The never-ending experiment… (pt 3)
This never-ending experiment shows the continuous cycle of unwise choices that are made based on worldly standards, which is identified as the shaky foundation. To get out of this continuous cycle, it requires an understanding of the foundation you stand on. The foundation presents a standard that we strive to live out each day. If you are living your life from a shaky foundation, then you will operate from a state of confusion, fear, and survival. You’re unlikely to rest, because you’re trying to keep up in an always changing world. This means that the standards are constantly changing. Because this foundation is based on worldly standards, it leads to a path of destruction.
The path of life is a solid foundation that is unchanging. This solid foundation, as the apostle Paul describes it, has been in existence since the beginning. He states, “no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). This foundation is the only foundation that is eternal, which is the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is the embodiment of God, as it says in Scripture, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). “He” is Jesus and the “invisible God” is our heavenly Father. Invisible meaning our Father is not seen. Thus, Jesus is the image of God our Father, which makes him God in the flesh. As confirmed in the Gospel of John: “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:18). In a revealing moment with Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples, Jesus confirms this truth. When Philip asks Jesus to reveal to him and to the rest of the disciples the Father, Jesus replies, “Don’t you know, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8-9). Those who encountered God did so through Jesus Christ. If you want to access God our Father, then you must turn to Jesus.
Next, Scripture confirms that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation, it states, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:16 - 17). To clarify, this doesn’t mean that he was the first created being in human form, because we know that Adam is according to Scripture - this means that Jesus was with God at the beginning of creation, which means that he preexisted before all creation. In Christ, all things were created. To study more about this, read the first chapter in the book of Genesis and the first chapter in the Gospel of John.
In the beginning, there was no suffering or death. It was life. God created everything in six days and rested on the seventh, declaring all of it to be good. He created Adam and Eve, the first humans made in his image, and placed them in the Garden of Eden. However, sin entered this perfect garden through Adam’s disobedience, bringing both a physical and spiritual death to all humanity. As a result, every person born after Adam inherits this sin nature. Scripture confirms this in Genesis 5:3, which states, “When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.” This passage of Scripture differs from earlier passages of Scripture that states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” (Genesis 1:27) and “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Both of the earlier passages testify to the divine connection that man had with God, and the other passage testifies to the separation of humanity from God through the one man. Because of sin, we get the suffering, illnesses, mental health conditions and all the things we see in the world today.
Throughout the Old testament, we learn of the conditions of the people as they call out to God for help. God spoke to our ancestors - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and other prophets about the coming Messiah, who would offer salvation for all who believe in him. Then God came to earth in the flesh keeping His promise. Scripture says, “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus came to earth to die. He lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21), ministered to people about the good news of the kingdom of heaven, healed the sick, blind, deaf, and lame; and performed miracles. All of this was leading up to the appointed time of his crucifixion (John 12:23 - 26). He came to make right the wrong, and it is only through him we can be made righteous.
His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and his second coming (because you do know he’s coming again) is the solid foundation. Christ is the example of the standard that we should live our life. It is only through him that we can get out of this never-ending experiment. The shaky foundation you are standing on has already crumbled. The light has already revealed its deception - and has overcome its darkness.
It is time that we acknowledge that there are only two options: life or death; good or bad; righteousness or wickedness; God or Satan, and in reference to this practical never-ending experiment, the solid foundation or the shaky foundation. May you obey the calling of the God of our Lord Jesus Christ drawing you to Him, leading you to the path of life.
Morgan