I had once been an atheist actor in the entertainment industry and my purpose in life had been defined by my resume. In 2004, Christ Jesus saved me from myself. I now preach GOD's Word and my purpose is found in dying to myself daily while living for others.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’ ”
(Genesis 2:16-17) -ESV
Prosecution:
There exists four common objections to this specific Scripture:
If GOD is truly omnipresent (everywhere at all times) and omniscient (all-knowing), then why would GOD put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden if He knew Adam and Eve would sin while He was not around?
Even if GOD is truly omniscient and omnipresent, GOD cannot be truly omnibenevolent (all-good) because GOD didn’t care enough to prevent the serpent from tempting Adam and Eve and thus prevent them from falling into sin. If GOD is a good Father, He would protect His children, not banish them out of the garden for something He caused out from His own negligence.
Even if GOD is truly omnipresent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, GOD cannot be omnipotent (all-powerful) because GOD did not prevent the serpent from causing Adam and Eve to sin.
Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and did not die as Scripture promised. That’s an obvious contradiction!
Cross-examination:
“The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.”
(Proverbs 18:17) -NLT
Defense:
The skeptic is right to first call attention to the nature of GOD. For unless we understand who GOD is, we will never understand the reasoning behind anything in the Bible. Knowing that GOD’s thoughts and ways are far higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9), it is reasonable to expect that we will not understand everything. If your 3-pound, 15-centimeter brain could contain all knowledge about a god, then that god would be too small to be the real GOD. As it is, we don’t even possess all knowledge about the ocean within our own planet, much less the entire universe where our infinitesimal planet swirls about within our galaxy. So, do you truly expect to know everything about the one true GOD who created the entire universe? In the future, on the New Earth under the new heavens, when we meet Him face-to-face, I believe we will be given the wisdom to understand all that happened in the past; however, I do not believe we can presently know absolutely everything there is to know about GOD in this limited lifetime of learning during our process of sanctification. For this reason, it is written in 1Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”
But with that said, GOD has given us information from revelation in the form of GOD’s Word to provide us with answers to difficult questions. Granted, the skeptics will not trust the information from the Bible unless the Bible can be shown to be reliable and accurate. The investigation will reveal that the Bible is actually not full of contradictions, only apparent contradictions that require explanations. But even when the Bible can be acknowledged as reliable and accurate, one still needs to know if the Bible should be taken literally. Only after coming to the conclusion that the Bible is not only reliable and accurate but that the Bible is also inspired by GOD, the revelation can be trusted and then understood with the help from the Holy Spirit who speaks Truth and reveals Truth (John 14:26; 15:26; 1Corinthians 2:10).
So, it is first important to understand who we are talking about – the Creator GOD and the Source of all that exists. Second, we need to understand what we are talking about – GOD’s perfect plan! GOD has not chosen to reveal every detail of His plan to us all at once (Exodus 6:2-3; Matthew 24:36; 25:13; Mark 4:41; John 16:12; Acts 1:7; 1Corinthians 13:12). We can only know what He chooses to reveal. And, since we are part of that plan, we are responsible to it, even if we do not fully understand it or agree with it at times. However, there are some things GOD has revealed to us:
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not a bad tree. Everything that GOD made – including the tree – was “good” (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25). In fact, after creating Adam and Eve, creation was declared to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). The origin of sin in this story came from the serpent, Adam, and Eve; the tree did not sin; the tree was good for the specific purpose for which it had been created.
Adam and Eve had every reason to trust GOD. The Creator did a good job creating them, and He placed them in a beautiful location where they had everything they needed. GOD was trustworthy, but Adam and Eve chose not to trust GOD.
Adam and Eve were created with freedom in mind. GOD places high value on our choice to obey Him, and He created Adam and Eve with freedom so that obedience would be possible. Life without freedom is not really life at all. GOD wisely gave them freedom, but Adam and Eve abused that freedom.
Adam and Eve were not ignorant of GOD’s boundaries. Just as wise teachers test their students on what they’ve learned and parents test their children with new responsibilities, GOD tested Adam and Eve in their obedience. However, GOD didn’t test them on what they didn’t know. They knew which tree was off limits, and they knew the consequences if they ate from it. The rules were plain, but they violated the rules anyway.
GOD provided for Adam and Eve. Before GOD told them not to eat of the tree, He told them they were “free to eat” of every other tree in the garden (Genesis 2:16). They were not in danger of starving, nor were they deprived of variety. They had an all-you-can-eat buffet in the garden, but Adam and Eve chose to place their focus on what they did not have rather than on what they did have.
The decision to sin opened the eyes of both Adam and Eve to the reality of evil. For the first time, they knew what it was to do evil, to feel shame, and to want to hide from GOD. Their sin of disobeying GOD brought corruption into their lives and into the world. Eating the fruit, as an act of disobedience against GOD, was what gave Adam and Eve the knowledge of evil – and the knowledge of their nakedness (Genesis 3:7-13).
Adam and Eve did die just as Scripture promised. The Fall was a separation which led to an eventual physical death of Adam and Eve. The physical death wasn’t immediate though the spiritual death was immediate. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
GOD’s perfect plan is much bigger than the original garden of Eden. His plan for His creation and His people did not end when Adam and Eve sinned. In fact, GOD’s plan from the very beginning was to redeem His people and His creation. The drama of the Fall and redemption could never have happened if the tree had not been in the garden. Indeed, GOD did know that Adam and Eve would sin and fall, but GOD’s plan was bigger than their sin.
Reasonable Response:
But why did GOD allow the sin? How could the permitting of the Fall be in alignment with the nature of the all-good, loving, and perfectly Holy GOD? From the first half of Romans 6:23, we know that the wages of sin is death; however, the other half of that verse provides the key to understanding why GOD permitted the Fall: “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The response to the perceived problem of the forbidden fruit is as follows:
GOD is love (1John 4:8,16)
GOD created humans in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27) and thus created us out from love for the purpose to love (Matthew 22:36-40).
GOD desires for us to know Him and for us to have a loving relationship with Him (Matthew 6:33).
For a mutual loving relationship to exist, free will is absolutely necessary.
From GOD’s omniscience, He knew that free will would be absolutely necessary; therefore, He gave us the great gift of free will.
Because GOD is omnibenevolent, He gives us free will and permits the consequences that come from created beings who possess free will.
