A New Rock CD: Fossil Phobia 10/10/99
GENESIS 1: 1
JESUS CHRIST believed in creation. He should have, He was the Creator. Genesis 1: 1 says, “In the beginning God created…” The word translated “God” is ELOHIM. It is plural; thus reference is made to the Trinity.
Then it is recorded: “Let Us make man in Our likeness…” (Genesis 1: 26). Again the plural is used.
The concept of the Trinity is a mystery. How could God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be one? The principle of the Trinity is seen throughout creation. If you add: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. This suggests a triad in which there are three separate components.
However, 1 X 1 X 1 = 1 reveals a trinity. This reveals a continuum in which each component is coexistent with the other.
The Trinity called into existence a space-mass-time universe which is itself a tri-unity. Neither space, mass nor time can have a meaningful existence without the other two.
The Hebrew text uses the word BERESHITH which is translated “In the beginning…” The Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew used the same word found in John 1: 1, EN ARCHE, and translated “In the beginning.”
The Greek literally means “Before time began to begin…” Time itself was a part of creation.
John 1: 1 continues, “Before time began to begin was the Word (LOGOS) and the Word was God…” Before there was anything there was God.
Prior to the creation of the universe not even space existed.1
The creation of the universe not only brought into existence time into which it flows, but also time into which it expands. Thus, the presence of the energy and matter of the universe not only causes the existence of time, but also of space.
Advocates of evolution postulate all the matter of the universe was compacted into the size of a pea held together by enormous gravity. An explosion sent these particles through what is now our universe, expanding and cooling to form our universe.
A legitimate question is: “Who planted the pea?” Scientists have a model that carries them back in time and space to the nano-second of creation and that pea but they have no answer to the question of where space, mass, and time came from.
Evolution is not a scientific theory or hypothesis. The term “the theory of evolution” is used but in a precise sense the expression is incorrect. That is true because it can’t be tested. A valid scientific hypothesis must be capable of being formulated experimentally in such a way that the experimental results can either be confirmed or rejected.
The first letter in the Hebrew Bible pictures the impossibility of proving anything before or about creation. It is the character “beth.” It is shaped somewhat like a square “C” facing backwards. Hebrew reads from right to left. The closed side of the “beth” is the first letter in the Bible. All that is before it is a closed issue. All ahead is open for exploration.
Two evolutionary scientists have in all honesty said, “Our theory of evolution has become … one which cannot be refuted by any possible observations. It is thus “outside of empirical science … No one can think of ways in which to test it … (Evolutionary ideas) have become part of an evolutionary dogma accepted by most of us as part of our training.”2
These noted scientists are simply saying there is no way to formulate experimentally the concept of evolution. It is a philosophy, not a science. Objective scientists acknowledge this.
Their statement also reveals the reality that most people believe in evolution because most people believe in evolution.
Surely in this mass called the universe there must be some indication when it and time began. How old is the planet Earth? Two distinct schools of thought exist. Evolutionists say it is one to six billion years old. Proponents have principles they state to validate this claim. They need an old earth model if there is to be any substance at all to the concept of evolution.
Creationists point to scientific facts indicating Earth is between 10,000 and 20,000 years old. Let’s explore some of the fingerprints on Earth to try to find its age.
There is a CD rock record, that is, Cambrian Data record of fossils that encourages the idea of a Creator.
Evolutionists say life began in simple a form and all life emerged from this one source. If that is true there must be fossil evidence to show transitional forms of life. That is, if man came from the monkeys there must be an intermediate specimen of this monkey/man. That is not only true of monkey and man but of all life.
Often the term “missing link” is used. There is no single missing link. Every transitional link is missing. If any such transitional form lived surely there must be some records in the fossils.
Layers of the Earth are given various geological ages based on the fossils in the strata. Likewise fossils are given ages based on which layer of Earth they are in. It is a bootstring effect. Each dates the other.
The layer containing the earliest fossils is known as the Cambrian layer. The Cambrian rocks, which almost always lie just above the barren Precambrian rocks, contain examples of every major kind (phyla) of animal found in the world today. An amazing thing about these fossil ancestors is they are just as complex as their modern relatives. Of the 13 phyla there are fossils of all thirteen. There are over 455 species. Many of them are far better developed than the current descendants. Do you suppose that is why the term descendant is used?
