[Daniel having received a glorious revelation from God was told,]
[Daniel 12:4
4 But thou, O
Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book,
even to the time of the end:
many shall run to
and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.]
[I once saw a report that claimed that before 1920 the average person
would rarely travel more than 40 miles from their home.
When you think about this it makes sense, because people did not own
cars and travel was not easy.
Most people lived off their land and worked the ground on very small family
farms to provide for their families.
Their time was consumed by their survival.
When one thinks about this then it bring new light to those pilgrims
who traveled across the Atlantic to an unknown land to establish colonies
here in North America. They
risked everything to establish this land of hope, this land of the free.]
[But Daniel was told that in “ . . .
the time of the end:
many shall run to
and fro, . . .”
and If that prophecy isn’t being fulfilled today.
In our culture it is hard to keep people close to home.
With each passing day the world grows smaller and smaller.
Just the other day I saw a Fox News article that claimed that a new
jet engine has been tested that, if developed for commuter jets, would fly a
person from NY to Los Angeles in less than 50 minutes.
It is hard to look up in the sky today and not see a flight of
passengers overhead going somewhere.
With our cars today we travel farther without much thought than our
great grandparent’s dared to dream to go.]
[But there is a second part to this prophecy which is more my focus this
morning. Daniel was told, “ . .
. even to the time of the end:
many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased.”
In the last 50 years knowledge has truly increased.
It has not multiplied but knowledge has increased exponentially.
Through the internet, and the multitude of colleges and institutions
of higher learning knowledge has grown and continues to grow.
But what has this explosion of knowledge and learning done for
mankind worldwide?]
[The incredible growth and availability of learning and knowledge has
brought us some remarkable advances.
We have in our midst today,]
-
[Some who have been blessed with
joint replacement surgery. The
pain they once suffered from a damaged or worn joint is now gone and
they are healed through our wonderful medical sciences and advancement.]
-
[Some have been blessed by the
relief of Carpal Tunnel surgery.
The numbness, irritation, and
even pain they once experienced from this condition has been repaired by
this incredible new medical science.]
-
[Some have been blessed by
Cataract surgery. That cloudy
membrane or growth having been removed and a new prescription lens
implanted in the eye have allowed some to see without glasses for the
first time in their lives. What
an incredible advancement.]
[These are just a few of the medical advancements we are blessed with
through our increase in knowledge and learning.
So much of this increase of knowledge must be viewed as good and
helpful to mankind. However,
there are some increases in knowledge that are undeniably detrimental to
mankind. For instance,]
-
[The Chemical sciences, which
have given us many advancements, have also given us home brewed Meth
Cocaine which is often instantly addictive and destructive to those who
yield to its enticement.]
-
[The home internet, which has
given us instant access to a multitude of information, has also provided
our families with instant pornography and virtual immortality
which is also addictive and plagues as many as six out of ten of
the homes across America.]
[Without any doubt the advances
of our culture has darkened the hearts of almost all of us (vs 21).
Things that were perhaps heard of sixty years ago are now studied if
not experienced by almost every public educated youth across America today.
So that our text has become our experience today.
Our text states,]
[Romans 1:21-22
21 Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified
him not as God, neither were
thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened. 22 Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, ]
[I never thought that I would agree with a Catholic priest, however,
just this week, as Russia celebrate a newly established Christian holiday an
Orthodox Catholic Priest called upon Russian citizens to resist the
resurgent paganism
(atheism) that was now plaguing their culture.
I agree with this Priests description.
Our world is falling into a resurgent paganism and America is not
exempt. Somehow, as this
predicted exponential growth of knowledge is pouring itself upon all of
humanity many are turning away from God and the Lord Jesus Christ and our
world in “Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools” (vs 22).
The spiritual heart of our world has become dark indeed.]
[What has led to this darkened worldly wisdom?
Paul warned,]
A.
They Changed The Glory Of God
(vs 23) [– And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into
an image made like
to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things.
– This Is
Humanism. Humanism is not
to be confused with Humanitarianism.
Humanitarianism is one showing compassion and benevolent kindness
toward our fellow human beings.
