Nebuchadnezzar’s Wise Men

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Dale Babinsky under Article

Perhaps you have heard of or seen a magician, who as part of their act reads the mind of a member of the audience. If so, you know how impressive this seems on the surface. Just how is it that a man can read the thoughts of another human being? Later, when you find that there is some sort of trick or gimmick to explain the ‘magic,’ you realize that man just does not have the ability to read minds. This, however, is not a new discovery.

In the second chapter of the book of Daniel, we have recorded for us that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a most troubling dream. He called for all of his wise men to come to him and tell him what the dream was and what it meant. The wise men of Babylon were perplexed. Without any sort of clues, or without Nebuchadnezzar telling them about the dream, there was no way for them to determine what the dream even was, not to mention what it might have meant. They correctly stated that, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (Daniel 2:10b-11 NKJV). They understood that the power to know what was in the mind of a man was not something that another man had the ability to discern.

This same truth holds today as well. We are told in the New Testament, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). Man cannot read the thoughts of another man. That is what makes Daniel’s description and interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that much more impressive. Daniel was only able to tell the king of his dream and what it meant, because God made that information known to Daniel in the first place (Daniel 2:19-23).

This event should prove to us that there is a God who knows all things. Only such a God could be able to tell Nebuchadnezzar through His servant Daniel the details of his dream. Likewise, there are things about God Himself that man can only know because God has revealed those things to us. It is in God’s word, the Holy Bible that we can find out about who God is and what He is like. Let us not neglect the great volume of information that we have at our fingertips about our God and about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Is Doomsday Approaching?

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Dale Babinsky under Article

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reported this week that we are now two minutes closer to midnight on their Doomsday Clock, having moved us from five minutes to midnight to just three. Citing the amount of nuclear weapons in the world and human climate change, they feel that we are close to extinguishing the human race through some sort of doomsday catastrophe.

Kennette Benedict, the director of the group, says, “The probability of global catastrophe is very high. This is about the end of civilization as we know it” (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/22/doomsday-clock-three-minutes-to-midnight/22158457/). Interestingly, the clock was once just two minutes to midnight in 1953 following the testing of a new nuclear bomb. Even though there were no fears of “global warming” and there were not as many nuclear weapons in 1953, we were closer to extinction then than we are now according to this scientific group.

So is this the case? Are we closing in on Doomsday? Let us put aside the dubious nature of the “scientific” proof of climate change for the moment. Instead let us address the question as to whether man is able to bring life on this planet to an end. Is man able to destroy the planet? These scientists would answer that question in the affirmative, but is that really the case?

Scripture tells us who is really in control of the planet and all that goes on in it, and it is not man. In Daniel 2, the prophet tells us that it is God who “changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him” (Daniel 2:21-22 NKJV). Man may desire to know what is going to happen in the future, but to us that is darkness. It cannot be seen by man. God, however, is the one who knows what is in the darkness. Thus we might say that we do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

Additionally, God made a promise to mankind through Noah that nothing was going to stop the changing of the seasons while the earth remains (Genesis 8:22). So while we are running around on this planet, to and fro, worrying about when the end will come, we must realize that we are not the ones who are in control of the planet. It is God, the One who created it all (Psalm 19:1). God will bring all things to an end when He sees fit to do so. Jesus reported that of that day and time, no one knows. Even He did not know when that would be. Only the Heavenly Father has that answer (Matthew 24:36).

Instead of worrying about Doomsday, what every person on this planet should concern themselves with is whether they are ready to pass from this life into eternity. What does grow closer everyday is the appointment that we have with eternity. One day we will all pass from this life to the next, and we need to be ready for that day. Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:42-44). No one knows when they will die, but we all know that we will someday, unless the Lord returns first. The question is, are you ready for that day to come?

A Religion of Peace?

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Dale Babinsky under Article

This week in the West African country of Niger, there has been an uprising of Muslims against churches of other faiths. In the uprising, it has been reported that 45 church buildings have been set afire and many people have been injured or killed as a result of the activity. All of this was brought on by a French cartoon published by Charlie Hebdo. It is amazing that all of this violence could be brought about by a cartoon in another country.

Just what is to be accomplished in attacking those who have no connection to Charlie Hebdo and burning their buildings? How could anyone call this a normal reaction to a cartoon depicting Mohammed? Some of those who are calling for calmer heads to prevail are saying that this response does not fit with Islam, since it is a religion of peace. Is that so?

