Rev. Mark H. Creech
When the fog is lifted
Assurances drawn from the Resurrection of Christ
By Rev. Mark H. Creech
News of victory is always an exciting experience, but news of a victory after news of what appears to be a loss is even better.
For instance, consider the way in which the news of the Battle of Waterloo came to England. In a day when there were no radios or television sets, everyone in England knew that a great battle was pending and were anxious to hear what would happen when the British general, Wellington, would face-off with the incomparable Napoleon. A signalman was assigned to the top of Winchester Cathedral with instructions to keep his eye on the sea. When he received a message he was to pass it along to a man on a hill. And subsequently the message would be passed along to another and then another until the news of the battle was relayed to London and then across all of England.
Far in the distance a ship was sighted in a thick fog on the English Channel. The signalman on board sent out his first word — "Wellington." The next word was "defeated." Then the fog prevented the ship from being seen at all. "Wellington defeated!" That message was sent across the many hills and hamlets of Great Britain, and gloom descended on the masses. After a few hours the fog lifted, and the signal came again: "Wellington defeated the enemy!" Then jubilation spread throughout the whole nation.
In the same way, Christ's death on the cross plunged his friends and followers into sadness. It was apparently a great defeat. But on the third day Jesus raised to life in victory. The enemies of truth and righteousness had seemingly won. Still, after three days the fog lifted and the full message came to the whole world: "Christ is risen, he defeated the enemy."
Since Pilate conspired with the chief priests and Pharisees to keep Christ in the tomb, many foes have sought to do the same and have never succeeded. By his literal bodily resurrection from the tomb, Jesus proved that he was God, the very embodiment of truth and righteousness — and no matter how one may seek to remove God, knock down truth, or seal righteousness away, the effort is ultimately doomed to failure. The resurrection is proof that no foe of Christ can ever prevail.
In his book, Christ: Among other gods, Erwin Lutzer names a number of prominent foes of Christ in the last 100 years who have gone by the wayside.
"Karl Marx" says Lutzer, "took the stone of economics and rolled it in front of the tomb, hoping to keep Christ out of sight. Marx, who wrote the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, said religion was the opiate of the people, and that within time the assertions of Christianity would be seen as myths. But today, countries that officially adopted Marxism are turning to Christ in great numbers. What foolishness to believe that Christ may be kept out of economics or anything political, for the Scriptures declare 'the government will rest on his shoulders'...." (Isa.9:6)
Lutzer also notes Sigmund Freud's opposition to Christ. Freud believed the idea of God was a figment of one's imagination, an idea created to give man hope. He believed that psychoanalysis would address the longings of the human spirit. Yet, "psychiatry is on the couch," says Lutzer. "There are many conflicting theories of what works and what doesn't, and the entire discipline is in disarray."
Indeed it is, so that some of the most preposterous ideas regarding aggression, sexuality, and other human behaviors have emanated from that profession. Nevertheless, millions upon millions worldwide are discovering him who said, "My peace I give unto you; not as the world gives do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John. 14:27)
Also mentioned by Lutzer is Voltaire, who sought to roll the stone of skepticism in front of Christ's tomb. Voltaire predicted that in less than a hundred years the Bible would be a forgotten book. Yet, the house in which Voltaire lived was later purchased by the Geneva Bible Society so that the Bible's teachings could be spread throughout Europe.
"Darwin took the stone of science and rolled it in front of Christ's tomb," writes Lutzer. "Though he himself possessed belief in God, he thought that evolution could explain the origin of life, and the next generation of scientists building on shaky evidence said that God was an unnecessary hypothesis."
Yet evolution is constantly changing and contradicting its own findings. The evidence is accumulating more and more that there is an intelligent design to the universe. Some scientists are so convinced of this that, at risk to their own careers, they are speaking out and challenging the truth claims of evolution as patently false.
These are trying times in which to live. Christianity is under a cruel assault as never before in American history. There are the foes of Christ who have endeavored to remove all reference of him from the public square. They are well-funded, resourceful, and have taken much of the field of battle. As time passes, socialistic principles are introduced more and more into American economics, which is far removed from the teaching of Holy Scripture that every man has a God-given right to his property — a right that should be protected by the government and never usurped. Violence is at an all-time high — especially repugnant is the violence against the innocent unborn. Immorality is pervasive, with good being called evil and evil being called good. Moreover, mainline churches are failing, having compromised and even collaborated with the very foes of the one they are supposed to represent.
Nevertheless, the resurrection of Christ gives assurance that none of Christ's enemies shall succeed. None of them shall stand. All of them will fall. Every stone rolled onto the tomb to shut Christ in will be rolled back.
It may appear for a moment the cause of Christ has suffered defeat. But when the fog lifts — and it most surely will — then will be seen the signalman's message that the risen Christ has defeated the enemy...that he has made all of his enemies his footstool (Hebrews 10:13). Then the jubilation of those who believe and are faithful shall spread throughout the earth!!!
