J. Randal Matheny

Years ago, I overheard two of my students engaging in a spirited game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors."  One of the students, deciding that these traditional implements were outdated, blitzkrieged his opponent with, "Rock, paper, scissors, BOMB!"  There was some discussion over whether or not this innovation was legal, and it seemed that the second student was mulling over his options.  When play resumed, this little lad, with a gleam in his eye, delivered the decisive blow: "Rock, paper, scissors...GOD!"

A man’s faith in himself wavers because he knows his foibles and limitations, his fears and doubts. A man’s faith in God may also waver, but not because of any deficiency in the Creator. The more one studies God, the more one’s faith grows.

Click the link above for two passages that illustrate the point, one of them a word of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At one time, people like Rockefeller, Edison, Ford and the Wright brothers were regarded as heroes, for having opened vast new possibilities for other human beings.

These are not the heroes of today, but the villains. Reminds one that fame is fleeting, social winds change often, and the great ones today will be tomorrow's despised.

Better to be great in the eyes of Him whose opinions do not change.

There are a lot of reasons why I became a Christian but the main one which drove me above all the rest is that I recognize that we are living in a material world that could only have gotten here as a result of the will, actions and purpose of a creator.  In short, I recognize and acknowledge that there is a creator God who is powerful enough and intelligent enough to bring about what we can see in the observable universe.  It's a big and complex universe we live in so the creator has to be bigger and more powerful than our universe and He has to possess the intelligence to accomplish it.  With this acknowledgement of a creator naturally comes the realization that there was intent and purpose connected to this creation.  In short, what does our creator expect out of His creation?  The writer of Revelation penned this in chapter 4:11, "...thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Isaiah wrote in 43:7, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."  Yes God has expectations of His creation and according to Isaiah's inspired words, mankind figures prominently in God's purpose. 

Ralph P. Martin wrote that Paul's theology can be summarized in the concept of reconciliation. Getting back to God. David remind us that God created us for a purpose, to live with him, and he has overcome the sin which claimed us and brought us back to himself.