In 1816, Harvard Divinity School was established to ensure that “every encouragement be given to the serious, impartial, and unbiased investigation of Christian truth.” Harvard University started was founded by the early Puritan colonists with a mission to educate pastors. The university has changed focus since then, and that shift is illustrated by the latest news: The newly elected president of Harvard’s chaplains organization DOESN’T BELIEVE IN GOD. He’s an atheist. Greg Epstein has been the “humanist chaplain” at Harvard since 2005. He’s the author of a book called Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe.
Paul wrote this to Timothy TOMMY, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, SCOFFING AT GOD, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider NOTHING SACRED. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and LOVE PLEASURE RATHER THAN GOD. They will ACT RELIGIOUS, but they will REJECT THE POWER that could MAKE THEM GODLY. STAY AWAY from people like that!” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
Jesus told us, “Don’t let anyone MISLEAD YOU, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.” (Matt. 24:4-5)
HERE ARE SOME WAYS THESE PRACTICES CAN AFFECT OUR LIVES:
- Nourishment: The Bible is food that nourishes our spiritual life. Hebrews 5:12-14 describes the teachings of God’s Word as both milk and solid food – both providing the spiritual nutrients we need in order to grow.
- Cleansing: God’s Word renews our minds and cleanses our hearts (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26).
- Guidance: God’s Word shines a light on our pathway and shows us the right way to journey. David said in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
- Strength and Security: God’s Word gives us strength to overcome the trials, tests, and difficult circumstances that come our way. Jesus tells us: “As for everyone who comes to me and HEARS MY WORDS AND PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it. But the one who does not put my word into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:47-49)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham