BIBLE ANSWERS TO LIFE'S
COMPLEX QUESTIONS
By Max Solbrekken, D.D.
"The
steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord." (Ps. 37:23)
God
has a plan for our lives. He knows all
about us, He cares for us and loves us with an eternal love! From
our first breath to the last, our Heavenly Father watches over us!
It is
His divine will and purpose that we give ourselves totally to Him through His
Son Jesus Christ, Who died for our sins in order to purchase our salvation!
God
has a plan for our lives, the same as He has for the earth and universe - which
He created and upholds by the Word of His power! (Heb. 1:3)
Albert Einstein - one of the world's most celebrated scientists stated,
"God
doesn't throw dice!"
Einstein
was aware - like many of his colleagues - that it is scientifically impossible for a precise, perfectly ordered
universe such as ours, to have happened through some fluke of chance!
That
is only a pipe-dream of foolish evolutionists!
Werner Von Braun, head of
NASA's man-on-the-moon project stated, "The farther we probe into space, the
more I believe in God".
The
brilliant space scientist often communicated his strong belief in Jesus Christ
as the Son of God and his own personal Saviour!
Here
is a portion of his personal testimony: "Manned space flight is an amazing
achievement, but it has opened for us thus far only a tiny door for viewing the
awesome reaches of space. Our outlook
through this peephole at the vast mysteries of the universe only confirms our
belief in the certainty of its creator.
"It is only natural for a
scientist, working with God's universe, to believe in Him. It is as difficult for me to understand a
scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality
behind the existence of the universe, as it is to comprehend a theologian who
would deny the advances of science."
Concerning
his own faith, the man behind the moon walk declared, "I find it best through faith to accept God as an intelligent
will, perfect in goodness, revealing Himself in the world of experience more
fully down through the ages as man's capacity for understanding grows".
Because
science has made strides, he felt that people put too much faith in it. "We should remember that science exists
only because there are people and its concepts exists only in the mind of
men."
e
believed that God built within man a curiosity and expects us to use this
gift. And since we have the tools
available to explore space and if it were not the Creator's intent for us to
explore celestial bodies, He would not have permitted us to acquire them!
Werner von Braun received great strength through reading the Bible, and
guidance through prayer.
His belief in life after death has a
scientific foundation. "Science
has found that nothing can disappear without a trace. Nature does not know extinction, all it knows
is transformation. Now, if God applies this fundamental principle to the most minute and
insignificant parts of His universe, doesn't it make sense to assume that He
applies it also to the masterpiece of His creation - the human soul? I think it does".
H.G. Wells was the chief spokesman and leading luminary of the
“atheist science and evolutionary, agnostic, anti-Biblical elite” for decades.
-
WHO AM I?
- WHERE DID I COME FROM?
-
WHY AM I HERE?
-
WHAT DOES MY FUTURE HOLD?
HOW WILL IT ALL END FOR ME?
These
are questions that thinking people have asked for millennia. Since time immemorial, Adam and Eve's
posterity have struggled with the problem of identity. And searched for their place in the sun!
Like
Job - the ancient Bible character -
many of our nearly six billion people wonder, "If a man dies, will he
live again?" (Job
14:14)
Preachers,
prophets and philosophers never stop poking their long index finger toward us,
with the all-important question, "Where will you spend eternity?"
Attending
the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a child, I remember the almost apocalyptic
tone in our Pastor's voice, as he pronounced the benediction.
"AND
NOW, UNTO HIM WHICH WAS AND WHICH IS, AND WHICH IS TO COME. ..ONE TRUE
GOD. WORLD WITHOUT END! AMEN."
In
my young heart, I wondered about a God Who is without beginning and end. And the same yesterday, today and forever! I also pondered my own existence in a world
that will be eternal. One which
transcends death - a world which will never end!
And
I shuddered at the prospect of having to participate in this "world of forever", in either
Heaven or Hell - whether I liked it or not.
I wasn't so sure that I wanted to live forever, even if it was in a perfect
paradise of peace called Heaven!
Have
you ever tried to rationalize, philosophize or ponder these issues? I'm sure most everyone reading this book has
experienced similar thoughts, fears, feelings or frustrations!
Why?
Because of the uniqueness of birth, the uncertainties of life, the
certainty of death and the fear of eternity!