We all ought to value the life and rights of one another.
Humanism is
exalting and elevating mankind to a level of preeminence in life.
It is to declare oneself as the final authority or the god of their
life. In humanism one dethrones
God and enthrones themself.
Understand that one does not have to be an atheist to be a humanist.
Many believe there is a God but they just recognize themselves as an
authority even over God.
[These people,
as they fall into humanism, change the Glory of God.
How do we express or see the Glory of God?]
[Psalm 19:1
1 The heavens
declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. ]
[We see the
Glory of God in the creation of
God, when we recognize the incredible wisdom of God in His creation.
He is the architect of all things.
We see his Glory in the cosmos, we also see His glory in the hidden
DNA and its miraculous organization. All of Creation declares and reveals
the awesome glory of God. When
we stop attributing the wonder of creation to its creator then we change the
glory of God.]
[These then are
ruled by,]
1.
Their Inventions (vs 23, 21;
Deut 29.29) [–
And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God
into an image made
like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things.-
These are the circumstances of
their environment. They
exchange the glory of God for those things that are around them.
Mankind, the birds, the beasts, the creeping things.
These are the things that they have knowledge about.
In other words their knowledge has become their authority and their
God.]
[Pseudo-Science
– The problem with the increased
knowledge of our day is that many have begun to accept every educated theory
of mankind as scientific truth, even if it is not scientific fact.
The word Science means To Know, but much of what is claimed to be
science is not known at all; it is merely assumed or theorized.
Yet most people claim these ideas as scientific fact, as if there is
nothing that mankind cannot know.
A good example of this is the theory of evolution.
Look at what our text stated,]
[Romans 1:21
21 Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified
him not as God, neither were
thankful;
but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ]
[Folks, when
our Science is based on human ideas rather than scientific fact then our
science becomes pseudo-science and our hearts, our beliefs become darkened.]
[I am reminded
that there are many things that mankind just does not know and there will
always be a multitude of things that mankind is yet discover.
God said,]
[Deuteronomy 29:29
29 The secret
things belong unto the Lord our God: but those
things which are revealed
belong unto us and to our
children for ever, that we
may do all the words of this law. ]
[I remind you
that a hundred years ago mankind, science, thought that the center of a
molecular cell was merely filled with some membrane or plasma, today we know
that a cell contains DNA and all of the structures that make DNA work and
function.]
[Be careful
about assuming that mankind has somehow become a god unto himself.
We are not gods and you are not even the authority that you think you
are in your own life. What will
be the result of Humanism in your life?]
2.
Their Immorality (vs 24; Col
2.8) [- Wherefore God also gave them up
to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own
bodies between themselves:
- When a person and a culture turns
to humanism, and makes their culture, their knowledge, their perceived
circumstances into their authority then their values will become situational
and their darkened hearts will guide their decisions and life.
Our world is situational in its ethics, this is not shocking.
But when professed Christians become situational in their ethics now
that is astounding.]
[Among
Christians today it is astounding to see how many people who profess to
believe in God and call themselves Christian allow all kinds of sin into
their life. What has happened?
They too have exchanged the unchanging truth of God, the immutability
of God, and the Word of God for the pseudo-science of our culture and
world.]
[This happens
when professing Christians think, “Well if our educated, intelligent,
studied authorities say something is right then it must be right.
So I will just blend my faith with their proclaimed truth.”
This is syncretism in action.
The Word of God warns,]
[Colossians 2:8
8 Beware lest
any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of
men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ]
[The end result
of Humanism, or a heart that believes the studies and knowledge of man more
than God, will always be Immorality.]
B.
They Changed The Truth Of God
(vs 25; 2 Tim 3.1-7) [– Who changed the
truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
–
This is
Intellectualism. You
can send your child to college and give him knowledge, but you cannot buy
wisdom. You can purchase an
education for your child, but you cannot purchase spiritual truth for him.
This ever expanding knowledge, to be found in these end times, was
prophesied nearly three thousand years ago by Daniel, and we are seeing
these days arise right around us today.