Through GOD’s omnipresence and omnipotence, He created miracles in order to release the Israelites from slavery, set them up as a free people, and instituted the commandments and sacrificial system in order to reveal the standards of Holy perfection that are impossible to keep through a fallen and sinful people.
GOD set up the sacrificial system so that He could become the willing ultimate sacrifice on our behalf to atone for our sins, doing what we could never do on our own. For this reason, it is written in John 3:16-17, “16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
Closing Statement:
Understanding that GOD is wisdom enables us to put everything into proper perspective in order to help us see that GOD foresaw the Fall from free will. The Father’s wise, good plan included sending the Son into the world that Adam and Eve ruined. Think about it: from eternity past, GOD ordained that Jesus would become the victim of His own plan (Revelation 5). For this reason, it is written in John 10:17-18, “17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
The Good News (the Gospel) is that He guaranteed our redemption by His sacrificial crucifixion and miraculous resurrection. GOD foresaw the separation and created in advance the relentless rescue operation to build the bridge of salvation for our redemption. That’s how much GOD loves us. GOD did for us what we could never do by our own efforts. GOD loves us so much that He allowed us the freedom to choose wrong so that He can help us to see what is right. GOD has allowed us to experience the Fall, evil, and pain and suffering so that we can be grateful for the life that is to come. This limited lifetime of learning through our process of sanctification will become our comparison for completeness in Christ. And when we’re finally with Him, Adam and Eve will probably be the first ones to tell you that GOD’s commands are for our good, not to restrict us. On this present earth, which is destined for destruction by fire (Psalm 97:3-5; Isaiah 64:1-2; Amos 9:5; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5-6; 2Peter 3:7,10,12), GOD is showing us that the best humans can have apart from Him is pain and suffering. We ruin everything and that’s why we need Him. And that should be more than enough reason to trust in GOD on the New Earth under the new heavens where only righteousness dwells (2Peter 3:13; Revelation 20:15; 21:3-8,27). Death is merely graduation into the real life. Where we end up will be our choice. And that’s why Hell is justified. GOD loves you so much that He is going to allow you to choose where you end up: Heaven or Hell. So, what will you choose? GOD’s desire is that you will choose blessing over curse, life over death, good over evil, and that you will repent and live (Deuteronomy 11:26-28; 30:15-20; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 11:20; 12:41; Mark 1:15; 6:12; Luke 5:32; 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 17:30).
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ”
(John 14:6) -ESV
GOD desires for all people to be saved (1Timothy 2:4; 2Peter 3:9; John 3:16-17). However,do you need to be saved?
Superheroes, having the correct understanding of what is good and right, are full of love, and they are compelled to act out from love. This is the only reason we can distinguish the hero from the villain. Spider-Man doesn’t save a falling person from splatting on the ground because he hates the person he saves, right? The superhero saves someone from danger/death because he/she has love for the person he/she is saving. In stark contrast, the villain performs acts of evil, not love. Again, evil is merely a privation of what is good; hatred is a privation or lack of love. It is written in James 2:8 that we are doing right by living a life of love toward others. But what is love?
Love is not something we can have or hold like materialists would like us to believe. Not everything in life can be boiled down to materialism. Think about it: Can you describe the physical features of love or even the thought about love? How much does love weigh? Of what is the love molecule comprised? There is no infinity stone of love we can possess that can be contained in a gauntlet. In fact, of all the infinity stones Thanos (from the Avengers) had been able to collect that provided him with seemingly unlimited power and ability, it is evident that he lacked love, and that is why he had no qualms about murdering half of the created creatures in the universe—including his own daughter! In fact, Thanos had to sacrifice love in order to be able to obtain one of the infinity stones. Ultimately, Thanos traded love for power because he could not possess both.
But what is love? And why do humans possess the capability to love? If love is not a material that can be weighed, or measured, how are humans able to possess love? How do we even know that love exists? Does love exist? We know that love exists—not because humans have defined the term—but because the Creator provided the definition of love and humans live by that defined divine design.
Think about this: Oxygen—the air we breathe—exists whether humanity believes in it or not. In fact, oxygen exists even if humans call it something else. Humanity never created or invented oxygen; we merely discovered it. Likewise, love exists whether humanity believes love exists or not. Love exists even if humans call it something else. In fact, the definition of love is so confused by many humans because they believe it to be something it is not. Many people misuse the word love when they are actually referring to something else that love is not. And this is why it is important that the word love be clearly defined.
(1 John 4:7–8, NLT) “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
(1 John 4:19, ESV) “We love because he first loved us.”
Scripture makes sense. If GOD is love, then we would love because GOD first loved us because GOD created us. We are able to love because GOD is love and we are from GOD. If love is GOD, then we must know who GOD is so we can better understand what love is. So who is GOD? We will examine that in detail in Lesson 32, but for now suffice it to say that GOD is love and the absolute moral standard and therefore provides the definition of love (which we will soon examine and define). But we can also better understand love by examining what love is not.
Love Is Not An Emotion
Many people in the world claim that love is an emotion, but that simply isn’t true. Love affects our emotions and even causes us to produce emotions within us, but love is not an emotion in and of itself. You may claim that you can feel as if someone loves you, but love is not a feeling.
Love Is Not Sexual Intercourse
It is unwise to confuse sex for love and love for sex. Sex needs love to be relevant and meaningful; however, love does not need sex to be relevant and meaningful. A person can have sex with another person simply for the pleasure all while possessing no love for that individual. Examples of this, of course, is prostitution or rape. Such acts of sexual intercourse are meaningless because there is no love in the act of sex. That kind of sex serves a selfish purpose, but has no ultimate meaning. And of course, sex isn’t necessary for love to exist, to be relevant and be meaningful (I will expound upon this later when I define love). Now sex may be found in one of the definitions of love (Eros—I’ll get to this soon), but Eros is within the definition of love; love is ultimately selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. A distorted desire is often misconstrued, mistaken as love. It is unwise to confuse lust for love.
Even if love is not an emotion, a feeling, or even the act of sexual intercourse, does it matter if love can be clearly defined? If so, why does it matter? Consider what is written:
(1 Corin. 13:1–3, NLT) “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
The definition of love matters because GOD is love and GOD created us in His image (Gen. 1:27). For without GOD, love would not matter because life would ultimately be meaningless and purposeless. And if we are to be loving beings, it is important that we understand the definition of love.