I'm
happy to report that at age 24, I had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ
which forever sealed my allegiance and love to Him. As well as my eternal destiny, with the
redeemed!
It
was at that moment that I began to really live!
And the older I become, the more thankful I am to God for His provision
of eternal life for us all, through
the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ!
Now,
I have the answers to the perplexing questions of life and death.
No. 1 – WHO AM I
"And God said, Let Us make man in Our image,
after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
"So
God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and
female created He them..." (Gen. 1:26-27)
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a
living soul." (Gen. 2:7)
I am a human being created in God's
image. I am unique, made in His
likeness. There is no one exactly like
me, among the almost 6 billion people upon this clod!
It's
difficult to comprehend how marvellously we have been created, with individual
lipprints, fingerprints and footprints.
And each one with an eternal spirit that will live forever!
Every
human being is unique and special; created in the image of God. And He has a plan for each of our lives.
The
Bible says: "I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I
was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the
earth. Thine eyes did see my substance,
yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in
continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Ps.
139:14-16)
WE ARE TRIUNE, AS GOD IS TRIUNE! He
is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we are spirit, soul and body! We have all been given a free will and the
right to choose between God and the devil and between good and evil!
God
created three kingdoms to live on planet Earth:
1) The Plant Kingdom, 2) The Animal Kingdom, 3) The Human Kingdom.
Plants
have life but they have no mind or spirit.
Animals have life like the plants, but they have a mind. They can feel happiness or sadness and they
can understand, to a point. Animals can
also be affectionate or ferocious.
Animals
do not pray or worship God, because they have no eternal spirit or soul.
Man
has life like the plants, has a mind like the animals, albeit a far superior
intellect. But man also has an eternal
soul or spirit through which he can fellowship with God!
It is important to note that only man
has an eternal spirit or soul that was created by Almighty God!
Who
am I? A special creation of God!
I am
blessed by the Lord, needed by my fellowman and endowed with compassion and
love for others, in order to bring God's saving and healing power to my
generation!
Secular
humanists as well as advocates of the New Age Movement are eager proponents of
diabolical doctrines. They teach that
human beings need no God but themselves!
Their major doctrine is that we are gods!
Here
is a concise list of what these false, deceptive cults ardently believe and
fanatically promote: Secular Humanists & New Age Movement.
FOUR APPROACHES TO GOD:
Theologians
teach that there are three approaches people may take to God, the Bible and the
Church. Here they are:
Atheistic
Approach - Proponents of this ideology say that there is no God and the Bible
is only the writings of men. Atheists,
communists and some evolutionists hold to this viewpoint!
Rationalistic
Approach - Those who believe this teaching say:
Whatever corresponds to reason, whatever we can see, hear and
understand, we will accept in the Bible about God. However, whatever we cannot reason out or
rationalize about God and the Bible, we will reject! Many false cults favour this philosophy of
religion!
Fundamentalistic
Approach - We who adhere to the fundamentalistic approach accept everything
about God which we can understand.
Everything in the Bible which corresponds to reason, we accept. We go a step further, however, whatever we
cannot understand or are unable to reason out about God and His Word, if it’s
in the Bible, we take it by faith, because we realize that it is impossible for
the created being to fully understand our Creator and His Word is absolute,
authoritative and true!
The
Realistic Approach - New Testament, Full Gospel, Pentecostal believers go
another step further. We believe the
gospel of Jesus Christ really works. We
not only sing the song ‘Standing on the Promises’, we stand on God’s Word. We believe the Full Gospel of Christ! Those who repent of their sins and receive
Jesus Christ as Lord & Saviour, receive new life and are born again. Those who are hungry for the Holy Spirit and ask
Him in faith, are filled
They actuallay think they are equal to
God or above God. These poor deluded souls may end up like Adolf Hitler, the infamous murderer who
called himself De Fuhrer or The Leader and had God's Name inscribed
on the belt buckles of his soldiers!
There
is no doubt that Hitler was referring to himself as God, for even though he was
a Roman Catholic and had worked closely with some leaders of that church, yet
he broke God's laws and dessimated the Jews, God's Chosen People. And he feared and hated Evangelical
Christians, that arm of the Church which God uses to reach the lost for
Himself!
No. 2 – WHERE DID I COME FROM?
The
Hebrew word for man (Gen. 1:27; 2:7) is Adahm
which literally means, "The blood (life) of God"!
