On Friday the world marked the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and man’s first stroll there. It was a marvelous feat of engineering at a time when computers were the size of refrigerators. It took 400,000 engineers, mechanics, doctors, and scientists to fly three men there on the tip of a Saturn V rocket – the largest ever built. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin actually walked on the moon while Michael Collins remained in the space capsule at the controls.

It is evident that without physical order in the universe these achievements would not be possible. Accomplishments of this kind require precise knowledge and conformity to God’s order. Tens of thousands of man-hours, the sophistication of technology and the investment of billions of dollars would all be a waste without the orderly universe to count on.

A wise student of the Bible said that the God who ordained physical order also ordained moral and spiritual order. Conformity guarantees fulfillment. Disobedience spells disaster. Break God’s law and it breaks us.

One can reject God’s moral laws but that does not get rid of them. The law of sin and death is as inviolable as the law of gravity. Morality isn’t arbitrary. It’s part of the natural law of the universe. God’s law stands whether we like it or not. It’s important that we not ignore these eternal principles for they have eternal consequences. 

The 1969 moon landing might have been one small step for man. Certainly it was one giant leap for mankind. But it didn’t happen without God’s wise and wonderful order which he built into our universe.

– Tim Johnson

(With help from a prior article by David Johnson)

Recently I witnessed a boss yelling at two employees in a lot where their heavy trucks were parked. His words were laced with profanity and you could hear him all over the busy street. I wondered how devasted and discouraged his two men must have felt. Words can build people up or tear them down. Here are some comments written by David Johnson a number of years ago on this subject. I’d like to reprint them:

No doubt you remember chanting the childhood phrase, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.” One minister said that the reason this saying lives on through the years is because it is not true. A word, he said, is like a bullet; it leaves an impact on everything and everyone it hits. Words, not just sticks and stones, can hurt deeply.

Consider the destructive power of the following words: I hate you; you disgust me; I wish you had never been born; I wish you were dead; you are good for nothing; I want a divorce; nobody cares about you; I’ll never speak to you again.

Now consider the constructive power of these: I love you; you are important to me; thank you so much; how can I repay you; you look really nice today; I like your new haircut; great job; this place wouldn’t be the same without you; I’m proud of you; you are irreplaceable; things go better when you are here.

A German folk story tells of a boy who was talking unkindly of others. His father had him take a bag of goose feathers and fling them out of the second story window of his house. The wind scattered them into the streets below. Then he said to his son, “That’s the way your words go out to the people. Now go out and pick them up.” The boy cried out, “That impossible!”  His father said, “So it is impossible to take back the words you have spoken.”

Words reveal who we are and what’s in our hearts. “What’s in the well will come out in the water.” “What’s in the tree will come out in the fruit.” Warning: Watch your words. The tongue is a wet place and it can easily slip.

Being Fathers’ Day again, we want to uphold and honour the fathers among us. Theirs is not an easy task; many things depend on them. We include grandfathers in this today, for their role is also vital.

Some of the most mixed-up and unhappy people I’ve known in life did not have a good father. On the other hand, most of the well-balanced people I’ve known had good parents. Fathers can make or break their children, and this passes on to grandchildren.

In the world around us we see good men trying their best to be good fathers. But we also see foolish fathers, cruel fathers, selfish fathers, and absent fathers. When Paul led a prayer to the heavenly Father, he pointed out that “every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” from the Father (Ephesians 3:14-16). The implication is that earthly fathers have an important role, just as the heavenly father does. So, lets ask the question, “What kind of father does God want you to be? Here are some thoughts:

1. A father who is engaged with his family. Nothing means more to him than his children. When kids develop a close bond with their father, they grow up emotionally stable and find themselves on the road to maturity. “Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph.6:4).

2. A manly father. It’s important to model what a man is. Our current sexual confusion in society often comes from fathers who don’t live and act in a masculine way. A strong masculine presence in the home adds balance and direction.

3. He provides sensitive leadership. With the help of his wife, he identifies the needs and direction his home needs to take and works to provide it. In Genesis 49, Jacob called his 12 sons together to give the counsel before he died. In Acts 10:24, Cornelius “called together his relatives and close friends” to hear Peter. It’s safe to think his children were also present. Good men provide good leadership.

4. He challenges misbehavior and provides discipline. Home can be a zoo if a father doesn’t provide order. Children learn a better way to live and behave when corrected and guided by their fathers. Harried mothers appreciate his help, provided it is wise and skilful.

Many other things could be suggested: Fathers provide but don’t spoil, protect but don’t insulate, do fun things but know when to be serious. No room to develop these points in this article.

Fathers: your role is hugely important, and we honour you today!

– Tim Johnson

The writer of Proverbs said, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (4:23). If we don’t guard our hearts, evil can easily creep in. We may even feel we have developed a heart that loves God, but the ways of the world may undermine that noble desire.

A fitting illustration of this is Balaam the Diviner. If you recall, he was hired by the fearful king of Moab, Balak, to curse the Israelites as they passed by on their way to the Promised Land (Numbers 22-24). Balaam was anxious to go, but God would not allow it. Balak offered him greater fees, and Balaam pestered God to let him go with the king. God reluctantly allowed it, but only if he spoke exactly the words He would give him. But God was upset with Balaam’s duplicity and confronted him with an armed angel and the words of Balaam’s trusty donkey. The animal was wiser than the prophet!

Upon arrival, the expected curse of the prophet against Israel was turned into a blessing. While this made Balaam look faithful to God, he again pestered the Lord in hopes of fulfilling his harmful mission for the king. God would not allow it, and Balaam eventually left for home. But chapter 25 tells us that Israel fell into idolatry and immorality with the people of Moab. Revelation 2:14 reveals that this was Balaam’s fault, for he found a way to teach king Balak how the people could fall. The prophet had stepped around God’s instructions and figured out a way to satisfy the king’s desire to hurt Israel.

What was Balaam’s motivation in all of this? It was the fat paycheque that the false prophets of the ancient world often received, and accompanying honors. At first, Balaam seemed to do everything right, but his heart had a different agenda. He caused great tragedy for personal gain. Later, justice caught up to him and he was executed by Jewish soldiers (Joshua 13:22). A twisted heart ruined him.

We would do well to check our hearts regularly. We may profess to follow the Lord, but our heart may be urging us to sell out for money, honor or pleasure. Don’t let Satan twist your heart. The results can be fatal.

– Tim Johnson

A university professor recently criticized churches in Canada for not being progressive in our changing society. He claimed we are standing in the way of social progress. His remarks remind us that while we live in a country that believes in freedom of religion, we face opposition in subtle ways. This sometimes even breaks through in violence, as we’ve seen recently in several locations. Many Christians wonder if we can make any progress in today’s setting – or keep on going at all.

We need to be reminded that the first Christians had everything stacked against them. The church was born in a tough environment. Rulers like Annas the high priest and Caiaphas thought they had defeated Jesus and stamped out his disciples. Within days of Pentecost, Peter and John were jailed, interrogated, threatened, and reluctantly released (Acts 4). Then all 12 apostles were jailed, ordered not to preach, and beaten before their release (Acts 5). After Stephen was killed, a huge persecution broke out against the church, forcing Christians out of Jerusalem, chased by men like Saul.

Despite all of that, the faith of these early Christians was never stronger. Their prayers were brave. “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence” (4:29). God blessed them with strength, courage and boldness. The church went on to expand and multiply. They boomed!

No matter how subtle or how strong modern opposition may be, and no matter what Satan is up to, we can act with faith, courage and boldness.

“So, they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (5:41).

Are you up for it?

– Tim Johnson