According to the beliefs of Islam, the world is divided into two camps. Those who are in submission to Islam are Dar-al-Salaam (the House of Peace). Those who are not in submission are Dar-al-Harb (the House of War). Those who will not submit to Islam are subject to jihad, or holy war, to either convert them at the point of a sword, or to kill them (Sura 2:191; 8:39; 9:123; 47:4). This hardly sounds like a religion of peace.

By contrast, the God of the Bible calls on His followers to live at peace with all of mankind. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV, emphasis added). Over and over again we are reminded that God is a God of peace (Romans 14:17; 15:33; 16:20; 1 Cor. 14:33). Paul wrote to the Corinthians that “God has called us to peace” (1 Cor. 7:15b) and that they should, “Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11). In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said that the peacemakers were blessed, because they shall be called the sons of God.

We should strive to call things as they truly are, and not as we would wish them to be. We may want for Islam to be a religion of peace. We may wish for the fundamentalist adherents to the writings of Muhammed to want to live at peace with the rest of mankind and to show tolerance to others. However, that is not the reality of the situation. It is our wish that all men would come to God, recognize their sinful nature, realize their lost condition, see the need for Christ, and obey the Gospel and live at peace with all of mankind. Then, and only then, will we have a peace that transcends all human creeds. Then, and only then, can we have peace with God.

Don’t I Know You?

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Dale Babinsky under Article

Maybe this has never happened to you, or maybe it has. You walk into a store and you see someone who looks familiar to you. You know that you know them from somewhere, but you cannot recall their name or where you know them from. Perhaps you walk up to them and say, “Don’t I know you?”

While it is often easy for us to remember faces, remembering names or where we may have seen someone before can sometimes be difficult. Many times it does not matter that we cannot remember every passing acquaintance in our lives, because most likely they do not remember us either.

However, if this is a person that we have an intimate relationship with, we had better remember their name and where we know them from! This leads to the question of whether or not we know God, and if He knows us. The importance of knowing God, really knowing Him, is seen in Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians. Paul writes, “and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 1:7-8). Since Jesus will take vengeance on those who do not know God, it is imperative that we know Him.

It is also important that God knows who we are. Towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus declares that those who call Him Lord, but fail to do the will of the Father will be like those He does not know. They will be told to depart from Him for eternity (Matthew 7:21-23). We need to know God. We need for God to know us. Do you know Him today?

Can You Carry Me?

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Dale Babinsky under Article

When my daughter was much younger we all went on a hiking vacation together to Acadia National Park in Maine. Each day as we hiked, she had little desire to take the easy paths. She loved to hike the more difficult paths and climb over the rocks, all the while looking for the next trail marker. At some point in the day, however, her little legs would tire out. She would turn to me and ask, “Can you carry me, Daddy?”

There are times when we are walking in our journey of life, where we feel the same way. We don’t know if our tired legs will hold up any longer, we grow weary, and we want someone to carry us. It is at those times that we should rely upon the Lord to help carry us along. The words of scripture tell us that “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NKJV). “In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God” (Psalm 62:7). Jeremiah called out to God and said, “O Lord, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction” (Jeremiah 16:19a).

Jesus offers to help us get through life, if we will choose to follow Him. He told His disciples, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). He wants to help us to continue to endure, when we are weary of life and its struggles. Therefore, why would we hesitate to come to Him?

As a child of God, we can come to Him and ask Him to help us bear our load. If we will only do our part, by obeying Him and coming to Him in prayer with our requests, He is faithful to hear us and to come to our aid. Notice that Jesus said that we are to come to Him when we are heavy laden. Have you come to Jesus? If not, why not? He is waiting for you now!

New Beginnings

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

In just two days we begin our journey into a new year, 2015. With each passing year, time seems to move more swiftly than it did when I was younger. Still, each year provides us with an unexplored opportunity to make a new resolution for what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. We tend to be very good at making resolutions for the New Year, but most of the time we fail to follow through on our good intentions.

As we look towards the 365 days that now lay before us, let us think about some of those important things that we would like to achieve in the coming year. Perhaps we want to lose weight, or read a book, or be more involved with our families in 2015. Whatever our goals, it is important that we remember God in our planning. In Luke 12:13-21 we read the parable of the rich fool. He had made plans for what he intended to do with all of his goods with a resolution to build bigger barns to store his produce. Tragically, he failed to include God in his plans, and he is thus called a fool by Jesus.

The problem with this man was not that he made plans, but that he failed to include God in his planning. He was laying up treasures for himself, but was not rich toward God (Luke 12:21). As we plan for the coming year, let us not make the same mistake. Let us be sure to include God in our plans for 2015. Let us see if we can draw ourselves closer to Him through this year’s resolutions!