What Is Love?
(1 Corin. 13:4–8, NLT) “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”
Love Is an Action
Though it is not specifically and solely the act of sexual intercourse, love is definitely an action; it is something we do. Read verses 4–7 again and take notice of the fourteen different active descriptions the Holy Spirit (via Paul) uses to define love (patience, kindness, etc.). It’s important to note that this is not Paul’s definition of love, but the definition of love written by Paul while he was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Love Is a Choice
The fourteen active descriptions are actions that we choose to do or not to do. There’s a nonsensical saying that states, “You can’t help who you love.” But yes—you can! We get to decide if we love and who we will love if we decide to love. And this is because we have free will (discussed in Lesson 41).
Also, there’s a saying that states, “I fell in love.” It sounds so romantic, but this is also nonsense. Love is not a hole or trapdoor we can fall in. You don’t fall in love any more than you fall out of love. Love is a choice. You choose to love. You choose not to love. People do not fall in love; people decide to love. People do, however, fall into the trapdoor of lust. When people talk about love at first sight, what they really mean is lust at first sight. Now is it possible to possess love for someone at first sight? General love? Yes. Complete love? No. Love in the sense that you want the best for someone? Yes. Love in the sense that you desire the best for someone despite all his/her flaws and mistakes? No. It’s not possible to love someone so deeply at first sight because you wouldn’t know the flaws and mistakes associated with the person. And how is it possible to truly love someone unless you love despite the flaws and mistakes?
Love, in a nutshell, is the good you will show toward someone and/or others. It’s treating someone else with the qualities described in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Take the Supreme Superhero (Jesus) as an example (after all, the Savior is the definition of love and the ultimate example of love):
(John 15:12–13, NLT) “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
However, the Supreme Superhero goes even further by commanding us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). And then the Savior did exactly that—Jesus went out and laid down His life for us by dying on the cross as our atoning sacrifice while being mocked, spat on, beaten, lacerated, and murdered by those who hated Him for no good reason. Love is caring more for others than for self because love is selfless. Love is sacrificial. Love is unconditional.
Love Defined
Unlike the English language, which uses the one word of love ambiguously, the ancient Greek language used different words to define the one word of love so that people wouldn’t be confused as to which definition of love should be inferred. Examine the four following words and their associated definitions:
• Storge/stergo—This is a familial love such as the love of a parent toward offspring and vice versa. Devotion can be a key word associated with this type of love.
• Phileo—This love is companionable and relational. It means brotherly/sisterly love or friendship. It carries the idea of two or more people who feel compatible with each other.
• Eros—This is the word for sexual or romantic love. In fact, this is where we get the word erotic. This word implies a sexual demand. And because it is unwise to confuse lust for love, it is imperative that we not confuse lust for Eros. The passion and intimacy of Eros is to be confined within the covenant bond between husband and wife, as was designed by the Designer. Lust is only about the pelvic thrust, to seek pleasure and fulfill a selfish desire. Lust is committed only to fulfilling a distorted desire whereas love (eros) is committed to fulfilling the needs of the partner within the covenant union. Therefore, be wise: pursue love and reject thoughts produced from the lustful lair of the Liar—they are lies created in the cave of the contemptible con artist and Counterfeiter, the Salesman that is Satan. Don’t buy the lies. Even a lustful look is adultery in the heart (Matt. 5:28). Money can’t buy you love. And no—that’s actually not from the Beatles—it’s from the Song of Solomon 8:7.
• Agape—This is the highest and deepest level of love. This is the ultimate love and is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. This is the love of GOD. This is the type of love all superheroes should possess.
(1 Pet. 4:8, NLT) “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
Love covers a multitude of sins? Is that true? Yes! In fact, that is exactly what Jesus did for us:
(Rom. 5:6–8, NLT) “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
For love, compassion is the key and empathy is everything:
(Luke 23:34, NLT) “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Jesus is able to see us as His precious people, not a pervasive problem such as a plague. The Savior sees us as eternal beings, not mortal enemies. The Supreme Superhero sees us as family who belong in His heavenly home, not failures to be flung in the fiery furnace. Hell is where evil belongs and will ultimately be quarantined, but GOD doesn’t desire for us to go to that awful place. In fact, the Lord desires for everyone to be saved and doesn’t take any delight in the destruction of the wicked (Ezek. 18:21–23; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).
Jesus is our awesome, ardent advocate who absorbed for us the penalty of sin. Apostle Paul assists us by providing an important reminder that helps us put people into proper perspective:
(Eph. 6:12, NLT) “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
It is of the utmost importance that all superheroes remember this: we are to hate evil/sin, but we are to love people.
Conclusion
1. Love never fails.
(Song of Sol. 8:7, NLT) “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.”
2. Love perfects us.
(1 John 4:12–18, NLT) “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
3. Love is supreme.
(1 Corin. 13:13, NLT) “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
Reflection
If you want to be a superhero, you must possess love and choose to love others. A superhero can only be a superhero if the hero first and foremost possesses love for others. Do you possess love for others? If not, you resemble a villain. But wait—is that a fair statement? Consider the words of the Supreme Superhero:
(Matt. 12:30, ESV) “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
The late and great Martin Luther King Jr. once posed a powerful question to the clergymen of Alabama in his renowned letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” He asked, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?”
And that’s not a fallacy of false dilemma—if we’re not loving others, then…we’re not loving people. Therefore, I implore everyone to examine the motives and intentions of each and every choice/decision you make. Are you able to recognize good from bad? Right from wrong? Are you living a life of love or hate? For if you’re not living a life of love, what are you doing and what is your life? I choose to live an extreme life of love (not lust), and I urge you to do the same. Don’t scatter. Be a gatherer. Ironically, the best way to be a gatherer of people is to scatter seeds of love. How many seeds of love can you sow today?
So ask yourself, do you love others? From where did you get this desire to love? Do you feel compelled to act out from love? If so, why do you think that is? All superheroes possess love for people. If you love people, then you possess one of the qualities of a superhero and you just might be one someday!
Superheroes choose to be righteous superheroes rather than evil villains.
Do humans possess free will? Did I decide to write this? Did you decide to read this? Without free will, some people would be born superheroes and some people would be born evil villains, yet both would be who they are without choice. But is that true? What about predestination? Predestination is the biblical doctrine that GOD (in His sovereignty) chooses certain individuals to be saved. But doesn’t this contradict free will? Predestination does not contradict free will; rather, predestination simply needs to be rightly understood.
