A "Super Quote" From Superman!

I don’t know how many other people have noticed the quote in the newest rendition of Superman: Man of Steel but this quote caught my attention last night.  One of the villains says to Cal, i.e. Superman, “You have not evolved enough you still have a conscience!”  I don’t know if the writers put that there intentionally or not but there seems to be great truth to it.

Here is why I say there is great truth in the statement.   When one believes they have evolved they take away their belief in a creator.  When we take away a creator to which we are accountable then why does one need a conscience.  Each individual does not look to the creator to ask what is right and wrong, rather they make up their own mind, rely on the collective minds of a society, or listen to their government.  When an individual or society have no standards by which they determine right and wrong then morals continually shift.  Unfortunately, they seem to shift further and further from the standards of right and wrong that were set forth by our creator.

I would like to encourage you to consider the truth of Psalm 19.  Psalm 19:1–3 (ESV) ¹The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. ²Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. ³There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.  Then consider how this creator would have you to live in 2014.  Search His Word and live it!

Christmas Communication

How do you communicate with friends and family at Christmas? Cards, letters (we prepared 200 this year), phone, Skype, and the best is a visit.  God also has communicated to us in different ways through different generations through the prophets (Heb. 1:1).  Much of this came through their preaching and writing of the Bible.  Yet, we are told in verse 2 that he spoke to us through His Son.  Jesus Christ came to earth to visit not for His benefit but for ours. 

This communication from God was not happenstance. It came just when God had planned it.  Gal. 4:4-5a says, “But when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem them who were under the law.”  We, because of our sinfulness, needed a redeemer.  Someone to pay the price of our sin.  Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life so that he might be the perfect sacrifice!

God’s communication seemed like it was shortened.  His followers were expecting him to give them victory and freedom from Roman control.  Their hopes were dashed as Jesus hung on the cross and proclaimed “it is finished” (Jn. 19:30).  What they did not yet understand is that Jesus was going to rise from the dead three days later.  Jesus Christ had come not to give them freedom from the Romans, but rather freedom from sin and death.  I Cor. 15:56-57 say, “⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we get our letters and Christmas cards many of us respond in various ways. Some are quickly thrown in the trash while others are cherished and looked at again and again.  Some are ignored while others are looked at sometimes for months or years.  I ask you today, “How do you respond to God’s Christmas communication, Jesus Christ?”  Do you cherish Him and His word?  Or do you ignore Him and basically discard Him from your thinking?  I challenge you to put your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and cherish Him.

A Secure Foundation

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus in concluding His “Sermon on the Mount” speaks of the wise man and the foolish man.  Both of them have built their houses and there is no distinction in the houses.  Outwardly we may not see any difference.  Both of them would face a storm but the consequences of that storm would be drastically different.  The wise man’s house stood firm but the foolish man’s house fell with a great fall!  Why the difference?  Because the wise man built on the rock and the foolish man built on the sand.  The passage is also clear regarding the rock, it is the fact that he has heard and obeyed the sayings of Jesus Christ.

Though there may be many applications to individuals enduring the “storms of life” because of their obedience of Christ that is not to be the primary understanding of this passage.  The storm in this passage would be God’s final judgment.  We learn this from the context of the passage.  Backing up to verses 13-14, we learn that there are two paths in life the narrow way that leads to life and the broad way that leads to destruction.  Verses 15-20 tell us of the differences in the fruit of individuals. The following section then tells of those who seemingly have done all the right things even “serving” the Lord, yet He says “depart from me I never knew you.” 

I challenge you, “Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation?”  God’s judgment is coming and the results of that judgment all depend upon our response to Christ.  Are you ready to face Him? Is your foundation secure?  We can be assured that the storm of His Wrath is coming. Will your house stand?