Here are principles that refute evolution. The first fossils are in many instances complex and compound.
Many species are giant ancestors of current varieties such as the 27 inch pill bug.
Instead of primitive types a considerable number of those living today are found.
The first fossil remains are in most instances identical to those of today.
The evolutionist answers that the answer must be in the Precambrian strata. Looking there, one finds no fossil remains. To cover this evolutionists say:
All life was destroyed by metamorphism of the rocks in which they occurred.
In reality only 90% of the Precambrian strata contained metamorphosis rock. The other 10% should contain some fossils but doesn’t.
The evolutionist says life only existed in those areas where metamorphism occurred.
In reality there were widespread unmetamorphosised areas which were accessible to ocean life and thus should have had fossils.
The evolutionist says the oceans were too acid for calcium shells and thus no trace. There is no evidence that the oceans were acid. Every indication is the opposite was true. However, if it had been, there could have been siliceous and chitinous skeletons.
Charles Darwin said, “To the question why we do not find rich fossiliferous deposits belonging to these assumed earliest periods prior to the Cambrian system, I can give no satisfactory answer … The case at present must remain inexplicable; and may be truly urged as a valid argument against the views here entertained.”3
Darwin further posed this worthy question: “Why, if species have descended from other species by insensible fine gradations, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?”4 Good question, Charles!
An example in many school texts that is suppose to illustrate evolution relates to fossil remains of what are considered by some to have been horses. Sketches are shown depicting the reputed progression of the horse. The first is of Hyracotherium (Eohippus), a dog-sized “horse” with four toes on the front feet, moving to a three-toed variety, and ending with a one-toed Equus.
According to the theory of evolution the progression should take place over a period of time beginning with the four-toed variety and moving to the one-toed horse of today.
Again, as with all alleged evolution, there are no fossil remains of transitional stages of this development.
The biggest challenge to the theory of “horse” evolution comes from paleontology. If the “horse” fossils are an example of evolution the fossils should be dated in order of progression with the four-toed variety coming first and moving to the one-toed. The problem is that the one-toed, Thoatherium, became extinct in the Miocene epoch before the three-toed Macrauchenia made his appearance in the Pliocene period.5
A complete series of horse fossils is not found in any one place in the world arranged in rock strata in proper evolutionary order from bottom to top. Actually the three so-called fossil horse series actually appears to be three groups of genera. Yet, because the appearance seems to support evolution, this disproved example still exists in modern texts.6
In John Day County, Oregon, the three-toed variety is found with the one-toed variety and thus shown to be contemporaries, not links, in the evolutionary chain.7
Several genera lived simultaneously. Some are now classified as mutant variants of the originally created horse. There is absolutely no evidence that the popular evolutionary textbook presentation proves evolution across family boundaries, but only within the family.8
The genus “Eohippus” is placed at the base of this evolutionary tree. The name means “dawn horse.” The question is, was Eohippus a horse? He was unlike modern horses in morphology and habitat. While Eohippus does not resemble modern horses in any way, it does have striking similarities to other animals leading some to conclude “Eohippus is so primitive that it is not much more definitely equid (a horse) than tapirid, or rhinocerotid, etc.”9 This leads many scientists to believe Eohippus is more closely related to the tapir or rhinoceros than to the horse.
This classic case for evolution is without merit. Evidence more nearly confirms the concept of creation.
Since Darwin wrote, a great deal of fossil hunting has gone on. The record is basically the same today. Two given to evolutionary philosophy, Stephen Jay Gould and Steven Stanley, reached the following conclusion regarding potential gradual change in species.
“The history of most fossil species includes two features particularly inconsistent with gradualism:
- Stasis. Most species exhibit no directional change during their
tenure on earth. They appeal in the fossil record looking
pretty much the same as when they disappeared; morphological
change is usually limited and in directionless.
[“Stasis” the consistent absence of fundamental directional
change — is positively documented.] - Sudden appearances. In any local area, a species does not
arise gradually by steady transformation of its ancestors; it appears all
at once and ‘fully formed.'” (Ibid. p. 50.)