So that even what is written in Romans chapter one is being realized
in our own homes and families today.
Intellectualism is when one elevates their intellect to the highest
position in their life, or at least to a highly exalted position.
]
[Intellectualism goes hand in hand with humanism.
When you exalt mankind, or yourself to the position of authority in
your life then you must base your humanism upon those things you think you
know or those things known around you.
Notice what these worship,]
1.
Their Discoveries (vs 25) [–
Who changed the truth of God into a
lie,
and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for
ever. Amen. -
These worship themselves or the creation around them.
They are worshipping the things that they feel like they know.
Now, a humanist would argue that they are not worshipping creation.
Well, what do I mean by worshipping creation or knowledge.
I do not mean that they are building an idol or temple, bowing down
to it, and humming or something.
I mean that it
informs their intellect in such a way that it forms their belief system and
changes their actions or choices.
So these intellectualists have become so determined in their
knowledge that they can no longer serve God (the creator) anymore because
they now view God’s truth as a mere superstition.
After all the end result of worship is obedience.
When you worship God you will obey Him.
When you worship your intellect you will obey it.
When you worship humanity you will obey it.]
[What is the end result of
intellectualism?]
2.
Their Depravity (vs 26-32) [–
For this cause God gave them up unto
vile affections:
for even their women did change the natural use into that which is
against nature: 27 And likewise
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one
toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving
in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over
to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, 31 Without
understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the
judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death,
not only do the
same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
–
What did we just read? We just
read a description of the culture of our world today.
It is the resurgent paganism that is permeating not only our American
culture, but all of our world.]
[These humanist
and intellectualist have become so hardened in their minds that they come to
a point where they believe that they are proving their own divinity by
surviving those sins God has declared as abominable.]
[What We Need To Understand
-
The whole point of this message today is that the exponential growth of
human knowledge and its despicable results were all foreseen by God and
revealed in the Bible. Our Lord
warned us as Christians and warned all of humanity that these days would
come. We are reminded of, ]
[2 Timothy 3:1-7
1 This know
also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. 2 For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that
are good, 4 Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5
Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they
which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led
away with divers lusts, 7
Ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.]
[The point is
clear,]
·
[My
Christian brother and sister don’t be discourage by what you see happening
all around us. God said all of
this would occur. ]
·
[My
young growing Christian friend examine the pseudo-sciences of this world and
culture carefully, know your Bible very well, and you will discover with me
and many other well studied faithful Christians that there is nothing in
true science that has ever contradicted the Word of God and there never will
be.]
·
[My
lost, unbelieving friend there is a God in Heaven, Jehovah God, and He sent
His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, something this
worlds knowledge and sciences can never do for you.
What do you need to do?]
C.
They Need To Confirm The Reality
Of God
[Adrian Rodgers –
Romans one says there is nobody so
bad they can’t be saved, Romans Two says there is nobody so good they don’t
need to be saved.]
[Considering
what we have discovered about our world and culture as recorded in Romans
one, what do we need to do?]
1.
Be Committed To The Word Of
God (John 17.17; Psalm 19.7-9; James 1.21) [–
Never forget they changed the glory of God because they changed the truth of
God. Our Lord Jesus Christ
said,]
[John 17:17
17 Sanctify
them through thy truth:
thy word is truth.
]
[My Christian friend hear and heed
the Word of God!]
[Psalm 19:7-9
7 The law of
the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord
is sure, making wise the
simple. 8 The statutes of the
Lord are right, rejoicing
the heart: the commandment of the Lord
is pure, enlightening the
eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord
is clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether. ]
[To the lost,]
[James 1:21
21 Wherefore
lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with
meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ]
2.
Be Conformed To The Image Of
God (Rom 8.29) [– What is
the God’s goal and the goal of the Word of God?]
[Romans 8:29
29 For whom he
did foreknow, he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ]
3.
Be Converted By The Son Of
God (Matt 18.3)
[Matthew 18:3
3 And said,
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.]
CrossRoads Baptist Church, Aug 01, 2010
Home Page -
Accept Jesus Now! - Contact
Us