Speaking in Tongues – Part III

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

In the first two lessons of this series we examined the purpose of speaking in tongues and the limited duration of this spiritual gift. Finally, we want to consider what rules for the use of this particular spiritual gift were put into place by God. In this lesson, we will answer the question of what rules were to govern the use of the gift of tongue speaking. Once again we will turn to Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians for an answer to our question about the rules for tongue speaking.

Rule #1 – If one speaks in tongues and there is no one to interpret, he is only speaking to God (1 Cor. 14:2). This is not to be desired in the worship assembly as the church is not edified by the tongue speaker (1 Cor. 14:3-5). It does no benefit to others if I preach the greatest sermon in the world in Latin and no one can understand what has been said.

Rule #2 – Tongues could be interpreted (1 Cor. 14:5). This means that the tongue speaker does not speak some unknown gibberish, but a known language that could be interpreted by others. Like a missionary to Africa who only can speak English, without one to interpret the message into Swahili, his words will be meaningless to the crowd. This point is illustrated by Paul in the passage that follows (1 Cor. 14:6-12). Notice here that Paul makes reference to the many languages of the world, which supports the fact that the tongues being discussed are known languages of the world.

Rule #3 – Without an interpreter, speaking in tongues was useless (1 Cor. 14:13-19, 27). Paul asks how anyone can say ‘Amen’ to our blessing if they cannot understand the words of our public prayer (1 Cor. 14:16). Again, if I pray in Latin and no one can understand what is said, it does them no benefit and they have no opportunity to share in the blessing by being able to say ‘amen’ to the prayer. We are told to sing and pray with understanding, so to do either without being understood by others does them no benefit. Paul would rather speak 5 words that are understood than 10,000 words in a foreign tongue that are unknown to the listener (1 Cor.14:19).

Rule #4 – All things in the worship service were to be done for the edification of the whole body (1 Cor. 14:26). Once again, we have seen that speaking in a foreign tongue does nothing to edify the rest of the congregation who cannot understand what is said without an interpreter. All things are to be ruled by the edification that is created for the hearers.

Rule #5 – Tongue speakers were limited to 2 or 3 per service (1 Cor. 14:27).

Rule #6 – Tongue speakers were to speak one at a time and not all at once (1 Cor. 14:27). This comes back to the need for there to be an understanding of what has been said. One cannot understand if everyone is speaking at the same time.

Rule #7 – If there was no one to interpret the tongue, the speaker was to keep silent (1 Cor. 14:28). This means that the tongue speaker had control over their gift. They did not fall into some sort of a trance. They were not forced to speak. They fully had the option to keep silent if they were going to speak in Latin (or any other language that the listeners would not understand) and no one would be able to tell what had been spoken.

In reviewing the purpose, duration, and rules for use with regards to the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, we can draw a few conclusions. First, the purpose of tongue speaking was to confirm the word. Second, the duration of tongue speaking was limited until the completion of the New Testament writings. Third, the rules for the use of tongues shows us that tongues were not unknown gibberish, but known languages of the world and there were at least 7 rules for the use of the spiritual gift of tongues. This can be a difficult subject to understand, but by reviewing God’s holy word we can arrive at the truth of the matter.

How Many Are There?

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

Have you ever looked around and wondered why there are so many different religious organizations or churches in the world? It seems that there are new religions popping up everyday in most places around our country. What is even more confusing is that most of these religious groups are all teaching and preaching a different message. In many ways the message of one group is a directly opposed to the message of another. Can all of these be true to the directions of God? Is God’s message to man really full of oppositions and contradictions? Is truth relative?

Consider what we find written in God’s word in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (NKJV).” Notice in this passage that there are many faiths (one) and as many bodies (one) as there are Lords and Gods (also just one). We can also see that the body is the church by reading further in the Ephesian letter (Ephesians 5:23) and in the book of Colossians (Colossians 1:18, 24).

Since we see in God’s word that there is just one body – just one church – then we should do all that we can to make sure that we are in that one church. This is the church that Jesus promised to establish (Matthew 16:16-19). This is the church that was established on that day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2). Back in the first century there was only one church that the believers were a part of. There were not different denominations on every corner or on every street. Let us strive to belong to that church that was built by God!