Conceptions of the nature of human choice fall within three categories: determinism, indeterminism, and self-determinism. A determinist looks to actions caused by another, an indeterminist to uncaused actions, and a self-determinist to self-caused actions. Suffice it to say that it all boils down to free will. Do humans possess free will? If GOD has all control, doesn’t GOD ultimately guide everything we do? So are we ultimately saved because we choose to seek GOD? Does GOD guide those who choose to seek Him? Or are we ultimately saved because GOD ultimately predetermined who was to be saved? But if GOD guides or chooses who is to be saved, that means that GOD also predetermined who is not to be saved. But if that’s so, why would a loving GOD decide in advance for some people to go to Hell when this same GOD desires for all people to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)? After all, GOD does not delight in the death of the wicked; rather, the Lord desires for people to repent and live (Ezek. 18:23; 33:11). If it is true that GOD predetermines our destiny, then it would also be true that it was predetermined that Judas would betray Jesus and then kill himself and end up in Hell. How could it be that Judas had been predestined to be one of the twelve disciples and then eventually betray Jesus? Did Jesus select Judas because He knew that Judas would eventually choose (by his own free will) to betray Him? Or are we to believe that Judas was predestined by GOD to sin and commit suicide? Is GOD a dominant dictator of all deeds, sinister psychopath, methodical madman, and monstrous mastermind? Certainly not! It all boils down to free will and a logical deduction.
Free choice is not doing what one desires (with GOD giving the desires); rather, it is doing what one decides, which is not always the same thing. Either moral actions are uncaused, caused by another, or caused by oneself. No action can be uncaused— this violates the fundamental rational principle that every event has a cause. Neither can a person’s actions be caused by others, for in that case, they would not be personal actions and thus no accountability can be held nor charged. How can humans face the Judge and be held responsible for their sins if they themselves were not the cause of said sins? A complete determinist viewpoint is self-defeating. A determinist would insist that both determinists and nondeterminists are determined to believe what they believe. However, determinists believe self-determinists are wrong and ought to change their view. But “ought to change” implies freedom to change, which is contrary to determinism. If GOD is the cause of all human actions, then human beings cannot be morally responsible for their sins. But if that is so, how does GOD expect us to repent? Is that not a freedom of choice? Read and compare the following Scriptures: Matthew 13:53–58; Luke 13:3; John 3:16; 3:36; 6:60–71; 7:17; Acts 2:38; 16:31; Romans 7:18; 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Philemon 1:14; 1 Peter 5:2.
What is the difference between romantic sexual intercourse and rape? The difference is that romantic sexual intercourse involves mutual consent; both partners decided to willingly participate in copulation. With rape, however, one person has chosen to be involved in sexual intercourse and the other is an unwilling participant. Both acts involve sexual intercourse. What’s the difference? Free will. GOD provides us with free will to choose because GOD is love (1John 4:8, 16). Just as you cannot force someone to love you (even if you force the person to have sex with you), GOD will not force anyone to do what they do not desire to do. In fact, that is the reason for Hell—Hell is simply a quarantine for those who neither desire to be with GOD nor desire to do GOD’s will. If GOD determines in advance who is to be saved (and who will go to Hell), that would make GOD a monster to fear, not a loving Being to love and worship (1John 4:18). Why would a loving GOD determine to create any human with malicious intent to send that person to Hell? A loving relationship simply cannot be formed without free will.
Is GOD omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent? Yes (discussed in Lesson 32). Does GOD’s control contradict free will? No. GOD knows you better than you know yourself. GOD knows what you will do and ultimately decide, but that does not mean that GOD forced you to decide such. Think of two players in a chess match. The champion does not force his opponent to choose his/ her moves, yet the champion still wins. How? The champion of chess wins because he/she anticipates the opponent’s move and responds in order to overcome. In life, you choose your moves. But GOD knows you better than you know yourself and has already planned His next move in order to overcome what you’re about to do. GOD is able to do this because His thoughts and ways are much higher than our own (Isa. 55:8–9). In GOD’s love, He continues to anticipate your moves and responds in such an overcoming manner that He continuously provides chances for the sinner to repent and change. But it is up to the person as to whether or not they will accept Christ.
Just as a parent can often accurately predict what a child will decide to do when faced with a temptation to do wrong, it is the same for us and our Heavenly Father, except GOD always knows exactly what you will decide. But that doesn’t mean the Lord tempted you (James 1:13), neither does He like or find enjoyment from what you decide. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of humans making decisions that both grieve and anger GOD. Our loving GOD finds no pleasure in seeing you sin. Sadism comes from Satan; salvation comes from our Savior. And that is why Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb to atone for everyone’s sins. GOD anticipated humanity’s moves of consistent sin and GOD lovingly placed Himself on a cross for a cosmic checkmate. But because GOD is love, He allows the final move to be up to you. With every move you make, GOD has already anticipated your move and has gone before you to provide a way out and a way back to Him (1Corin. 10:13).
A sovereign GOD, in His wisdom and power, has determined that humanity should have free will, for there is no other way for a REALationship to be eternal unless it is established from love. Will you accept GOD’s love, or will you reject GOD’s love? In GOD’s sovereignty, He already knows who will choose Him and who will refuse Him. So in that sense, GOD has predestined those who will be saved, but the predestination is out of His omniscience, not His omnipotence. GOD is not a supreme spiritual rapist of souls nor is He a domineering deity or predestination puppeteer. You alone decide where you will end up. And if you decide to end up with GOD, then GOD will act in His ultimate power to see to it that the creation will once again be reunited with the Creator. But if you decide to reject Jesus, a place of quarantine called Hell has been created for you. Why? Because GOD loves you too much to force Himself upon you. Yet those who come to the knowledge of Truth and then decide to leave the grace of GOD in order to seek their own way have rejected the greatest gift. For those who abandon the gift of grace after already knowing Truth, there is no other way (Heb. 6:4–6; 10:26–29). The truth of salvation is simple: those who reject Jesus will not be forced to be with Him, and they will be quarantined in Hell; however, those who accept Christ will dwell with Him. And this is just because GOD is the absolute moral standard of good; therefore, those who reject GOD ultimately refuse to live righteously.
