Eric E. Wright's Blog, page 21

Peace in a Covid-19 World

Here in the west, we are suffering through the most intense period of uncertainty that I can remember. We’ve been 18 months dealing with Covid-19. And just when we thought the virus was licked, we hear of new variants. Anxiety is a plague among us. Even the ‘experts’ who tell us the latest findings have creases across their foreheads. Emotional problems have increased exponentially. Clearly there is a dearth of the deep peace of heart that enables a person to relax, enjoy life and sleep well.

In this 14th post in a series celebrating redemption, I want to discuss peace as a component of redemption. There are personality traits and circumstances that make peace fleeting for some people in certain situations. However, the main source of our lack of peace can be traced to something wrong in our relationship to God.

Paul begins his great treatise on redemption by explaining that the “wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth” by denying what is clear about God from the creation and what is innately known about good and bad in the conscience. (See Rom. 1:18 -12.) The guilt that festers in the human conscience destroys peace. “’The wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” (Isaiah 57:20,21). (See also Is. 48:22.)

How can one have peace if one’s conscience is troubled? The only thing to do besides turning to God in repentance and faith is either to drown the conscience with alcohol, drugs, sex or some kind of indulgence or convince oneself of the lie that all morality is relative. God doesn’t exist. That there will never be a judgement. That we all evolved from blobs of matter and morality is a figment of imagination. Good luck with that kind of doomed attempt.

But peace with God and peace of conscience waits for those who repent of their sins, confess them to God and believe in the death of Christ for their sins. As we’ve seen in previous posts, God forgives them for Jesus’ sake, justifies them, adopts them into his family and gives them a new heart. God’s wrath is turned away. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God throughout our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

To all the redeemed, Jesus promises, “Peace I leave with you: my peace I give onto you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Isn’t this amazing? He promises us the kind of peace that he had when he was asleep in the storm-tossed boat on Galilee.

Of course, we are all tempted to worry and doubt. We may wonder at times if God really loves us. We may not have assurance of salvation, another topic in this series. To maintain the peace and tranquility of heart that is our heritage, we need to feed our souls with copious doses of Scripture. “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4; See also 2 Tim. 3:16,17).

So when we are assailed with anxiety, “let us put on the full armour of God” (See Eph. 6:10-18). May the peace of God rest upon you brother and sister!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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Hey Dad! Are you sure you didn’t adopt me?

Have you ever wondered if you are adopted? If you were, would that make your parents love you less or more? What if they searched the world for you and found you? What if they went through reams of bureaucratic red tape? What if they paid an adoption agency a million bucks because they loved you at first sight? What if even though you hated them, stole from them, and swore at them, their love remained steadfast and sure?

Well, in this 13th post on redemption, that’s what God has done for sinners like you and me—except for the bureaucracy and much more! The cost was astronomical and the time involved in arranging our adoption was infinitely more. From eternity past, he saw those he would love and redeem through Jesus Christ. Then, he paid for our adoption with the blood of his only Son.

“When the time was fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of sons. [That we might be adopted.] Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out ‘Abba, Father…and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Gal. 4:4-7). Because of our adoption, the Holy Spirit prompts us to call God, Abba which means, Daddy. As God’s adopted children we inherit all the rights and privileges of being in his family. No wonder then, that in prayer we can bring our requests to God and cry out, “our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name”.

As John writes of Jesus, “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Those who receive Christ by genuinely believing in what his name stands for, they are adopted into God’s family. They become children of God.

As Ephesians declares, “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Eph. 1:5). This adoption was in spite of the fact that we were dead to God, lost in our transgressions and sins…following the ways of the world and the devil…and living to gratify our lusts…as children of wrath. (See Eph. 2:1-3).

Romans reiterates this glorious truth. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba,’ Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:15-17). No longer lonely, we have a family that extends throughout the world and into the realms of glory. No longer afraid, we have a big brother Jesus and an all-powerful Father. No longer in doubt, but assured by the Holy Spirit that we are God’s children. No longer paupers, but joint-heirs with Christ of incalculable wealth. No longer defenseless, but indwelt by the dynamite of the Spirit and connected to all the resources of the universe. No longer fearful of disaster, we are confident because we are on the glory-side. Victory in Jesus is assured. Of course, like those in any family we share the sufferings and troubles endured by the family.

