The supernatural in the Bible

The Bible is a mix of the supernatural and the natural.  For example,

• God, in a supernatural way, created Adam when He breathed life into a clay form.  Then He supernaturally made Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs.  The natural was created by the Supernatural.  
• The Supernatural Holy Spirit came over natural Mary as a virgin.  She conceived and gave birth to Jesus.  Jesus, the Son of God, Son of Man, was a combination of the Supernatural and natural when he was on earth.  
• God called Abram to go to the land of Canaan.  God promised to give him many descendants who will become a great nation.  Only by the Supernatural God’s promise did Abraham and Sarah have a son at a very old age.  

The natural death of Jesus that lead to the Supernatural Resurrected Body of Christ was perfectly ‘normal’ for God.  In addition this wonderful Jesus sits at the right hand of God in His Resurrected incorruptible body.  For the last two thousand years He has not aged.  He still looks like the Jesus the disciples and His followers knew.  At the Marriage Banquet one day we will see our glorious Savior and He will remain the same eternally thereafter.

Climate Change – is it real?

Is climate change real?  It is real because God ordained it.  Right after the events of Genesis 3 God cursed the world.  The changes in the weather patterns are in the Bible, 

‘In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.  They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  Like clothing You will change them and they will be discarded.’  Psalm 102:25-26 

We see that nature is wearing out and humans play a role in it.  They cut down forests, plough up grasslands to plant crops and overgraze.  Those activities influence nature.  It is a harbinger (a forerunner) of the coming new heavens and earth.  

What is not real is the hysteria around climate change.  I learnt a principle many years ago.  We moved to an old house with some old fruit trees.  I immediately took them out and planted new trees.  My father-in-law asked me why I took the old trees out while they still bore fruit, before the new ones began to bear?  

Conclusion

My fruit tree lesson is also a good principle to handle climate change – first get the alternate sources of energy going and then cut out the polluters.

Why God made man in His image

The Triune God began a close involvement with man when He created him in His image, 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness….'”  Genesis 1:26

It is emphasised, 

‘So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him…’  Genesis 1:27

The message God gives with the creation of man is: 

• Man is important to Me. 
• There is a reason I created man in My image. 

Trouble came when Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  They were expelled from the presence of God because of their disobedience.   

Because God created man in His own image, He did not leave him at the mercy of the devil.  The Triune God would take responsibility for man.  At all costs.  God pointed to that when He,

‘The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.’  Genesis 3:21

God ‘clothed’ them.  That basically means they were ‘clothed’ with His forgiveness.  Before they sinned they were naked and did not need clothes.  

With this act God demonstrated how essential forgiveness is.  The guilt is exchanged with the innocent animal who died in their place.  It pointed to Jesus’ death on the Cross. 

But, God has an enemy, Satan.  Would he influence man to resist God’s way of forgiveness?  To be continued.