God Does Not Regard Any Who Are Wise in Their Own Conceit
Weird Stuff
Today’s Verse and Thought
“And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”(Job 37:21-24)
From yesterday- As a Christian, we look at life from the vantage point of God as the creator of all things. And what an amazing view we have!
Lord of the Rings - the Return of the King and the final age (source).
4.5 Billion Years of Existence
Today let’s look at the Bible with the view that the history of our planet is far older than what much of American Church tradition has taught. Is this debate important to our relationship with God as far as our Salvation? Absolutely not. We are secure in the saving grace of Jesus our Lord and Savior…full-stop. End of debate.
But can we just accept that God and His creation are so much more mysterious, majestic, powerful, and far superior than our human mind can describe or understand? I hope so. Because I am humbled by the thought that it’s past time that the American Church - as a whole - fears, honors, and respects the sovereign God we claim to serve.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”(Revelation 4:11)
Reevaluating our doctrine regarding the age of the earth is an important evangelical concept, rather than a debate about church orthodoxy that divides brothers and sisters.
Divisiveness is not the goal. Reconciliation is.
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…”(2 Corinthians 5:18)
If we’re to have a better understanding of both the Most High God we serve and the story of the planet we live on, it helps to also Biblically reconcile the physical evidence that the earth is indeed much older and mysterious than a mere 7,000 - 12,000 years or so.
What was happening before that time?
For an unbeliever, knowing that much of American Christianity denies the age of Earth also makes it more unlikely that someone will listen to the rest of the Biblical story. After all, if we start from an erroneous premise, what makes the rest of it trustworthy to the unbeliever?
Our Gospel will fall on deaf ears - at least from a logical standpoint - because we have arrogantly made that one fact become more of a mythical story to their ears, rather than The Truth. Thankfully the Holy Spirit can override our pride and convict hearts. Logical arguments will never cause repentance and acceptance. But logic may open closed minds leading them to seek The Truth.
According to science, the beginning of our planet was initially bombarded by cosmic violence full of asteroids, fire, and molten activity, including a likely collision with a Mars-sized body that formed the Moon. This can actually bear on our study from yesterday that our earth was a chaotic mess of wildness, becoming a wasteland until God renewed it - thus creating a life-giving home.
“God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.”(Job 37:5)
And in fact, there is scientific evidence that allows us to explore the idea that the Earth has gone through multiple major "renewals" over its billions of years of history - events where all its ecosystems collapsed and were replaced, the climate dramatically changed, and the geology of the planet itself was violently reshaped for unknown reasons.
The only difference looking at Earth’s story from a Godly, supernatural worldview is that we credit God Most High, rather than some chemical primordial soup that accidently evolved by chance and luck that happened over and over again.
“…events so dramatic and catastrophic that they have left evidence in the geologic record that suggest they significantly impacted life on the planet. These included, but are not limited to, violent volcanic eruptions, mega-earthquakes and associated tsunamis, landslides and collapse of volcanoes, megafloods, rapid climate change, superstorms, and impacts from asteroids and [comets]. The intent is to use examples from recent events and processes to frame and interpret evidence for these types of events observed in the rock record.”(University of Colorado)
The End of Humanity?
“Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?”, (Ezekiel 28:9).
These renewal events - from our human vantage point - are generally understood through scientific evidence found in geology, paleontology, and changing climate. According to science, we are now very deep into the 6th extinction and final demise of humanity. (Christians see this from God’s view as our salvation and ushering in our Kingdom home).
Why do you think so many humans are hell-bent (hell being the operative word) to “fix” the climate, search for alien life, explore other planets that could support “life,” and create an eternal existence fusing human biology with technology? The Singularity is a very real and active goal of many powerful and wealthy people influenced by the demons that pull their strings. They think they too can be gods.
Sound familiar?
The authors don’t know when the singularity will come, but come it will. When this occurs, the end of the human race might very well be upon us, they say, citing a 2014 prediction by the late Stephen Hawking. According to Kurzweil, humans may then be fully replaced by AI, or by some hybrid of humans and machines.
This is how Satan thinks he will win over God. He will destroy God’s creation and replace it with his own.
OK deceived Dark lord- good luck with that.
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.”(Psalm 146:3)
God Makes it New
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”(Revelation 21:5)
This isn’t a debate about the fallacies of carbon dating, or the argument that God could have caused a great acceleration of change over a very short period of time. Have you ever asked yourself how old is our God, and what was He up to prior to the story of Adam?
God is outside of time and He is always busy with His Creation and plans.
The Book of Job has breadcrumbs pointing back to something much older and more foul than the snake story in the Garden. It is one of the most mysterious and profound texts in the Bible, and scholars have long debated its authorship as well as it’s age. The book is written in classical Hebrew, with some Aramaic and Arabic-like terms, which complicates precise dating.
While we don’t know the author or date, the setting describes scenes that are older than the rest of the Scriptures. This makes the story of Job the oldest one in the Bible. It may or may not be the oldest in authorship or chronology, but in terms of the storyline, there is a very ancient, almost primordial essence to it.
Job 37:21–24 is part of Elihu’s final speech in the book of Job. In this passage, Elihu concludes his argument by highlighting the majesty, power, and incomprehensibility of our Most High God, especially in contrast to our human limitations. Here in this passage, Elihu paints a majestic picture of God’s appearance and presence - radiant, awe-inspiring, beyond human experience.
Elihu acknowledges that God is beyond our own human ability (“we cannot find him”), yet he emphasizes God’s absolute moral perfection: God Most High is both powerful and just. He offers humans His love as well as His Justice. Because of God’s unfathomable greatness and justice, Christians should fear (reverence) Him. And all humanity should be very afraid of the power he wields in His justice.
The last line is a warning: God is not impressed by human pride or self-proclaimed wisdom - a rebuke to anyone who thinks they understand God fully, including possibly Job himself.
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”(Proverbs 26:12)
Once you allow yourself to see everything from a supernatural worldview, the world, the Bible, the effects of sin, the “whys” of all that happens - all of it will actually make more sense. We just need to start having a better understanding of God Almighty, the God Most High, Creator of Heaven and Earth. The final judge who is absolutely just.
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Today’s Prayer
Most holy and Majestic God, my Father, my Savior, my King I am so guilty of misunderstanding your power and your glory. I have been been remiss in giving you the honor and glory that only you deserve. Too many times I sought human solutions first without ever inquiring of your will. Relying instead on my own intelligence, abilities, and understanding.
Too many times have I misrepresented you by my own fears, weak faith, and stubborn unwillingness to let go of some doctrine that was taught to me as a child that diminished your grandeur and perfection. I am grateful beyond words today that you love me and have been patient with me as I have struggled to come to this point of understanding. My own arrogance stood in the way of so many blessings I missed because I too acted like I was a god. It was never by intent or by abject rebellion, but it was certainly in sinful pride and ignorance.
I pray that we, your children, learn to give you the honor that only belongs to you and that we stop revering statues of dead people called saints, bowing before gods who are no gods at all, revering and pursuing the god of money, relying on our own abilities, and destroying our testimony and your reputation in the process. My heart is utterly grieved at how little we have properly revered you or described you to the world.
Today we humbly bow before you with a broken heart and empty hands offering the only thing we can give: our lives. I know that each of us walks on this narrow path at their own pace, and your Holy Spirit is there because of your Son Jesus. You never abandon us or punish us. It is most amazing to me that we can call you Father. Please accept our praise as we humbly try and honor you today. Amen❤️