Are you, am I, redeemed—then we are also adopted! Lord help us not to live like insecure paupers but as children of the King.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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Converting Junk

We spent 16 odd years in Pakistan. One of the skills I most admired among the craftsmen of Pakistan was their ability to convert cast-off items into useful objects. For example, they could take a pop can and turn it into a tiny lamp. Or they might take discarded, worn-out tires and turn them into soles for long-lasting sandals.

But who can convert a self-righteous lustful, bigoted person into a thoughtful, compassionate and humble man or woman? That is the question Jeremiah posed about the deep-seated depravity of Israel. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil” (Jer. 13:23). While Hollywood shows describe the transformation of villains into saints, in the real world such change is superficial. Fortunately, Jeremiah held out hope by prophesying about God giving them new hearts; that is, they would be regenerated from top to bottom.

Genuine conversion is an aspect of true regeneration that includes a change of mind, of will and of emotions. In our nature, we resist such a change. “To those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him…they are unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:15,16).

Conversion then involves, “Gently instruct[ing rebellious sinners] in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and they will come to their senses…” 2 Tim. 2:25,26). Without conversion people are alienated from the truth. They cannot see God’s hand behind the operation of the universe. They have no hunger for the Word of God. They need a change of mental attitude, so that like David, they can say, “Oh, how I love thy law!” As we can see, both faith in God’s revelation and repentance toward false ideas and actions is involved.

Conversion also involves a turning from self to God. Peter challenged Simon, the sorcerer who wanted to buy the Holy Spirit to use for his own ends. “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought” (Acts 8:22). Like all who come to faith in Christ, Simon needed do a 180, have a complete change in his motivations, his desires, his goals—his will.

Conversion also transforms our emotions. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Cor. 7:10). A flood of emotions accompanies one’s genuine sorrow at grieving God. Joy floods the forgiven soul. Gratefulness begins to rise in the soul for all the blessings of grace. Hope for the future is born. Confidence in our present position in Christ dispels insecurity and anxiety.

Conversion then involves a radical change of mind, emotions and will. Clearly, such a change is not superficial nor temporary. Sadly, there are apparent conversions that obviously do not effect total change in a person. Professing faith is not enough. Going forward in a meeting is not a guarantee of conversion. Attending church or performing ritual is not conversion unless it is an external expression of a new heart.

Conversion is a term that is used to mark the beginning of a person’s new life in Christ. We can look at a person and say “he is conveted!” Or we can bear testimony that “I was converted in 1955”. Such a claim is not to say that conversion is always sudden and revolutionary. In many cases God works slowly in a person converting their mind, emotions and will over a period of time.

In all genuine redemption, conversion will be present. Are you converted? Am I?

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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Who Are Your Blood Relations?

I recently received a trove of old photos from the widow of a cousin. Unlike a random bunch of photos from the mid-twentieth century, these had personal relevance. I could point to a figure in one or the other and say that’s my Uncle Ray and there’s my Uncle Dave. Why look there’s that mischievous cousin Bob and his brother Doug. Bob’s the one who threatened to make my dog Frisky into a hot dog! And there’s my dad and my brother David. Look that’s Norm and his bride Evelyn. With most of them I have a blood connection. Our DNA could be matched. We are part of the larger Hall/Wright family.

Isn’t it incredible that, if we are redeemed, we are blood relations with Jesus Christ, the Lord. It’s unbelievable that the Creator of the universe would come down to earth, shed his blood to secure an eternal blood connection with us! In celebrating the wonders of redemption we come to the 11th post, the believer’s mystical union with Christ.

One of the most repeated phrases in the New Testament is, “in Christ”. We are in Christ. That is, we are in some mystical way united to Jesus Christ. And thus, his righteousness is put to our account. Indeed, all the blessings of salvation flow to us through this union with Christ.

Louis Berkhof defines it as, that intimate, vital, and spiritual union between Christ and His people, in virtue of which He is the source of their life and strength, of their blessedness and salvation.” (Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhof, p. 449)

It is compared to the union of the vine and the branches in John 15:5. It is the foundation and the building built on it in 1 Peter 2:4,5. It is the union of a husband and wife in Eph. 5:23-32. It is the union of the head and members of a body in Eph. 4;15,16. Since as believers we are made new creatures ‘in Christ” (2 Cor5:17) and justified “in Christ” (Acts 13:39) it follows that everything good in our redemption is mediated to us through the working of the Holy Spirit joining us to Christ.