God
is all powerful, wise, just, perfect and benevolent. We were created in His likness.
The
Bible states that our "spirit man" has come from God and when death
takes place, our spirits will again be separated from our bodies and we will
return to God!
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it." (Ecc. 12:7)
And
King Solomon speaks of God placing a little bit of "eternity in our hearts"! (Ecc. 3:11)
What is that "eternity"?
It
is our conscience. St. Paul calls it
"the word of God in our members". (Rom. 7:18-25; 8:1-2)
The
simple truth is that we all have a spark of God within us. Our spirit (inner man) is eternal, created by
God.
When
God created Adam, He took of Himself to make him a living soul (spirit). He made man from His own blood (life).
No. 3 – WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
Satan,
the enemy of God, hates and despises God's highest creation, man! He
also has a plan for our lives: a plan which is devious, cruel, evil and
destructive!
Jesus
Christ stated, "The thief cometh
not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life and have
it more abundantly". (John 10:10
St.
John records the purpose of Christ's first advent: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might
destroy the works of the devil". (1 Jn. 3:8)
There
are two reasons why God has placed us upon the earth:
1)
To Love God!
2) To Love our Fellowman!
We
have been placed upon this earth for the purpose of worshipping and serving God,
and ministering the love of God to our fellowman!
We are all travellers into
eternity. Destination - either Heaven or
Hell! "We were created with a blank
space (vacuum) in our hearts that only God can fill", as Blaise Pascal stated!
It
is no secret, that an awesome battle rages constantly between God and the devil
for the souls of lost humanity!
Who
will win that battle for your soul? That
depends upon you! General Joshua stated, "As
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". (Josh. 24:15)
God has a purpose for each of our lives! He desires our
love, obedience and help! He sent Jesus
Christ into the world "to seek and
to save that which was lost". (Luke 19:10)
When Jesus Christ purchased our total
salvation through His victorious death upon the cursed tree, and poured out the
gift of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, the Church was born!
St.
Paul writes of the Church, which "He purchased through His blood".
(Acts 20:28) We are redeemed, purchased,
washed, purged, purified, sanctified, healed and empowered by the precious
blood of Jesus Christ!
FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
To
become living stones in His building (1 Peter 2:4-5), members of His body (Eph. 5:30), ambassadors of His Kingdom and proclaimers of the glad Gospel message! (Mark 15:15-16)
St.
Paul wrote, "Ye are epistles seen
and read of all men". (2 Cor. 3:2)
We who name the Name of Christ are the
only Bible some sinners will ever read!
We are the Salt of the Earth!
Jesus
said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men”. (Matt. 5:13)
What
does salt do?
No. 1 - It is a preservative. And that is precisely what Jesus was referring
to here. We as Christians act as a
preservative - holding back God’s judgments upon this earth until we can
persuade our fellowman to repent!
Notice,
God promised Abraham that He would spare the wicked cities of Sodom &
Gomorrah and the cities of the plain from destruction if there were 10
righteous people in Sodom!
But
there were not! Ten righteous souls
would have held back God’s judgment on those wicked cities.
The
Bible says that if a man who is a believer in Jesus Christ is married to an
unbeliever, if she keeps the faith, her husband and their offspring is
sanctified (made holy) by the faith of the believing mother!
“For
the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is
sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they
holy.” (1 Cor. 7:14)
The
word ‘religion’ comes from the Latin words re & ligio - which means “to
hold back”. We hold back the surge of
wickedness in the world. We hold back
the flood of unrighteousness, wickedness and lawlessness as well as God’s
judgment upon this world by our godly testimony and the presence of the Holy
Spirit!
No. 2 - It is a cleansing agent.
No. 3 - It gives flavour and taste.
No. 4 - It makes people thirsty.
Our
lives should help cleanse people’s hearts by the preaching of the gospel.
We
should give this world a taste of God’s goodness and our testimony and pre
aching
should make people thirsty for God and His Word!
No. 4 – WHAT DOES MY FUTURE HOLD?
Jesus
Christ spoke of two roads upon which
mankind may travel into eternity. One is
the way of truth and righteousness, which leads to life. And Jesus
is that way! (John 14:6)
The
other road is the way of darkness and sin, and eventual damnation. Satan,
the lying deceiver, is the conductor on that train!