The Gospel (good news) carries no meaning in a contaminated and corrupt culture that focuses on sickness and circumstances rather than sin and guilt, on passing the blame on others rather than accepting responsibility and confessing wrongdoings, and on the need for treatment and recovery rather than Truth and repentance. GOD chose to love you and save you—that’s why Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself for you. But you must choose whether to accept GOD’s love or reject GOD’s desire to save you. Indeed, you are free, but what will you do with your freedom and where will you go (Gen. 4:7; Deut. 4:29; 11:26–28; 30:15–20; Prov. 14:12; 16:25; 10:9, 17; 1 Corin. 8:9; Gal. 5:13; 6:7; 1 Pet. 2:16; 2 Pet. 1:5–10)?
GOD already knows what you are going to do and where you will go, but you still must work out your salvation (Phil. 2:12). I pray, may you stay on the straight path and choose to enter by the narrow door (Prov. 4:25–27; Matt. 7:13–14; Luke 13:24–27). Are you truly saved (read Matt. 7:21–23)? Greater than hearing or knowing GOD’s Word is actually living it out (Rom. 2:13; James 1:22–25). Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). However, relationship is greater than religious acts (Deut. 6:5–6; Matt. 6:1; 22:36–40). Do you only know of Jesus or do you truly know Him (Matt. 16:13–17; John 8:19)? Do you only believe that Jesus exists or do you also trust in the Savior? Will you walk across the Bridge of Life? GOD gave you free will as a great gift out from His love. How will you decide to live? Your move.
Reflection
So ask yourself, how will you use your free will? All superheroes use the great gift of free will to use the ultimate superpower of speaking life and creating good while living a life of righteousness! If you believe that choosing to live a life of righteousness and sacrificial love is the best use of the great gift of free will, then you possess one of the qualities of a superhero and you just might be one someday!
If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…
This is Part 7 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary.
In this message (Part 7), we will see that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. But in order to do that, we must be available. If we are able, we should also be willing. Superheroes need to be able and available.
With television shows such as American Idol, The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent, The Voice, etc., it’s obvious that our nation is infatuated with talent and entertainment. Even when our country went through a recession back in 2008-2009, box office sales for the movie theaters still boomed. With that said, I’m going to use the entertainment industry in order to help you better understand this message.
Actors Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe were both slated to play the lead role in the classic movie, “Footloose” (1984). The casting directors were impressed with Tom Cruise because of the famous underwear dance sequence he performed in “Risky Business” (1983); however, Tom Cruise was unavailable for the part because he was filming “All the Right Moves” (1983). Rob Lowe auditioned three times and had dancing ability and the ‘neutral teen’ look that the director wanted, but he pulled his knee; consequently, the injury rendered him unavailable and prevented him from getting the part. Kevin Bacon was offered the leading role for the Stephen King movie, “Christine” (1983) at the same time that he was asked to do a screen test for “Footloose.” The producers from “Footloose” convinced Kevin Bacon that turning down a sure role in “Christine” for a part he might not even get in “Footloose” was the wiser choice by telling him that if he did get the part for “Footloose,” the role would make him an instant star. And in just 30 seconds into the screen test reading, Kevin Bacon was offered the lead role in “Footloose.” However, it was the director of “Footloose,” who only after watching “Diner” (1982), convinced the producers to go with Kevin Bacon. And Kevin Bacon almost didn’t get the part in “Diner” because he was sick on the day of his screen test reading for the role of Fenwick. But Kevin Bacon had previously decided that his character (Fenwick) would probably be half-drunk during the entire movie anyway, so he forged ahead, auditioned, and then got the part. And because of all this, there is now what Hollywood refers to as the “six degrees of Kevin Bacon”:
Here is the same information (as above), but put into a different perspective: Kevin Bacon only got the part in “Diner” because he made himself available for the audition even though he was sick. Because he made himself available and got the part in “Diner,” the director of “Footloose” saw him in “Diner” and then had reason to push Kevin Bacon to his producers; consequently, Kevin Bacon got the lead role in “Footloose.” However, the only reason Kevin Bacon got the lead role in “Footloose” was because he turned down “Christine” and made himself available for “Footloose.” However, Kevin Bacon was only chosen after Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe had both been unavailable.
Now, the only reason I chose to use this example was because Kevin Bacon played the evil villain, Sebastian Shaw, in the 2011 movie, X-Men: First Class. Kevin Bacon is now forever a part of superhero history and because of that, he is now in my book about superheroes. So, let’s use this message of ability and availability to see how it applies to our lives according to GOD’s Word:
“One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone in a field,and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.Then he said to Jeroboam, ‘Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you!But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.For Solomon hasabandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.”‘ ” (1Kings 11:29-33) -NLT
Solomon was David’s son. Solomon started out as an average man, became the wisest man (1Kings 3:5-12), but then ended up crashing and burning due to his sins. The irony is that Solomon was wise enough to foresee his downfall, but he blinded himself to Truth because he chose to set his focus on personal pleasure. Solomon’s story saddens me and not just because he was David’s son or that he had once been so wise, but because his story is like many Christians of today’s culture. So many Christians today have taken their focus off GOD’s will and have become distracted by the pleasures that our sinful society offers. Let’s examine what tripped Solomon up and how it relates to us today: GOD’s Word tells us that Solomon abandoned GOD and worshiped Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Molech.
This deity was a mother goddess linked with fertility, love, and war. This deity was associated with carved trees or nature, as being the female deity of the moon, and also associated with sexual immorality. Sex and nature. Or as the hippies claimed, “it’s love and peace, man!” But as we learned in chapter 3, sex and love are not one and the same: sex needs love to be relevant and meaningful; love does not need sex to be relevant and meaningful. Love can survive and even thrive without sex, but sex without love is pleasure without purpose. Solomon ruined his life because he allowed sex to become his love. Ashtoreth was essentially the same ‘god’ that the hippies of the 1960’s worshiped. The goal was satisfaction for self. And so many of those misguided hippies of the 1960’s ended up being the people who influenced our politics and society; consequently, many of the dangerous indoctrinations and misguided beliefs have carried over into the present day in which we live. Nowadays, worship of Ashtoreth can be compared with the people who call themselves “ecosexuals” because they essentially worship ‘Mother Nature’ and center their lives on the pleasure of sex. The scattered remains of Ashtoreth are still evident in the entertainment and advertisement industries. If you haven’t noticed, sex sells. If you haven’t noticed, the lure of lust is the rust that causes a person’s stainless steel character to corrode and crumble.
