Imitate Jesus – Set Your Mind on Things Above

The Bible tells us to imitate God.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Jesus got through His crucifixion because He kept in mind all the people His blood would save.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

Therefore let us imitate Jesus by thinking eternally.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV

I often think about how in the ages to come I will be studying God’s creation to understand Him better. The definition of eternal life is knowing God.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ² as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
John 17:1-5 NKJV

We can learn about God through what he has made.

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:18-20 NKJV

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
² Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
⁴ Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
Psalms 19:1-4 NKJV

God gave me a scientific mind, and I am very looking forward to understanding God better by understanding His creation better. Videos like this cheer me up. The ages to come will be so incredibly great! 🙂

What is the Origin of Anthropic Principle Features? – Dr. Kurt Wise, Devotional Biology pt. 7.5

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

How Hot is “Hot”? How Cold is “Cold”? Two More Science “Sermons”

Here in South Dakota, USA, if it’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 C) someone might say to me, “It’s hot!” If it’s -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 C) they might say, “It’s cold!” I nearly always just agree with them. But being a science nerd I nearly always think, “No, not really.” See, here in our solar system the temperature varies some 27,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit (15,000,000 C), from the near absolute zero of space (-460 degrees Fahrenheit, -273 C) to the center of our sun.

At the core of the sun, gravitational attraction produces immense pressure and temperature, which can reach more than 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius). Hydrogen atoms get compressed and fuse together, creating helium. This process is called nuclear fusion.

Space dot com: How hot is the sun?

What we call “hot” and “cold” aren’t really that hot and that cold, in the overall scheme of things. God created a very special, sheltered place called earth where human life is possible.

Yes, I think about stuff like this, and I think that’s why I enjoy so many “Creation Science” videos. It is so uplifting to me to hear people discuss science and the Bible at the same time. It helps give me peace because if God is still controlling the universe, then He is still controlling the things going on in my life. 🙂 Here are two videos I watched recently. You might enjoy them too. In the first one Dr. Wise discusses our benefits and responsibilities as kings and priests, making an interesting distinction between them.

What is the Origin of Anthropic Principle Features? – Dr. Kurt Wise, Devotional Biology pt. 7.5

Does the Universe have a Purpose? – Dr. Danny Faulkner

Truly:

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Two Creation Videos Worth Watching

I am the sort of person who can read and reread (and reread) a book I enjoy, and I can watch movies and videos many, many times if I really enjoy them. Here are two videos by the Is Genesis History? website and YouTube channel I have watched several times. I highly recommend watching them. (Note: You can listen to YouTube videos faster to save time.)

I am really looking forward to meeting Kurt Wise, who tells why he is a Creationist in this first video. Have you ever heard of a teenager who spent a year cutting verses out of a Bible to determine the answer to a theological question? No, I hadn’t either before watching this video. I love Kurt’s enthusiasm for God and His creation.

Video 1: Why I am a Creationist – Dr. Kurt Wise 

If the second video, the hour and three-quarters feature film Is Genesis History? had been available 20 years ago, I could have done a much better job defending young-earth creationism. It is an introduction to many different facets of creationism, and more exhaustive videos are available on the website and YouTube channel for each topic if you are interested. This is their description of the movie.

"Is Genesis History?" features over a dozen scientists and scholars explaining how the world intersects with the history recorded in Genesis. From rock layers to fossils, from lions to stars, from the Bible to artifacts, this fascinating film will change the way you see the world. The film’s goal is to provide a reasonable case for Creation in six normal days, a real Adam and Eve, an actual fall, a global flood, and a tower of Babel. Dr. Del Tackett, creator of The Truth Project, serves as your guide—hiking through canyons, climbing up mountains, and diving below the sea—in an exploration of two competing views…one compelling truth.

The reason I have watched this video several times is I always feel more confident in God in these troubled times after watching it. God was definitely in charge of what happened in the past, so He is definitely in charge of what is happening now, and will happen in the future. Plus, it is always faith-building to hear people quoting Scripture that pertains to their occupations.

Video 2: Is Genesis History? – Watch the Full Film 

Who knows? Maybe you will watch them several times too. 🙂

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Noah’s Flood – Bone-Breaking Earthquakes

The seventh bowl judgment includes a great earthquake, “… such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.“

¹⁷ Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” ¹⁸ And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. ¹⁹ Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. ²⁰ Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Revelation 16:17-20 NKJV

I wonder if Noah and his family in the ark are considered to be “above” the earth, floating on the water, because the evidence is an earthquake at the time of the flood was so violent it probably would have broken bones of anyone standing on the ground when it occurred. Part of the evidence is a type of geologic formation called a seismite caused by sand being shaken during an earthquake. A large modern earthquake had a seismite of 11 inches. The earthquake at the time of the flood produced seismites 24 to 30 feet!

If the Revelation 16 earthquake is bigger than that … !!!

I have watched this video four times, and parts of it more than that.

In-depth Explanation of What Caused Noah’s Flood – Dr. Kurt Wise

Part of the reason I’ve watched it so often is I’m a science nerd and the material presented is very interesting. But more than that, I think, is renewing my mind from all the “millions and billions of years” lies I was taught in school. Every time I watch a good creation-science video I’m more sure of the Genesis creation account. God did create the universe in six literal 24-hour days, about 6000 years ago. Noah’s flood did happen, and Jesus is coming back soon and will reign on earth 1000 years. After that this whole creation goes bye-bye and a new heavens and earth are created.

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 20:11 – 21:4 NKJV

I would have given more links to Wikipedia articles, but they are very biased to the evolution-timescale deception. Here’s part of the article about one of the scientists Dr. Wise talks about in his presentation.

Baumgardner is a Christian who sometimes pursues pseudoscientific creationist research. He has, for example, created a computer simulation called Terra to model the Noachian flood.^[1][3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Baumgardner

Many choose to be willfully ignorant. Don’t be like them.

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:1-7 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.