Theme for this week: World Views (Giants in the Land)
January 24, 2022 (Monday)
We shift our focus this week from “the little foxes” (damaging sins which are generally seen as subtle in their impact on our daily lives) to “giants in the land,” which are basic world views that determine our beliefs and actions.
Both little foxes and giants are terms found in the Bible. The giants of the Bible were real people. I am using them as symbols of what some people believe. The first giant we shall encounter is “Deism,” (pronounced “dee-izzum”) which declares that God created the world and turned it over to us humans to decide what to do with it.
The Deist believes that creation itself is evidence of a creator, but the Deist also believes evidence is lacking to prove that there is a God who is involved with His creation.
I believe there are many people today who don’t know the meaning of the word, “Deism,” yet nonetheless practice the belief. They accept the fact that God exists, but never see His hand at work in the affairs of humankind. In other words, God is irrelevant to their daily life.
It seems to me that Deism is closely related to Atheism, because there is no difference in the practical outcome of either belief. As a matter of fact, I heard a radio interview with well-known (now deceased) atheist leader, Madeline Murray O’Hare, who said, “We do not say, ‘there is no god;’ what we are saying is that the concept of a god has nothing to do with us.” That’s “Deism” and it seems to me that its ugly face is “Atheism.”
There are people who have convinced themselves that they believe in God, but they never pray, never seek His guidance, never go to Him with their problems, never praise Him, never thank Him, never acknowledge His existence as One who cares about people.
It is our privilege as children of God to help people like this to see that their logic is faulty. Either there is a God or there isn’t. If there is a god who created the universe and then walked away from it, there is no virtual difference to us earthlings between that god and no god at all. The Deist’s god is only an intellectual concept and bears no resemblance to God as we know him. Our God knows us, cares about us, and continues to be involved in His creation.
By His grace God offers to save us from our sins through belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior. The result of that belief is a new life in Christ. We are regenerated, resurrected from spiritual death, justified completely by Christ’s payment for our sins with His own life, set apart by God for His own purposes, given a home in Heaven after death, and an abundantly joyful and meaningful life day by day. God is with us and He cares about us.
I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
Words: Annie S. Hawks
Music: Robert Lowry
1872
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
Refrain