“You are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).

As we grow in our experience of Christ, he expects there to be a reciprocal action on our part. As Berkhof writes; “the believer also unites himself to Christ by a conscious act of faith, and continues the union, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, by the constant exercise of faith ” (Ibid, 450) and I would add, obedience. “I am in my Father and you in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me” (John 14:22,23). (See John 15:4,5, Eph. 3:17.) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

Wonder of wonders, by redemption God has eternally united me with Jesus Christ! Of course, this also means we are one with other believers.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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Is There A Moral Delete Button?

Word processors have a delete button. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a delete program that would erase all the dumb things we said on Facebook or Twitter. All the false claims we made. All the angry retorts and grumpy reposts. We are told that everything we have ever posted is indelible, kept somewhere in cyber space to be used against us. For ever and ever and ever, amen. Grim thought.

What about all our moral failings? Our sins? Is there any way to erase them? All the lies we told, the petty thievery we engaged in, the lustful thoughts, the proud assertions, the deceitful comments, the angry words, the gossip, the jealousy, the gluttony, the laziness, the false accusations, the immorality, the covetousness, the denial of God, the swear words, and on and on it goes.

Well, in this series on celebrating redemption we come to justification. Deleting all sin is exactly what justification is all about. We have come to clean slate territory!

Unfortunately, the world’s religions teach some kind of justification through doing good works. Commonly, we are told if your good works outweigh your bad deeds you will be saved. But that is a passing grade of only 51%. That’s not even good enough for grade school! Outweighing the bad we’ve done doesn’t cancel that the record of our sins. Not even a human judge would render judgement on that basis.

God tells us that if we fail in any point we have broken the integrity of the moral law. “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10, KJV). Why? Because guilt in one point shows the state of the sinner’s heart, his propensity to transgress, his pride. “The Bible tells us that “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). All we do is tainted. Would we eat tainted meat? No, well we shouldn’t be satisfied with what seems to us a little moral taint.

But hold on, is there any remedy? The good news is that, “righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice…at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26, selections).

God is the Judge of all the earth. He has determined right and wrong. We stand before him, guilty of breaking his moral law [which he established for our good] and thus we are doomed to hell. But God in mercy works to forgive us. He cannot by a mere fiat statement forgive us and still be true to his character as a just judge. A punishment must be enacted on our behalf before we can be forgiven. A debt must be paid. This is where Jesus came in. He voluntarily took our place, bore the punishment for our sins upon his body on the cross. Then when we put our faith in the blood Jesus shed for our sins, God accepts his atonement on our behalf and justifies or forgives us. This radical justification is completely due to God’s grace demonstrated in the covenant made between the Father and the Son.

In justification, the righteousness of Christ is credited to our account. Our sins are blotted out. God declares us righteous for Christ’s sake. If we put our faith in Christ, God looks at us and sees not our sinfulness but the righteousness of Christ. We stand robed in the righteousness of the perfect one!

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). “Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Gal. 2:16). “Hew saved us through the washing of rebirth…so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5,7).

No wonder Martin Luther was transformed when he discovered the truth of JUSTIFICATION. No wonder the Protestant

Reformation broke out with formerly enslaved men and women shouting for joy at their freedom from bondage to an impossible works righteousness.

Are you justified? Put on then “the breastplate of righteousness”—the righteousness of Christ. Stand in Him and be free and forgiven! As Wesley’s hymn declares:

No condemnation now I dread,

I am my Lord’s and He is mine;

Alive in Him, my living Head.

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

And clothed in righteousness divine.

Amazing love how can it be?

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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What’s all this new birth stuff Christians talk about?

What is all this new birth stuff that Christians talk about? Now birth is amazing. The birth of a new baby brings great joy to a family. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus exclaims about the rejoicing in heaven over the birth of a new Christian. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

There is not only joy but astonishment. Nicodemus, a seasoned teacher of the Old Testament came to Jesus by night to inquire about his miracles. Jesus immediately turned his attention to the central miracle. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). Nicodemus exclaimed that this was impossible.