Chemosh:
According to the Moabite Stone (the Mesha Stele), Chemosh was associated with the goddess Ashteroth. This deity was [in general] of the same nature as Baal (Baal-Hadid). The word baal means “lord.” Baal was most often associated with being the god of weather, war, or fertility. So, Baal was a god who was believed to enable the earth to produce crops and people to produce children. Nowadays, our secular society who supports scientism essentially worships themselves as the only beings capable of ensuring the growth of crops and allowing/denying human fertility. The modern version of Chemosh or Baal is most likely celebrities and scientists. Many people idolize celebrities, viewing them as superhuman; many people essentially worship scientists, viewing them as our saviors.
Molech (Moloch, Molek, Melek, Malik):
Children were burned to death as a sacrifice while worshiping a false god. Nowadays, Molech can be compared to Planned Parenthood and the thousands of abortions (murders) that take place every day. As of 2018, it was estimated that Americans have aborted (murdered) about 60 million babies since our sinful society demanded the ‘right’ to do so in 1973. (Click here to read my logical argument against abortion.)
Ancient Sin Is Modern Sin:
There’s nothing new about sin; Satan is subtle, evil is deliberate, and the devil’s demons haven’t changed their tactics. Even today, people are still placing their focus on false gods and idols. And if a wise man such as Solomon was able to be beguiled by physical beauty and enticed and entranced by the temptations that surrounded him, you better believe that you are susceptible to falling as well. In fact, GOD’s Word tells us that we are not exempt from falling:
“These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face.” (1Corinthians 10: 11-13) -MSG
“God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1Corinthians 10:13) -NLT
“Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don’t enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don’t be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” (Mark 14:38) -MSG
“So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” (1Thessalonians 5:6) -NLT
But referring back to 1Kings 11:29-33, Ahijah the prophet tore his cloak into 12 pieces and announced that Jeroboam was to replace Solomon as king. Even if Ahijah had not told Jeroboam what the tearing of the cloak meant, the same thing was about to happen to Solomon and to Jeroboam regardless. Most of the time, we experience only signs and symbolism in our lives without any explanations. GOD doesn’t always tell us the ‘why.’ Therefore, we need to constantly and consistently keep our focus on GOD and the ways of GOD so that we can have our eyes open, alert, and ready to see the signs that GOD gives us when they arrive in our lives. We need to pay attention, be aware of where we are and if we’re living right before GOD. We need to keep ourselves in check at all times. Indeed — check yourself before you wreck yourself! We need to constantly self-examine ourselves to ensure we’re living the right way.
“But I have taken you in hand. Rule to your heart’s content! You are to be the king of Israel. If you listen to what I tell you and live the way I show you and do what pleases me, following directions and obeying orders as my servant David did, I’ll stick with you no matter what. I’ll build you a kingdom as solid as the one I built for David. Israel will be yours!” (1Kings 11: 37-39) -MSG
GOD declared a promise to Jeroboam while pouring out His heart and love. GOD chose Jeroboam. However, let’s be honest — GOD only chooses and works with whomever is available. Why? Because we have the great gift of free will. And if someone isn’t willing, that person would not be available. This is why GOD always promises things, but inserts special stipulations into the contract agreement. GOD can only follow through with the promise or the miracle if we do our part. This is the reason why so many people have come and gone as leaders. If there is only one choice to work with, GOD will use that person until someone better is available to use, and so on and so forth. If we are chosen as someone of great significance, as an anointed one, it’s important that we always do our best and try to continually improve. There will always be a chance that someone coming out of the shop will be better than you. A lot of people will make themselves available yet they lack ability. A lot of people have ability, but who will make themselves available? There will always be a chance that you will injure your knee at the ‘audition’ and render yourself unavailable to be chosen for the part. We don’t want to be replaced by someone because we didn’t try our best. It would be even worse if GOD replaced us with inanimate and inarticulate items such as a blue cord. We need to show up to the ‘audition’ even if we don’t feel 100%! However, if we do get replaced by someone when we do try our best, then it was simply for the best and we need to move on. But we must try our best. However, to do that we must first make ourselves available. Ability is useless without availability; if you have the ability to act yet are unavailable to act, you won’t act and thus your ability is useless.
Ponder on this: there are more chances for your replacement the higher you get up the ladder. Look at it this way: if your job is to crawl into pipes/tunnels and clean out the sewage and waste that clogged the pipes/tunnels, how many people do you think will be after your job? Not many. But if you are a celebrity with fame and fortune, how many people would want your job then? Almost everyone. The better the position you are placed in, the greater expectation of your work, and the greater the risk of being replaced if you do not meet the expectation.
“Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48) -HCSB
“But then Jeroboam thought, ‘It won’t be long before the kingdom is reunited under David. As soon as these people resume worship at The Temple of God in Jerusalem, they’ll start thinking of Rehoboam king of Judah as their ruler. They’ll then kill me and go back to King Rehoboam.’ So the king came up with a plan: He made two golden calves. Then he announced, ‘It’s too much trouble for you to go to Jerusalem to worship. Look at these—the gods who brought you out of Egypt!’ He put one calf in Bethel; the other he placed in Dan. This was blatant sin. Think of it—people traveling all the way to Dan to worship a calf!” (1Kings 12:26-30) -MSG
Jeroboam replaced Solomon as king and then wrecked himself as soon as he started because he did not check himself. Jeroboam didn’t check his motives or align himself with GOD’s Word — his focus was on himself instead of doing GOD’s will. That’s why GOD needs to always be first. If we do GOD’s will, then we will be blessed in the process.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33) -NLT
Unfortunately for GOD and everyone under Jeroboam’s rule, Jeroboam was the man that GOD had to work with for the time being. Can you believe that?! That guy was the best man for the job as king even though he was not suited for the position at all! (I can believe it. I can think of at least a couple presidents in our American history who weren’t suited to be president.) But out of all people who made themselves available, GOD selected Jeroboam because he was the closest thing to a leader who was available. That would be unbelievable if only it didn’t match so many other descriptions of world leaders throughout our history; Jeroboam’s story matches the accuracy of what we already know to be true throughout world history. That means that the entire lot of people GOD had to choose from were just a bunch of lukewarm, fence-sitting, selfish sinners or worse. They lost their edge. Their fire went out.
