GENESIS

'The wisdom that is from above is first pure' 

Revolving upon its own axis, and describing an ample circuit through the boundless fields of space, is a planet of the solar system bearing upon its surface a population of nearly a thousand millions subject to sin, disease and death. This orb of the starry heavens shines with a glory similar to that of its kindred spheres. Viewed from them it is seen sparkling "like a diamond in the sky," and with the rest of the heavens declares the glory of God, and shews forth the handywork of Him that did create it.

This celestial orb, which is a world or system of itself, is styled "the earth." It is the habitation of races of animals which graze its fields, lurk in its forests, soar through its atmosphere and pass through the paths of its seas. At the head of all these is a creature like themselves, animal, sensual and mortal.

He is called "man." He has replenished the earth and subdued it, and filled it with his renown. His crimes, however, rather than his virtues, have illustrated and distinguished him with an unhappy pre-eminence above all other created things. His heart is evil, and, left to its uncontrolled impulses, he becomes licentious, merciless and more cruel than the fiercest beasts of prey.

Such is the being that claims the independent sovereignty of the globe. He has founded dominions, principalities and powers; he has built great cities and vaunted himself in the works of his hands, saying,

"are not these by the might of my power and for the honour of my majesty?"

He repudiates all lordship over him and claims the inalienable and inherent right of self government, and of establishing whatever civil and ecclesiastical institutions are best suited to his sensuality and caprice. Hence, at successive periods, the earth has become the arena of fierce and pandemoniac conflicts; its tragedies have baptised its soil in blood, and the mingled cries of the oppressor and the victim, have ascended to the throne of the Most High.

Skilled in the wisdom which comes from beneath, he is by nature ignorant of that which is

"first pure, and then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

This is a disposition to which the animal man, under the guidance of his fleshly mind, has no affinity. His propensity is to obey the lust of his nature, and to do its evil works,

"which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, sects, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like" (Gal. 5:19).

All these make up the character of the world, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life," upon which is enstamped the seal of God's eternal reprobation.

"They who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God," but "they shall die."

Such is the world of human kind -- the great and impious enemy of God upon the earth. Its mind is not subject to His law neither indeed can it be. What shall we say to these things? Is the world as we behold it a finality? Are generations of men, rebellious against God, and destroyers of the earth, to occupy it successively through an endless series of ages? Are men to repeat the history of the past for ever? Is the earth always to be cursed and sin and death to reign victorious? Who can answer these enquiries?...

..."By revelation God made known unto me (Paul) THE MYSTERY which in other ages (former ages under the law of Moses) was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto the holy apostles and prophets by the spirit, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephes. 3:3, 5, 6).

Here is "the knowledge of God," in which are contained "exceeding great and precious promises," the understanding of which is able to make a man wise, and a "partaker of the divine nature."

Elpis Israel 1.1.

1 In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1 is a foundation, and a fortress. It is simple and satisfying, dignified and devout. It tells us of the creation of the present dispensation of things on earth in six days, about six thousand years ago. It is in direct contradiction to the speculation of "Evolution," and attempts to harmonize these two opposites have brought shipwreck to the churches of the world.

This is the frontier on which the Truth is being most seriously attacked today, both within and without. The ultimate purpose and end of the modern superstition of "Evolution" is to eliminate God and escape the authority of His Word.

And we see before us today the unbelievable sight of the churches of Christendom, corrupted by Evolution, seriously debating whether there is a God at all. What will the next generation see?

Let US hold fast to simple Bible Truth! Let us get the true BIBLE picture of man-the pitiful limits of his intellectual capacity and judgment. The mind of the flesh is folly, ignorance, change and confusion.

To be fearfully stampeded into going partway to accommodate the speculation of the fleshly mind is fatal. This chapter is our rock foundation. Hold its simple record, and we are safe. Evolution cannot get a foothold. This is the revelation of God.

But begin to twist it to fit man's speculations - and we are lost. There is nowhere to stop, as we see by the current speculations of some calling themselves Christadelphians, that Adam could not have been a special creation from the dust, as the Bible says, but must have evolved from a millions-of-years-old race of creatures.

And truly, this is the only reasonable and logical and inevitable conclusion once we let Evolution get its foot in the door.

There is nowhere to stop. We must at last go all the way down the slippery slope from the light of divine revelation to the darkness of fleshly speculation, as many are finding to their sorrow and dismay.

Some are toying with Evolution, trying to go to the brink, then stop and switch back to divine creation for Adam. But it cannot be done. Once the fatal course of accepting a little bit of Evolution is started, there is no logical end except complete abandonment of the Word of God and at last of God Himself. The churches of the world are very close to this now.

Let us thank God fervently and continuously for this first chapter of Genesis which is under great attack today by its reputed "friends." Let us accept it in childlike faith as our true brethren have in the past.

Let us not be swayed for a moment by the dark speculations of men, who know-and can know-NOTHING of the past; who cannot even run their own lives with wisdom; who in blind and proud folly choose the paths of death.

"The fear of God is the BEGINNING of wisdom." Anything short of this, however seeming wise, is darkness and folly, ending in death.

Bro Growcott