© Rev. Mark H. Creech
April 2, 2010
News of victory is always an exciting experience, but news of a victory after news of what appears to be a loss is even better.
For instance, consider the way in which the news of the Battle of Waterloo came to England. In a day when there were no radios or television sets, everyone in England knew that a great battle was pending and were anxious to hear what would happen when the British general, Wellington, would face-off with the incomparable Napoleon. A signalman was assigned to the top of Winchester Cathedral with instructions to keep his eye on the sea. When he received a message he was to pass it along to a man on a hill. And subsequently the message would be passed along to another and then another until the news of the battle was relayed to London and then across all of England.
Far in the distance a ship was sighted in a thick fog on the English Channel. The signalman on board sent out his first word — "Wellington." The next word was "defeated." Then the fog prevented the ship from being seen at all. "Wellington defeated!" That message was sent across the many hills and hamlets of Great Britain, and gloom descended on the masses. After a few hours the fog lifted, and the signal came again: "Wellington defeated the enemy!" Then jubilation spread throughout the whole nation.
In the same way, Christ's death on the cross plunged his friends and followers into sadness. It was apparently a great defeat. But on the third day Jesus raised to life in victory. The enemies of truth and righteousness had seemingly won. Still, after three days the fog lifted and the full message came to the whole world: "Christ is risen, he defeated the enemy."
Since Pilate conspired with the chief priests and Pharisees to keep Christ in the tomb, many foes have sought to do the same and have never succeeded. By his literal bodily resurrection from the tomb, Jesus proved that he was God, the very embodiment of truth and righteousness — and no matter how one may seek to remove God, knock down truth, or seal righteousness away, the effort is ultimately doomed to failure. The resurrection is proof that no foe of Christ can ever prevail.
In his book, Christ: Among other gods, Erwin Lutzer names a number of prominent foes of Christ in the last 100 years who have gone by the wayside.
"Karl Marx" says Lutzer, "took the stone of economics and rolled it in front of the tomb, hoping to keep Christ out of sight. Marx, who wrote the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, said religion was the opiate of the people, and that within time the assertions of Christianity would be seen as myths. But today, countries that officially adopted Marxism are turning to Christ in great numbers. What foolishness to believe that Christ may be kept out of economics or anything political, for the Scriptures declare 'the government will rest on his shoulders'...." (Isa.9:6)
Lutzer also notes Sigmund Freud's opposition to Christ. Freud believed the idea of God was a figment of one's imagination, an idea created to give man hope. He believed that psychoanalysis would address the longings of the human spirit. Yet, "psychiatry is on the couch," says Lutzer. "There are many conflicting theories of what works and what doesn't, and the entire discipline is in disarray."
Indeed it is, so that some of the most preposterous ideas regarding aggression, sexuality, and other human behaviors have emanated from that profession. Nevertheless, millions upon millions worldwide are discovering him who said, "My peace I give unto you; not as the world gives do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John. 14:27)
Also mentioned by Lutzer is Voltaire, who sought to roll the stone of skepticism in front of Christ's tomb. Voltaire predicted that in less than a hundred years the Bible would be a forgotten book. Yet, the house in which Voltaire lived was later purchased by the Geneva Bible Society so that the Bible's teachings could be spread throughout Europe.
"Darwin took the stone of science and rolled it in front of Christ's tomb," writes Lutzer. "Though he himself possessed belief in God, he thought that evolution could explain the origin of life, and the next generation of scientists building on shaky evidence said that God was an unnecessary hypothesis."
Yet evolution is constantly changing and contradicting its own findings. The evidence is accumulating more and more that there is an intelligent design to the universe. Some scientists are so convinced of this that, at risk to their own careers, they are speaking out and challenging the truth claims of evolution as patently false.
These are trying times in which to live. Christianity is under a cruel assault as never before in American history. There are the foes of Christ who have endeavored to remove all reference of him from the public square. They are well-funded, resourceful, and have taken much of the field of battle. As time passes, socialistic principles are introduced more and more into American economics, which is far removed from the teaching of Holy Scripture that every man has a God-given right to his property — a right that should be protected by the government and never usurped. Violence is at an all-time high — especially repugnant is the violence against the innocent unborn. Immorality is pervasive, with good being called evil and evil being called good. Moreover, mainline churches are failing, having compromised and even collaborated with the very foes of the one they are supposed to represent.
Nevertheless, the resurrection of Christ gives assurance that none of Christ's enemies shall succeed. None of them shall stand. All of them will fall. Every stone rolled onto the tomb to shut Christ in will be rolled back.
It may appear for a moment the cause of Christ has suffered defeat. But when the fog lifts — and it most surely will — then will be seen the signalman's message that the risen Christ has defeated the enemy...that he has made all of his enemies his footstool (Hebrews 10:13). Then the jubilation of those who believe and are faithful shall spread throughout the earth!!!
© Rev. Mark H. Creech
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