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit…you must be born again’” (John 3:5-7).

The initiating miracle that creates genuine Christians is the new birth; in theological terms, regeneration. In the new birth, the Holy Spirit comes into a sinful person and gives him a new heart to believe the gospel, hate sin and love God. Without this spiritual transformation how can rebel sinners be moved to change?

When people embrace the gospel they find it uncomplicated, just repent and believe. But then they are saved, begin to read Scripture and look back on what happened and realize that even their faith was a gift of God. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9).

This is what was predicted by Ezekiel and Jeremiah; “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). This is what Paul describes in Titus 3:5,6. “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

When new Christians humbly look back on their experience they usually shake their heads in disbelief. They believed in Christ and repented of their sins, but how and why? If they are honest, they find themselves puzzled. How did this happen, they wonder?

They say, “A year ago, six months ago, a week ago, I was careless about sin, unhappy maybe, but not really convinced about the importance of pleasing Christ. Now I am different! I care deeply about any grief I cause Christ. I want to do his will. The Bible that was just a book is now my meat and drink. What happened? I was born again! Somehow God by His Spirit moved me to believe in Christ and repudiate my sins. This is the new birth. This is regeneration. Hallelujah!

[Please note, however, that many are self-deceived into thinking they are genuine Christians because they assent to the Gospel facts, because they went forward at a meeting, and made a profession of faith. If they are not born again and show the change in every aspect of their lives, they are not genuine Christians.]

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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My Cracked Coffee Mug — My Aching Body

Do you enjoy coffee? I do. One of the secrets of savouring a good cup of coffee, in my opinion, is drinking it out of the right mug. Over three decades ago I found the mug. It was thick and deep with not too wide a mouth. It was a rich blue and white ceramic, able to keep coffee hot while I savoured it. Coffee should be drunk out of the right mug. And it should be relished slowly. Not for me the cardboard cup too hot to drink then quickly lukewarm.

I think it was in the early 90’s that I found my mug. It has been with me ever since. It’s followed me through three moves. One of the delights of life since that time has been brewing the first coffee of the day and retiring to my recliner with that steaming mug to enjoy reviewing one of the great hymns of the faith. And then checking out the news.

Then tragedy! The other day I found it cracked! No! I tried to keep using it but to no avail. What to do? I’ve looked but I can’t find a replacement. Groan. Maybe it’s time to accept the inevitable. Maybe that was a once in a lifetime love affair. Maybe it’s a parable of the frailty of life.

Okay, I realize it’s time for me to face my mortality. Where did my young body go? Where is the energy that had me climbing hills without stopping for a breath? Why does even the thought of running make me break out in hives. Why do my feet hurt? And what about my knees, both artificial. Forget abut kneeling in the garden to attack the weeds. Don’t even ask about my heart or the nitro patches I take to cover for a zillion blocked arteries. Why are there so many aches and pains? Teeth? Am I going to have to finally keep that dental appointment? Eyesight? Must I really see that eye surgeon?

Sigh. To be honest, I feel a lot like that cracked mug. It’s been a good run. But things are wearing out. And yet that’s natural—the normal course of life.

Fortunately, the future is not as gloomy as a cracked mug. It is as bright as the promises of God. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me., In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

We know that we won’t settle into that celestial home with our decrepit bodies. “We will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, …the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality…Death will be swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:51-54, selections). Isn’t the Christian hope wonderful? Will there be coffee in heaven?

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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The Most Natural Result of Appreciation for Nature is Faith in God. (Why every Christian should be a naturalist, #9)

Does honest science lead us to God? Let me explain why the answer is, “yes”. This is the final post in my series on why every Christian should be a biblical naturalist.

While the heavens declare the glory of God, they do not announce the gospel. To that task God has called us. But since many in our day are either atheists, agnostics or indifferent to the whole question of whether God exists, the testimony of creation is an important starting point.

Without even planning to, scientists have made three or four discoveries in our day that make belief in a supreme Creator the most rational response to reality.

First, almost universal acceptance that the universe had a beginning in a Big Bang leaves us with the stark challenge. Since there operates in the universe a law of causality—one causal action produces an equivalent result—the question becomes what was the sufficient cause of the universe’s beginning? What caused the Big Bang? The only reasonable answer is a being greater than the sum total of all the universe. God! Alternatively, one can deny causality and embrace irrationality.

