Introduction
Intimidation is something that happens often, though few want to admit it. Most people wish to level the playing field. They do not want to admit that there are others who outdo them at almost everything. Most people do not recognize genius. They are content with mediocrity, because this is the land that they occupy and they can compete here. Rather than trying to improve themselves, they seek the lowest common denominator. They have the mental capacity of bullies.
This is why socialism appeals to so many. They look for ways to bring down the successful to their level of incompetence. Rather than attempting to rise to the occasion and show that they can take on greater responsibility, they do not want to become competent. They do not want to put forth the effort, but they want the rewards of the successful. They are the ones that are constantly complaining about their situation but do nothing to remedy it.
They are simpletons at best. They believe in conspiracy theories and ultimately fate. This explains why astrology is actually believed and followed. Almost every major newspaper has a section devoted to astrological predictions, as if these speculations are reality. Anyone going to a supermarket cannot miss the tabloids and their supposed truth which is total nonsense. My own mother used to buy the National Enquirer. She denied it but a good friend affirmed the fact that he read it at my house. My fraternal grandmother used to hold this publication’s material as gospel.
So is it today. These publications still sell. No one stops for one moment to ask the question, "Why?" The answer is actually complex. People will affirm that they believe in God and then turn around and believe that fate is ultimate. They are holding two positions at the same time. This is in itself a complex undertaking. This is, of course, hypocrisy right out in the open but who really will call them on it? These people do not have true friends who will tell them what they think of their positions. After all, they do not want to offend anyone by speaking the truth openly. Back where I come from, we call those who enable mediocrity, incompetents or novices. Make no mistake about it inferiority is accepted as the norm.
Something that is true in the economic realm is that you pay for what you get. This is because Genesis 1:11-12 is true, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." In other words, likes beget likes. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of in John 10:35, "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken." God’s word simply cannot be broken. Paul expressed it this way in 2 Corinthians 13:8, "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." In other words, standing against the truth is the height of futility. It is an impossible undertaking. It is easier to stand for the truth than against it. Further, this means that, though truth is complex, those who do not assert it have to become complex to the point of ludicrousness.
Application
I heard that a preacher made the assertion that God was simple and we are to structure our lives in a simple manner. This is stand up comedy right out in the open. How can someone that is infinite be simple? This is an absurd assertion made by those who want to be able to explain the unexplainable. In other words, there are some things that are beyond our comprehension. God does work in predictable ways, but He is also works in mysterious ways.
Isaiah expressed this truth in his book in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Here the Lord makes a differentiation between himself and man. He does not mince His words. He makes a claim that He can easily substantiate. God knows that He is complex but His complexity is fully comprehended only by Himself.
It is futile for man to attempt to understand God in simplicity. Man who is finite, can never fully understand infinity. Man does not need to understand truth exhaustively, only truly. This is extremely important. To attempt to know everything is an impossible task and is demonic. Man must know that he is limited and derivative. For the natural man and Darwinian Christians this is too much to handle. They want only what God alone can possess.
The Psalmist David comprehended his position under God in Psalm 8:3-5, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." When looking at the complexity of God’s creation, David is humbled by it. He asks the question about man’s position in regard to this intricacy of God being aware of man. This proves man’s simplicity, in regard, to God’s complexity.
God informed Job about His unlimited facets from Job 38-41. Over and over again, God reminds Job about just who He is. God asked Job, if he was so wise, then answer the following questions, in detail, in Job 38:4-7, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job and his companions made the vain attempt to explain what had happened to him, as if they understood all complexities. They seemed to lose sight of God’s sovereignty. God does as He pleases. He does not answer to man, but man is accountable to Him.
Our relationship to God is dependent upon how well we perceive just who He is within our sphere of conception. We have the advantage that many did not. We get to see things in retrospect or hindsight. The Bible enables us to advance our knowledge far beyond what is possible without it. By faith, we can know what no man can find out through his own efforts. Most things are too complex for man to grasp with his limited faculties. I believe in the doctrine of ex nihlo. This is proved in Hebrews 11:3, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." We just accept, without further proof, that God created the visible world out of nothing. In other words, this is something beyond our comprehension. Therefore, it behooves us to accept this as truth, because it conforms to the laws of logic even though we cannot conceive of all its intricacies.
The Lord said in Job 40:1, "Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it." This is the height of impotence, man attempting to instruct God. Our position before God is not one of potence but just the opposite. We do not instruct Him. He instructs us. This is where the lie of the devil comes into play in Genesis 3:5, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Man desires to set the rules rather than obeying God’s established laws. Man hates all laws, other than his.
Paul understood the truth. He said in different places that we cannot know everything and that only God has exhaustive knowledge. One place he expresses this truth is in Romans 11:33-36, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Paul tells us in plain words that God is to complex for us to try and figure out. If this be the case, then logic would tell us that we should accept His word without reservation.
Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 2:16, "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Name the individual that can tell God the way that things will be. The fact of the matter is that just the opposite is true. Only God can bring about what He proposes. We should have gathered as much from the creation of the world. Genesis 1:9 reads, "And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so." God says and it is so. Man can not bring about the same results. He may say but he does not always deliver. God always accomplishes what He sets out to do. Man may propose but God disposes. This is because the world is governed by His law.
Those Christians who do not believe in God’s law being applicable today are what I call Darwinian Christians. They claim that the Old Testament is irrelevant. They desire to instruct the Lord as to what is acceptable and palatable to them. They desire to instruct the Lord rather than being instructed by Him. They do not comprehend that all of Scripture is intrinsically tied together. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." The Scripture that Paul was referring to here was the Old Testament. This tells me that those that profess to be Christians and do not adhere to God’s law are guided by situation ethics rather than moral absolutes. By definition, there is no other alternative.
Conclusion
Solomon was the master at conclusions. He wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." What commandments did he mean? Obviously, he was referring to God’s Old Testament law. Fearing God and obeying His Old Testament law proves that we have developed wisdom and complexity. We do not accept life as simple. We have learned to apply God’s law to every facet of our lives. We do not desire to live simply but complexly.
Job came to a point of summation in Job 42:1-6, "Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." What an amazing assessment on the part of Job. He says that the Lord can do everything. He should have come to that conclusion by the very creation of the world. It took the loss of everything, the rebuke of friends, and the admonition of the Lord to bring Job to this understanding. He desired rather to justify himself with self righteousness. To a degree he believed that his obedience unto God would deliver him rather than depending upon the grace of God.
Finally, Job came to an understanding that he could not fathom all of life’s mysteries. Some things he would have to accept by faith without further proof. The same is true of us. Many things in this life are beyond our comprehension. For us to seek to go beyond our capabilities is the height of folly. It is a waste of time, not a way of redeeming it. This is where the vast majority of people find themselves. However, it is best to accept that life is complex and some things are too far beyond our knowledge to understand. Living by faith entails that God knows all things and we should seek to imitate Him to the best of our ability according to the standard that He has established.
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