salvation through the death o f Christ, let him be accursed. In addition, John says that w e should n ot even perm it to come into our h om e anyone who preaches a false gospel, and if w e so m u ch as w ish h im w ell, w e are par takers in the evil that he is doing. N ot everyone who knocks at our door and wishes to speak to us about religion is serving the Lord. N ot all literature w h ich freely quotes Scrip ture is teaching the w a y o f salvation. Satan tried to quote Scripture when he tempted our Lord. Satan is a liar from the b eginn ing and is the father o f lies and a master o f deception. T h e lithe of a pretty appearance m a y entice the unw ary to destruction. T h e multitudinous assortment o f re ligion s to w h ich w e are subjected today is a source of con fu sion to those w h o cannot discern, and the w ord truth is one o f the most abused words in religiou s literature. But there is a sim ple test w h ich qu ick ly reveals whether a teach ing is o f God or is of the devil and that is the b lood test— unless it exalts the b lood o f Christ shed fo r the rem ission o f sins it is not o f God. Unless it does this, it is a false gospel and its sweet sentiments and pleasant promises are like the beauty and grace of the swan w h ich conceal a diabolical nature.
Jesus Only M atthew 17:8
At the close of the transfiguration scene, when the disciples “ had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” 1. Gone were the hasty suggestions of Peter. 2. Gone were the bright companions of Jesus. 3. Gone was the cloud that oversha dowed them. 4. Gone was the voice of God from the cloud. 5. Gone was even the shining glory of Jesus. 6. But the Lord Jesus remained. 7. He alone remained. 8. It would be well, therefore, to sug gest: Jesus only —
a. As an object in life. b. As a motive in life. c. As a Saviour in life.
NEW YEAR'S TIMEPIECE Your W—ords A— ctions T—houghts C —ompanions H—eart
Christ, Our City of Refuge Psalm 62:8
God provided cities of refuge for Israel (Ex. 21:13; Num. 35:6; Deut. 19:2-9; and Josh. 20). God has provided a city of refuge for us (Heb. 6:18). I. Christ—Our Refuge of Hope. Cities of refuge were the only hope. II. Christ—A Common Refuge. 1. Cities open to all sinners. 2. No distinctions between rich and poor. 3. But no self-righteous admitted. III. Christ—A Ready Refuge. 1. Cities easily accessible. 2. Always available. IV. Christ—A Safe Refuge. 1. Killers were secure inside walls of city of refuge. 2. We are secure in Christ. V. Christ — A Personal Refuge. 1. Cities for those who realized their sin. 2. For those who took advantage of safety. VI. Christ — A City of Growth. 1. Occupants changed their lives by living with the Levites. 2. We are changed if we keep in contact with Christ. VII. Christ—A Satisfying Refuge. 1. Needs of those inside city sup plied. 2. Christ supplies our temporal and spiritual needs.
"WHERE THERE’S A WILL — THERE’S A W AY ” Regardless of age or condition of health, every Christian should have a will which has been drawn up to legal specifications. BIOLA Field Representatives are quali fied to advise you in this most important matter. B I O L A F I E L D R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S R. BRUCE BAILEY ............................... Northern Los Angeles and Kern Counties MILES DUNNING .................................................................... Oregon and Washington J. B. FINDLEY .. Eastern Los Angeles, Riverside, & San Bernardino Counties C. A. LANDGREN, SR............................. King and Pierce Counties, Washington EUGENE POOLE ....................... Western Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and “San Luis Obispo Counties W. F. WATSON ................................. Orange, Imperial and San Diego Counties RAY C. WEISKOPF .............................................. East Los Angeles and Long Beach MAX A. WILLIAMS ......................................................................... Northern California For a friendh call by a BIOLA Field Representative, w r it e o r c a l l BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, Inc., 558 S. Hope St., Los Angeles 17
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