Secondly, there is the “fine-tuning problem.” What exists is not random nor chaos but an intricate inter-connected order. The position of the sun, the moon, and Jupiter relative to the earth is so fine-tuned that any aberration in orbits would make life on earth untenable. Fine-tuning exists everywhere in creation. This demonstrates an inter-connected complexity that is beyond astounding. Did flowers designed to be pollinated in a specific way exist in the absence of pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds? No God created the fine-tuned complexity that is our world.

Then there is the DNA enigma. The information contained in the DNA demonstrates origin from an intelligent designer. A program requires a programmer. Even a tiny part of the DNA cannot be explained by the random clash of materials. The information program found in DNA requires a programmer. Where did those instructions come from? From God, the Designer and Grand Programmer.

Finally, there is the Cambrian Explosion. Contrary to evolutionary hypotheses that species evolved slowly, in the Cambrian layer of geological strata there is found the fossils of a sudden explosion of creatures and plants. There is no gradual development over millennia. No, obviously there was a sudden explosion of inter-connected species. How? Through the Creator.

The belief in a transcendent omnipotent Creator fits the developing discoveries of science—not materialistic evolution. To deny the obvious is to be foolish. “The fool has said in his heart there is no god.” To admit this is often the first stage in a person’s salvation.

Besides the message of the universe—all things their Creator praise—we need two other miracles. The Bible is a miracle of divine revelation. Sixty-six books, written by 40 authors over a period of 1600 years present a developing but coherent revelation of God’s love for people. It unfolds the story of redemption. The Bible is no accidental literary achievement. Like the universe, the Bible shows an almighty planner.

The second miracle comes in the person of Christ, sent from the Father to redeem us from our sins. No wonder the song writer “loves to tell the story of Jesus and his love.” That story, that history, opens to us the door of salvation. “I am the door,” said Jesus. “Come onto me and I will give you rest,” from your guilt, your sin, your judgement, your fears. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”

(For a thorough description of these ideas see Peter Robinson’s interview of Stephen Meyer, writer, “The Return of the God hypothesis” on YouTube.

As spring advances, even though Covid-19 continues to threatens, getting outside into the glory of God’s creation is one of the most healthy things we can do. This is especially uplifting to the Christian. In previous posts in this series, we’ve been considering reasons why every Christian should be a biblical naturalist, a lover of creation. I’ve described nine reasons:

Since we love the Creator, appreciation for his handiwork will move us to worship,Creation declares to any who have an open mind the existence of a Creator,Because we cannot know what God is like without COMPARING HIS ATTRIBUTES WITH THINGS WE SEE IN CREATION,Because the natural world illustrates spiritual principles we need in our lives,Because nature enhances our health and enjoyment of life,Because its study inspires scientific discovery,Because natural settings inspire meditation and prayer,Because God has made us stewards of creation and we must preserve the balance he created,Because understanding creation forms a basis for faith in God.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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Creation Care is a Christian Responsibility (Why every Christian should be a naturalist, #8)

Early in the 20th century the sandy hills of Northumberland County in Ontario where I live had been left barren and eroding through cutting down all the timber. A vigorous program of reforestation re-clothed the hills with forests. Now the Ganaraska and the Northumberland Forests have not only stopped erosion and provided an enormous water and carbon dioxide sink but a marvelous place to explore, hike and picnic. Not only people but animals and birds love it.

The eighth reason why every Christian should be a biblical naturalist is because God has given us responsibility to care for his creation. Way back in Genesis two we read, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:19). God has made us stewards of his creation that we might care for it. Too often businessmen think only in terms of exploiting the earth. Even Christians sometime limit their concern to spiritual matters or family responsibilities and ignore our responsibility to nature around us.

Jack Miner, a fervent Christian, was the father of conservation in Canada. His bird-banding program enabled him to solve many mysteries of migration. The foundation he began is credited with establishing 200 bird sanctuaries in North America. Noting his use of words like pollution and conservation years before they became popular, the London Times commented that he lived 50 years ahead of his time. (1865-1944)

Jack Miner wrote of his life in the poetry of Psalm 23;,

The Lord is my Guide and Teacher,

I will not get lost:

He makes my heart a receiving station for His wireless:

He sits down beside me in the pathless woods

and opens up his book of knowledge:

He turns the leaves very slowly that my dimmed eyes

 may read His meaning.