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) -ESV
In Revelation 3, the church of Laodicea receives no praise from the Lord. GOD states that because they are neither hot nor cold and merely lukewarm, GOD is going to spit them out of His mouth. The people claimed that they needed nothing because they were wealthy, but GOD called them wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, naked, and shameful (Revelation 3:17-18). GOD proclaims His love, advises they accept His discipline, and admonishes them to repent. The insipid are intolerable; their indecisiveness leads to indigestion. Indifference leads to idleness. Fence-sitting, couch-potato, comfort-Christianity receives no praise (Hebrews 10:38; 12:4-13; Proverbs 3:11-12)! In Revelation 3:20, Jesus tells us that He stands at the door and knocks, simply waiting for someone to respond and allow Him in. And when that person allows Jesus within, He will have dinner with that person. Why is this important? In Mark 2:15-17, we see that this is how Levi — a tax collector — became Matthew, the disciple. Once we allow Jesus within and we fellowship with Him, hearing His Word in itself would be the meal we would be eating; consequently, being filled with the Bread of Life, life would exude out of our very pores and we would be on fire for Christ, thus incapable of being lukewarm. This letter to the church of Laodicea concludes with a promise to the victor that he/she will have the right to sit with Him on His throne. This promise is to say that we will be part of the family and will share in His glory.
I don’t know about you, but both the stories of Jeroboam and the church of Laodicea motivates me to act righteously. If I’m not chosen as someone of great significance, that means that there must be someone out there who is a better person than I am and that he/she was chosen for the job. GOD seeks ability, but works with who is available; therefore, we need to make ourselves available!
Are you available? Have you allowed your heart to be available to GOD? Once you make yourself available, you then put yourself in the running. If you don’t get chosen for a specific job, don’t get discouraged — that just means there is someone better suited for that particular job. No big deal. That doesn’t mean that you should drop out of the running though! You are perfect for a particular job, it’s just a matter of patience to discover where GOD needs you to be. GOD knows what you are best at, what you’re good at, what you’re alright at, and even what you’re bad at. GOD wants to use the gifts, talents, and abilities that He gave to you for how they would be used in the best way. Therefore, make yourself available. You cannot go to auditions if you don’t make yourself available for the auditions. You cannot get the part if you don’t audition. And when you audition, you should not give a halfhearted audition — you should put forth 100% effort and do your best while auditioning even if you don’t feel 100%. Every single new ‘audition’ is a new opportunity for you to prove that you are the right one to be chosen.
There are many roles in acting just like there are many roles that we Christians play in the huge ‘movie’ called Life. GOD is the writer, producer, director, script supervisor, executive producer, camera operator, the sound guy, the editor, etc… GOD is also the casting director. GOD created this ‘movie’ called Life; in addition, He knows who is best suited for what role. We need to place our trust in GOD (Proverbs 3:5-6). GOD places His trust in us just as a director places his/her trust in an actor/actress. It’s a mutual trust. The movie can’t be great without the actors — and the Director knows that. GOD still needs ‘actors’ and ‘actresses’ to fill the roles in Life. Are you available? Don’t concern yourself about when you will get chosen — it will happen. Patience… GOD has a specific role that He wants you to play, but there is a specific time in which He needs you to fill that role. Practice your ability, but be available always. Always go to your ‘auditions.’ Always try your best. Never get discouraged. Understand that it’s just a matter of time. And in the meantime, constantly try to better yourself as a person. There’s always room for improvement.
Jeroboam got cast as the part of the king, but I guarantee you that the audience was unhappy with the selection and the movie bombed. But Jeroboam got the part because he was the best one for the role who was also available to be used as that role. There were better men than Jeroboam (no doubt), but perhaps they were too far away in the world to be cast as the king for that particular place. Or perhaps those better men were already playing a role in GOD’s movie somewhere else. GOD knew that the movie wasn’t great with Jeroboam as king, but GOD had someone else in mind for the role of King, and His name was Jesus. That’s part of the storyline in this movie we call Life – GOD allowed bad kings so that we would appreciate the Good King. But GOD’s planning and timing had to be precise. So, GOD worked with who was available for the time being. Are you available? Let’s learn a lesson from the prophet Isaiah on how we should respond in life:
“Then I said, ‘It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.He touched my lips with it and said, ‘See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.’ Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’ ”
(Isaiah 6:5-8) -NLT
Isaiah’s humility helped him realize he was a sinful man. Isaiah’s recognition of his sinful nature enabled him to repent of his sins and receive forgiveness. Isaiah’s willingness to do GOD’s will made him available to be chosen for anointed and appointed ability.
I challenge you to make yourself available! Be the most righteous person you can possibly be, be patient, and be persistent. GOD has a plan for you. To insure your availability, ensure that you are living in alignment with GOD’s Word. Live as righteous as possible. What happens when the right people aren’t available? GOD has to choose a Jeroboam or a blue cord. Be available. Don’t make GOD choose a Jeroboam because you weren’t available. Are you available? Can GOD depend on you to be chosen as the superhero who feeds that homeless person on the street? Or are you going to be in the strip club thereby rendering yourself unavailable? Can GOD depend on you to be chosen as the superhero who tells the truth when everyone else is too afraid to speak up? Or are you going to be hiding your head in the sand thereby rendering yourself unavailable? Can GOD depend on you to be chosen as the superhero to speak a miracle over someone’s life and help heal someone? Or are you going to be intoxicated at a party thereby rendering yourself unavailable? If you choose to love, desire to do GOD’s will, seek solutions, and are willing to sacrifice, you have the ability. But are you available? And will you help others be ready and available for when Christ returns?
“Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.” (Matthew 24:44) -CEV
If you’re not ready and available when GOD calls you, how are you going to help others be ready and available when Christ comes? If you are able, you should also be willing. Be able. Be available.
If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below:
Can a Christian get a tattoo? Yes. Why? Because like everyone else, Christians have free will. But we can do many things even if we should not do them. You can murder someone because you’re angry enough to do so, but we should not murder (Genesis 4:7; Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). So, the real question is, “Should a Christian get a tattoo?” However, that answer is not a simple yes or no response; the answer to this question is a deep truth that needs examined and explained.