Here
are the words of Jesus on this very important matter:
"Enter
ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
"Because
straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it." (Matt.
7:13-14)
The
Bible says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the ends
thereof are the ways of death". (Prov. 14:12)
Prophet
Isaiah warns, "Seek ye the Lord
while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will
abundantly pardon". (Is. 55:6-7)
Prophet
Jeremiah also chides, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
Amend your ways and your doings ...." (Jer. 7:3)
What must we do in order to receive
God's forgiveness and blessing?
READ, HONOUR AND OBEY THE
WORD OF GOD!
The
Bible says: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful. But his delight is in the law
of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
"And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly
are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
"Therefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of
the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the
way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Psalm 1:1-6)
There is no better way of being sure we
are on the right track, than by heeding the high call of God to our souls.
And
by following other successful men and women of God, we will be certain of
spiritual victory! Let us use them as
role models and examples for ourselves today!
Read what God told Joshua:
"Only
be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to
all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest
prosper whithersoever thou goest.
"This
book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a
good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is
with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Josh 1:7-9)
Jesus
told a parable about two men: One who built his house upon the sand and the
other, who built his house upon a rock!
"Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto
a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
it was founded upon a rock.
"And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matt. 7:24-27)
No. 5 – HOW WILL IT ALL END FOR ME?
Jesus Christ invites us all to come to
Him, for He is the world's only
Saviour. He alone has all the answers to
the complexities of life.
The
blessed Holy Spirit desires to teach
us how to live and also how to die, when that time comes!
Jesus
is the great physician Who heals
broken hearts and lives! And He loves us
all and waits for us to call upon His Name for salvation.
He
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give
you rest". (Matt. 11:28) And that is good news!
St.
John issues this stern warning in the Apocalypse:
"And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and
the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand
before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is
the book of life: and the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their
works.
"And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works. And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second
death.
“And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:11-15)
This
Scripture corresponds with the warnings of Prophet
Daniel:
"I
beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit. Whose
garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His
throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire.
"A
fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands
ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were
opened." (Dan. 7:9-10)
What will be
our eventual end? Those who trust in
Jesus Christ have a glorious future. An
eternity with Him and the redeemed, throughout all ages; forever!
What
a terrible ending awaits those who have neglected Jesus Christ as Lord &
Saviour. Our Lord Jesus warned, "When
the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then
shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
"And
before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
"And He shall set the sheep on his
right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then
shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"Then shall He say also unto them
on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels:
"And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matt.
25:31-34, 41, 46)
WHAT
ARE HEAVEN & HELL REALLY LIKE?
Jesus
told the true story of a rich man who died in unbelief and went to Hell:
"There
was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day: And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
"And
it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died,
and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have
mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,
and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
"But
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good
things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented.
“And beside all this, between us and you
there is a great gulf fixed: so that
they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us,
that would come from thence.”
"Then
he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my
father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and
the prophets; let them hear them.
"And
he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they
will repent. And he said unto him, If
they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31)
No
wonder Jesus spoke about "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in torments
for those who are everlastingly lost! (Matt.
8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30)
HEAVEN IS PARADISE!
In
the Apocalypse, Jesus Christ shows us the marvellous New Jerusalem. Oh, what a hope the “redeemed of all ages” have through Jesus Christ our Lord.
“And
He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, and of the Lamb.
“In
the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the
tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every
month: and the leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations.
“And
there shall be no more curse: but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:
“And they shall see His face; and His name
shall be in their foreheads. And there
shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for
the Lord God giveth them light: and they
shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 22:1-5)
AGAIN THERE IS A WARNING AND AN INVITATION!
Jesus
warns, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. (Rev.
21:8)
“And
the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And
let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
(Rev. 22:17)
Jesus
said to the repentent thief on the cross, "This day shalt thou be with Me
in Paradise". (Luke 23:43)
St.
Paul wrote about being "caught up into paradise..."
(2 Cor. 12:4), and Jesus Christ's message to the Church at Ephesus was, "He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to
eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God". (Rev. 2:7)
My
appeal to everyone reading these lines is, “Repent of your sins today, receive Jesus
Christ as your personal Saviour and prepare your heart for the coming of the
Lord”.
Then,
seek God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit and power, in order to become an
effective witness for Jesus Christ and a blessing to your fellowmen!