He makes the trees I plant to grow,

and flowers to arch my path with their fragrant beauty;

gives me dominion over the fowls of the air

and they honk and sing their way to and from my home.

Yea, He has brought me up from a barefooted

 underprivileged boy to a man respected by

millions of people, and I give Him all

the credit and praise whenever, wherever, and forever.

From Jack Miner: Father of Conservation, undated paper printed by The Trustees of the Jack MinerFoundation [i]

It was no accident that Jack Miner was both a Christian and a conservationist. We should all be committed to the conservation and care of our world and its creatures. God has called us to use the plentiful resources he has placed around us but he will judge us if we rape our world and destroy the balance he created.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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The Great Outdoors Ministers Health to Body and Soul (Why Every Christian Should be a Naturalist, #6)

For health, we need to be often outside enjoying nature and fresh air. This is another reason why Christians should love creation. NATURAL SETTINGS ARE NOT ONLY CONDUCIVE TO HEALTH BUT INSPIRE MEDITATION.

The authorities have faced unprecedented challenges during this pandemic. We appreciate all the good they have done. In one area, however, most have been mistaken—in closing down parks and restricting people to stay inside their houses. Last spring when Covid-19 hit I was, as usual, exploring Presquile Park. I was enjoying the new spring growth, the returning ducks, the birds and the lakeshore, but then they shut it down. Why close it down when people were scarce and distant from each other? Recent actions affecting outdoor activities have shown they have not learned their lesson.

We all need times of quiet reflection to think about our life, to pray, to meditate on God and his will and just to expand our spirits. We live busy and demanding lives full of noise. No wonder wise city planners, as more and more people move into our cities, endeavour to ensure there are more trees planted and more parks and nature corridors allocated. People were never meant to live cheek by jowl 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Consider the biblical precedent. Shortly after creation, God came down and walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening in the Garden of Eden. Actually, the Bible brackets history between the garden in Genesis and the garden in Revelation. Moses received a revelation from God in the burning bush while alone in the desert and later he was given the ten commandments on the top of Mount Sinai. David received most of his inspiration for the Psalms while out in the wilds with his sheep or hiding from Saul. The prophets often meditated in wilderness settings.

Jesus frequently went away to a solitary place for prayer and revitalization during his busy teaching ministry. In garden of Gethsemane Jesus received the strength he needed to go to the cross for us.

Philip was led by the Spirit to meet the Ethiopian eunuch out along a deserted road where he explained to him about Christ through Isaiah 53. After his conversion, Paul was sent away into Arabian desert where God gave him astounding revelations of his character and purposes. In Philippi, Paul was instinctively drawn to the seaside where he found godly women in the habit of coming to pray. They became his first congregation there.

I sometimes think that Satan will use anything to keep us from thinking deeply. He fills our lives with noise and static from TV, Netfix and a myriad other distractions. Of course, we are free in Christ to enjoy media as long as we have room in our lives for quiet and meditation. I hope we each have a daily devotional period! Woods, lakes, rivers, gardens, meadows and the seaside are there to provide us with special opportunities to meditate, pray and just quiet our spirits.

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In Pakistan one summer I felt unusually anxious. I had been asked to take the responsibility for the summer pastorate in the hill station. I can still remember the secluded rock surrounded by trees that I found where I could quietly prepare and pray. Another time after seven years of pastoral ministry, we felt burnt out. But fortunately, the church agreed to a sabbatical which we took on an island in Georgia by the sea and later in the Smokey Mountains of NC. That time of refreshing revitalized and redirected our ministry.

Consider a meditation break or at least a woodland walk. I’ve been looking at reasons why every Christians should be a biblical naturalist, a lover of creation.

Since we love the Creator appreciation for his handiwork will move us to worshipCreation declares to any who have an open mind the existence of a CreatorBecause we cannot know what God is like without comparing his attributes with things we see in creation. Because the natural world illustrates spiritual principles we need in our livesBecause nature enhances our health and enjoyment of lifeBecause its study inspires scientific discoveryBecause natural settings inspire meditation and prayer

I’ll consider one more reason in a further post.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)

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