What is more offensive?

What is more offensive — Creation, the End, or the Christ?

I do not deliberately try to be offensive, but I do give testimony of the wonderful work of God in my life. That is an unpopular notion these days, especially when the God of the Bible is forbidden to be mentioned in most institutions. I did an experiment recently, where I referenced some very simple statements on a few social media sites dealing with evolutionary notions of history. They were met with immediate insult or laughter. It seems believing that everything came from nothing from a random, undirected process is much more acceptable. The Bible also speaks of an end that is coming, which is often met with the same enthusiasm. But Christ and the message of the Gospel is even more offensive than biblical views of a beginning or an end. Why does the notion of God creating, ending, or making a way to save the world from sin yield these reactions?

It is because our world is broken by our sin. A general definition of sin is this: we think we have a better of way of understanding everything around us. Thus, it is no surprise to me that the Creator’s handiwork comes as news when I speak about a biblical world view as real and pertinent. Likewise, the Gospel suggests that we have to turn from our way to embrace Him, which means we must abandon our notion that we can do whatever we want. Last, He says that in the end He will ultimately judge the world as to whether the Son is accepted, which means we are ultimately responsible for our actions. In short, it’s all offensive because we want our own way — apart from the God of the Bible.

So, the framework of the Bible involves a definite beginning and a definite end of the world as we know it. God cites the beginnings (Genesis) and the end of things (Matthew 24, Revelation, 2 Peter 3, for instance). The timing of future events at the end are not as certain as those in the beginning (creation), but the events are definite. Beginnings and endings in a biblical sense, are pillars of history that are recorded for our benefit to understand the message between them.

The middle, or the message between the beginning and the end, so to speak, is a recorded history that leads to the Gospel, or Good News of Jesus Christ. So, the Bible is a tight package, where God defines our beginning, His intentions, His creation, man’s response, the dramatic corruption in mankind that led to the Genesis Flood, the rest of Genesis with the history of Abraham (and his descendants), the history of the Jews, which includes detailed prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, who can save us from our sins, and finally His actual life, death, and resurrection. For the most part, the world and most educational institutions discount the biblical world view of the beginning and the end, but the message of the coming Messiah and the recorded life, death, and resurrection of Christ are even more harshly discounted.

Consider the reactions to Christ’s presence and message in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. During those days He performed miracle after miracle that authenticated His authority, but leadership was incensed that He had the audacity to suggest He was the Son of Man and identified Himself as being one with the Father (John 10). While the message and history are glorious to those who have trusted in Christ, it is offensive to others. In a real sense, reactions have not changed. And Christ Himself points to His coming again as well as the end of the world that we know, which will be replaced by a new world, where righteousness dwells and those who have called upon Him will live forever. It sounds incredible, except that every miracle Christ performed, and His resurrection authenticate what He says. All of this makes us responsible for what we hear and do, relative to His message.

Today, it seems much more comfortable to forget or ignore or discount all of this. It is much easier to believe in a man-derived story that has no conceivable beginning or end, and a purpose for life that is purely arbitrary, driven by whatever someone wants for themselves. But the biblical world view stands in stark contrast. The Bible remains the same in the face of widespread unbelief. Christ is both Creator and Savior. God still wants a people for Himself. And that message is still proclaimed for everyone.

But surely, one might say, the age of science leaves religious things behind us. Does it? Good experimental science has revealed complexity and variety that is more astounding than ever. Rather than leave the biblical view in the dust, science more readily affirms the attributes of the Creator, God of the Bible. Numerous poetic, prophetic, and historical biblical references about aspects of creation have been affirmed rather than denied.

How sure and possible is our path, if we choose to draw close to God, who states that He is both Creator and Savior? It is. That is why the books about Christ’s life (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) show example after example, scene after scene, among thousands of witnesses, that it is possible to walk as believers. The books that follow illustrate the effects of people walking in Christ.

In the end, Christ, who is God incarnate, was hated, opposed, and eventually killed — willingly giving his life for our sin. Yet, death could not keep him. So, the resurrection of Christ is like a written guarantee of a mission accomplished to give us open access to God. Believers, therefore, have a sure hope. Hebrews 1 repeats that Christ, the Creator, and now sits at the right hand of God, having paid for our sins, or our wayward ways that are apart from Him.

So, put today in context.  God waits for all whom He has called to come to Him. Then the end will come. In the meantime, creation is a signpost and the Gospel is shared.

When you look at the heavens, consider its intricacies as a personal demonstration of His hand. When you breath the air on this narrow strip of atmosphere on a water-filled planet, consider its precision to keep you alive. When you consider the detail of the DNA in your makeup and the wonder of cellular complexity, remember the One who made and designed it all. Read about Him in the Bible. Ask those who are believers about this God they claim to know.

Ultimately, you might, we hope, choose to put your trust in Him. You will be grateful, as he says, forever.