Archeological evidence indicates that the history of tattoos goes back thousands of years. Some tattoos were meant to be symbols of protection; some tattoos were meant to brand people of a lower class; some tattoos were meant to distinguish between specific tribes. Even in the current time in which we all live, it is considered rude not to have a tattoo in many cultures throughout the world. For example, there exists a native tribe in Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo; this tribe tattoos their bodies from ankle to wrist – it’s just what they do. In regards to tattoos, both tradition and religion play important roles in the motive behind the act.
In our Western culture, tattoos are also created out from cultural context. Whereas previous generations recoiled at the thought of tattoos, permanently inking the body is now quite popular and even considered to be an effective way to attract a member of the opposite sex. In fact, tattoos are now so popular that it’s not uncommon for Christians to be seen with tattoos – there even exists pastors who have tattoos. But because we are all called to discern GOD’s will and not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2), we need to set culture aside and focus on absolute Truth – we need to know what GOD says about tattoos. Culture is relevant to those who are of this world, but culture is irrelevant to the real relevancy of the Truth of GOD’s Word. So, what does GOD say about tattoos?
“You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:28)-NASB
That seems to be straightforward, short and to the point, doesn’t it? Case closed, right? Wrong. Not so fast! We must consider the context to that verse. After all, how many people do you know at church who want to cut their body for the dead? When we read the Bible (or any book for that matter), we need to make sure we understand the big picture of the larger context. We must understand the verse in the context of the paragraph; the paragraph in the context of the chapter; the chapter in context of the book; and finally, the book in the context of the entire story of the Bible, which is 66 books in total. Once we understand the context of a passage, the intended meaning becomes clear. There are two major things to keep in mind about this specific verse:
Consider the whole chapter. The main topic of Leviticus 19 is holiness, to be set apart. GOD wanted the nation of Israel to be committed to Him alone.
Consider the verse in context within the chapter. Leviticus 19:26-28 is a set of verses that instructs the Israelites to be holy by not practicing the religious traditions of other nations. Verse 26 forbids seeking wisdom from spirits, and verses 27-28 forbid worshipping spirits and dead relatives. Archeological and biblical evidence indicates that both of these practices – divination and ancestor worship – were common among the nations outside of Israel (1Kings 18:28). In these cultures, cutting hair, cutting flesh, and getting tattoos were parts of these false religious practices, and thus GOD wanted the people of Israel to have nothing to do with them (Deuteronomy 14:1; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 9:26).
Now that we understand the intended message of the author, we can correctly apply the Scriptures to our lives. This verse does not forbid all people at all times from getting a tattoo. The point is to be set apart to the Lord alone (Leviticus 11:44-45; 18:1-5; 19:2; 20:7,22,26; Deuteronomy 6:4-6). This specific verse – Leviticus 19:28 – instructs us to be holy by not participating in worship to false gods. So, you should ask yourself: Is the tattoo you want an act or symbol of worship to anything other than GOD? After all, we are all created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Though 1Corinthians 6:19-20 is specifically about sexual sin, it is still true in this situation regarding tattoos that our bodies are holy temples and we need to honor GOD with our bodies. A tattoo on your body is a sign of reverence for whatever you have chosen to permanently ink on your body. Motive matters.
Here are a few examples of tattoos I don’t believe are in alignment with GOD’s will:
Erik Sprague; The Lizardman: This glorifies a creature and not the Creator.
Curtis Allgier: This is what the evil of pride looks like.
Read Matthew 6:19-24
Idol worship and pride. Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla didn’t save humanity.
Here are a few examples of tattoos that seem to be in alignment with GOD’s will because the person seemingly got them as an act of worshipping the Lord:
But as with all actions, the motive matters. Appearance means nothing in light of the truth revealed in the heart. Jesus spoke harshly against the Pharisees because they outwardly showcased their religion yet possessed hardened hearts and lacked love for others. Jesus told them that they honored Him with their lips but their hearts were far from Him (Matthew 15:6-9; Isaiah 29:13). On a different occasion, Jesus also told them that they looked as marvelous as whitewashed tombs, but that they were dead inside (Matthew 23:27-28). (Jesus said that?! Yeah – He did!)
Conclusion:
Are tattoos wrong? No. Can they be wrong? Yes. Even if a tattoo seems to glorify GOD, it is still wrong if it does not glorify GOD. Are you just another ‘blue cord’ bum of a believer? You might have the cross permanently inked in your skin, but is GOD’s will permanently marked within your heart (Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:25-29)? Are all of your decisions based on the knowledge of GOD’s will? Are you seeking purpose by striving to glorify GOD or are you merely seeking pleasure and happiness by striving to fulfill your desires? An outward sign of glorifying GOD is worthless if the heart is sinful and motivated to seek for self. Outward signs cannot make a person right with GOD; neither a religious show nor the Law is enough. A person’s heart must be purely dedicated to trusting in GOD and loving others. GOD has always wanted more from His people than mere external conformity to a set of rules for the rigmarole of religion. Pious performances will never please GOD unless you possess a heart to love, know and follow Him. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament focus on the need for repentance and inward change in order to be right with GOD. In Jesus, the Law has been fulfilled (Matthew 5:17). Through Jesus, a person can be made right with GOD and receive eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).
So, even if you don’t have a tattoo, that doesn’t make you right with GOD. Allow GOD’s Word to teach us something:
“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ ” (Luke 18:9-14) -NLT
Matthew (Levi) was a tax collector prior to Jesus changing his life. Though I don’t have a tattoo, I was a sinner prior to Jesus changing my life (if you want to know my testimony, see my other article, “Why I Am A Christian“). There have been many gang members who had glorified sin with permanent ink in their skins only to later have a change of heart and live their lives for Jesus. There are five takeaway points I want to give to you:
A tattoo is wrong if the motive behind the tattoo is wrong.
A person with a wrong tattoo possesses the potential to live the right life through Jesus.
Even if a tattoo seems right, it doesn’t mean the person is living rightly.
If you are living rightly, you don’t need to get a tattoo to let everyone know – they should know by your actions (John 13:34-35).
If you are living rightly and do have a tattoo that glorifies GOD, use it to initiate a loving conversation with someone who has a wrong tattoo yet possesses potential of living the right life through Jesus. A tattoo can be a tactical tool for practical proselytizing.
Erik Sprague; The Lizardman: This glorifies a creature and not the Creator.
Read 
Idol worship and pride. Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla didn’t save humanity.
Quest For Truth 