Much Ado About (Next to) Nothing

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Christian Evidences

In the news this week is a story about the “God particle” that scientists and evolutionists are eagerly anticipating will help them to understand the origin of the universe. This surfaced in the news this week, because of the preface to a new book by famed physicist Stephen Hawking. He warns that the experiments in particle collision to try to ‘recreate’ the God particle could lead to a cataclysmic catastrophe that we would never see coming. Hawking warns that a vacuum caused by the particle could lead to a sudden collapse of time and space.

Not to worry, though, as additional scientists point out that the collider to cause this catastrophe would have to be larger than the earth. In the “current economic climate” this is seen as something that would be impossible to construct. Really?! One wonders where they would build this experiment that would have to be larger than the earth (anyone have a few acres they could contribute?).

The idea of the “God particle” was first conceived by British scientist Peter Higgs in the 1960’s, and was ‘discovered’ in 2012. Scientists believe that this particle creates an invisible energy field that causes small particles to gain mass and shape as they pass through the field. Let’s break that down. What they are looking for is a force that would cause small particles from the Big Bang to grow in mass (size) and that would shape them into planets, stars, comets, asteroids, etc. Um, have you heard of God?

What most people will fail to realize is that this does not explain the origin of the universe. Where did the small particles come from? Where did the initial energy and material come from to create the supposed Big Bang? Evolutionary ‘scientists’ can kick the can down the road as far as they like, but they still cannot answer these fundamental questions about the origin of the universe and all that is in it. True scientific laws of nature show that matter could not have been created out of nothing, without some sort of supernatural direction. Therefore, they are arguing against science.

In the news article the statement is made that this “God particle” has been confirmed by recent scientific discovery, but then there is a statement that scientists do not fully understand it all yet. So which is it? Have they really discovered something? How can they claim to have discovered something that gives them understanding, and then turn around and say that they still don’t understand it? Their argument would seem to beg the question.

As for the potential destruction of the planet by the “God particle,” the question would be who is it that holds the future of the universe in their hands? Is it the population of a small, seemingly insignificant planet when compared to the vastness of the universe, or an all knowing, all powerful God, who created it all (Gen. 1:1; Psalm 19:1; Heb. 1:3)? God has said, “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22 NKJV). It is God who is in control. It is God who has made all that is seen and unseen. It is God who will decide when the end will come (Mat. 24:36).

Did We Get Something From Nothing?

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Christian Evidences

Evolutionary scientists have struggled to adequately explain the origin of the universe since, without an outside force (God), the beginnings of all things cannot be scientifically proven. Indeed, the first and second laws of thermodynamics, scientific laws of matter and energy, prove just the opposite conclusion that evolutionists would have us believe. In the end we see that it takes a greater amount of blind faith in the so called ‘scientific experts’ in order to believe in a God-less evolution, than the faith based on tangible evidence in God’s creation of the universe and all that is in it.

The first law of thermodynamics clearly states that matter/energy cannot be created or destroyed within the confines of nature. In accordance with this law, matter could not have created itself, or just suddenly appeared from nothing. What this means to us is that the matter in the universe could not have spontaneously appeared. The material that makes up our planet, our solar system, and the universe therefore had to come from somewhere. To suggest that matter suddenly came into being from nothing, as some evolutionists maintain, is to argue against unchangeable, natural laws.

The second law of thermodynamics states that as systems age they fall victim to entropy. This means that things tend to decline, or wear out, over time. We can certainly look around us and see that this is the case. If we do not maintain a car’s engine, for instance, how long will it be before the motor seizes up and fails to function as designed? We only need to look at our own bodies to see that over time we wear out and break down. When we compare this scientific law to the idea that life progressed and became more sophisticated over the course of time, we can see that the idea that we all evolved from a single celled organism is not in tune with the unchangeable laws of science.

Now imagine, if you will, that you drive to the shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio. Once you arrive at the lake, you completely disassemble your vehicle and put all of the parts, the oil, the gasoline, the antifreeze, etc. into the lake. This becomes our ‘primordial soup’ if you will. Then you get a ride (since you disassembled your car) to the bottom of Niagara Falls (outside energy force/”big bang” event). Standing at the bottom of the falls, you find your car after it had come over the massive waterfall. What’s more, your car is completely assembled and the engine is running. This is the blind faith, in events that cannot be proven, that it takes to believe in the macro-evolution process that so many people have the audacity to call “science.”

In contrast, consider the only other option, which is mandated by the obvious design that we see in the universe. That other option is that the universe and all that is in it was created by God as stated in Genesis 1:1. The evidence is all around us. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1, NKJV). When we take the time to fully consider the issue, we see that evolutionary theory cannot answer the question of the origin of the universe in the light of the scientific laws of nature designed by God.

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