How to Live in a Divine Paradox – October 2024 Newsletter

October 2024

Dear Friend of Creation, Mark Cadwallader

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears,

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.”

– Hymn, This Is My Father’s World, M. Babcock, 1901

My grandmother used to sing this hymn celebrating God in His creation – it was her favorite. Now in heaven she has much more magnificently wonderful music to participate with! Music is itself such a wonderful part of God’s creation and gift to mankind. Last month I wrote about The Hallelujah Chorus and its musical rendition for the words of the great celebration at the 2nd Coming from the Book of Revelation. Words set to music engage our minds and emotions powerfully, and can draw us into the presence of God (Ephesians 5:18-19). You can read more about sound and music in creation in chapters 14, 15, and 16 of the book, Truth is Beauty: Enjoying the Cream, one of our featured offers below.

Though it conveys great truth, This Is My Father’s World represents a paradox. Indeed, the Bible says that Satan, the devil, is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the whole “world lies under the power of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). So, simultaneously, and paradoxically, this is our Heavenly Father’s “world” – filled with the Creator’s innumerable marvels and wondrous beauty to delight our senses and occupy our own creativity and inquiry. Yet it also belongs to Satan, and is suffering the consequences of man’s sin (Genesis 3:16-19) in league with great evil and deception under the devil (one example of this being the ubiquitous acceptance of evolution as science).

Indeed, the Bible teaches and proclaims certain paradoxes:

Paradoxes are resolved not by arguing that it must be either one OR the other, but that the answer is both and something more that we may not yet understand or perceive with our particular personality and experience. If both are not believed the biblical truth is out of balance and you fall into heresy. The Bible speaks of great mysteries, and it is important that we don’t over-rationalize and insist on pulling God down to our level of logic in three dimensions of space and one dimension of time. He transcends us as a potter transcends his pot and wheel.

So while people try to “do their thing”, and “make history”, God can intervene anytime He wants – in many ways, including miracles. He does so in response to prayer, and for His own purposes. He does so in great historical moments such as the miraculous evacuation of British and French troops from Dunkirk in World War II. This was a tremendous answer to prayer by the people of Great Britain – we’ll talk more on that another time.

And consider the amazing history of George Washington in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). As a young officer on horseback, he stood out as a favored target of the enemy. Yet he was miraculously preserved as the only officer not shot down from his horse. Bullet holes were found in his hat and his coat, and horses were shot out from under him. He believed it was God who protected him. This history of the father of our country used to be in textbooks, acknowledging divine providence in protecting this historically “indispensable man” for the establishment of the American Nation and the success of the Constitutional Convention. But materialist Humanism, founded on evolution, has taken over as the philosophy of education so that history is now taught without acknowledgment of the supernatural involvement of God.

Consider also the bullet which President Ronald Reagan took to the chest in 1981. It went into his lung, striking a pulmonary artery and lodging on the border of his heart, but the explosive bullet never exploded. President Reagan wrote in his papers that the reality of divine protection impressed upon him from the experience of nearly being shot to death only increased his calling and resolve to defeat the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

Now the 45^th President, Donald Trump, has survived two very close calls from attempted assassinations.One of them he survived only because his head happened to swivel at just the right moment so that the bullet grazed the inside of his upper ear instead of entering his head. He too says he feels God is protecting him for a purpose.

There is indeed a tension between the great truths of this being both the Father’s world and Satan’s age. Both are true. And it is true that we must both 1) pray, give, and work to know Christ and to make Christ known, as well as exercise our responsibility to vote. While also 2) resting in faith that God is Sovereign and shares His wonderful presence with us now and has something glorious in store for those who follow and cleave to the Savior!

The more a materialist worldview like evolution is accepted without question, the easier it becomes for biblical views to be cast aside. Political leaders and dominant parties promote unlimited abortion, “gender fluid” restrooms, gender reassignment mutilations, as well as other evil and destructive policies. All the more reason to pray. Pray “deliver us from evil”. Pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”. That’s what the Savior taught us. Pray “effectually and fervently” as it says in James 5:16. And finally, rest in the sentiment of the last verse of M. Babcock’s great hymn:

“This is my Father’s world. Oh let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done,

Jesus who died shall be satisfied

And earth and heaven be one.”

Please pray for Creation Moments and give generously, as we fulfill our mission of “Proclaiming Evidence for Truth” to a world desperate for the truth of our Heavenly Father – and for salvation that only comes through our Savior and Creator!

Yours in Christ,

Mark Cadwallader, Board Chairman

This month I am pleased to send you a “creation classic” by the founder of the modern creationist movement, Dr Henry M. Morris – Creation and the Second Coming. God’s great plan of redemption and salvation through Christ is underway and will culminate with His triumphant return. But before this event, the Bible tells of a clear set of signs that mark the final days. Dr. Morris reveals how each sign is an outgrowth of evolutionary humanism or pantheism. To understand the end, you must understand the beginning!

I think you will also enjoy The Bulletproof George Washington by Christian historian, David Barton. In it, riveting details of heroism and divine providence are written with a great reminder that God leaves His imprint on history – we simply tend not to notice nor credit the circumstances to Him. This is a great gift for young people in the upcoming season of giving!

As mentioned above, Truth is Beauty: Enjoying the Cream – Of Creation, Christ, and Critical Thinking About the Works of God and Man is part of our offerings this month. This is a second printing and revision of my book The Beauty of Truth published last Christmas. With 50 short chapters addressing various topics of science, culture, and scripture, it is a book to help people truly appreciate the truth of the Bible and the wisdom and love of God in Creation and Christ! Another great book to give to others, with an appendix containing the plan of salvation. Volume discounts are available!

To receive all or either of these outstanding resources, please click here. After selecting your items, the check-out page will also provide an opportunity for you to partner with us by adding a donation of any amount to support our Biblical World Wide Gospel Outreach. You can also call us at 1-800-422-4253 during regular office hours (Mon – Th 8:30 am-4:30 pm CST).