Darwin contended, and Neo-Darwin proponents insist, that the process called “natural selection” brought about evolutionary change in life resulting in the development of homo sapiens. Natural selection is also called “survival of the fittest.”
Steven M. Stanley, an ardent evolutionist, observed the absence of transitional fossils in the Cambrian layer and marveled over the “explosion” of a great variety of highly complex creatures including 32 orders of mammals. He concluded, “Gradual evolutionary change by natural selection operates so slowly within established species that it cannot account for the major features of evolution.”
It is believed by hardcore evolutionists that this happened in approximately 1 to 6 billion years. Stanley and others with such integrity note it would take billions of times longer and no records allot such time.10
Gerald L. Schroeder studied the matter and concluded: “Explanation of the early part of the fossil record points us, inescapably, to forces not indigenous to nature as we experience it today… No one can prove that Divine inspiration was the source of the immediate appearance of life on the young earth or that the abrupt changes in the environmental conditions, which we see in retrospect directed life’s journey to produce animals in the shape of man, were directed by the Creator. What we can say is that the fossil record definitely does not show a journey ruled by chance, or prove an unhindered march in the survival of the fit.”11
The second law of thermodynamics simply stated means in any energy transfer or change, although the total amount of energy remains unchanged, the amount of usefulness and availability that the energy possesses is always decreased. This is also known as entropy. This means the natural tendency of all change is to create a greater degree of disorder or randomness. This means the over-all direction of change of a biological “kind” would be deteriorative rather than developmental.
When the second law of thermodynamics is applied to the principle of evolution it simply means it can’t be. Evidences are that instead of evolution we have had devolution.
Examples of this are previous superior species such as mammoths, the cave bears, sabretooth tigers, giant bison, the dinosaurs, the giant beavers, cockroaches, rhinos, and even giant human beings.
The fossil remains refute evolution and support instead devolution.12
World-famous paleontologist, Dr. Niles Eldridge of the American Museum of Natural History, unreservedly said, “The pattern that we were told to find for the last one hundred and twenty years does not exist.”13
There is now overwhelming strong evidence, both statistically and paleontologically, that life could not have been started on Earth by a series of random chemical reactions. Today’s best mathematical estimates state that there simply was not enough time for random reactions to get life going as fast as the fossil record shows that it did.14
From where then did all of this space/mass/time come?
The answer, “In the beginning God created…”
1 Guide for the Perplexed, Maimonides, part 2, chapter 13.
2 Evolutionary History and Population Biology, Paul Ehrlich and L.C. Birch, “Nature” Vol. 214 (1976), p 352.
3 The Origin of the Species, Charles Darwin, The New American Library of World Literature, Inc., New York, New York, 1859, pp. 309, 310.
4 Darwin on Trial, Phillip E. Johnson, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill. 1991, p. 46.
5 Evolution: The Challenge of the Fossil Record, Duane T. Gish, Creation-Life Publishers, El Cajon, Calif. 1991, pp. 82, 83.
6 The Handy Dandy Evolution Refuter, Robert E. Kofahl, Beta Books, San Diego, Calif. 1972, pp. 66, 67.
7 The Material Basis for Evolution, R.B. Goldschmidt, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1940, p. 17.
8 The Bible and Modern Science, Henry M. Morris, Moody Press, 1968, pp. 46, 47.
9 Evolution, Stephen Wright, 36: 440, 1982
10 A Theory of Evolution Above the Species Level, “Proceedings National Academy of Science,” Steven M. Stanley, Vol. 72, p. 646.
11 Genesis and the Big Bang, Gerald L. Schroeder, Bantam Books, New York, 1992, pp. 145, 146.
12 The Twilight of Evolution, Henry M. Morris, Baker Book House, Ann Arbor, Mich. 1963, pp. 44, 45.
13 “The Michelson-Morley Experiment,” “American Journal of Physics, 32, John Shankland, 1964, p. 16.
14 Genesis and the Big Bang, Gerald L. Schroeder, Bantam Books, New York, 1990, p. 25.
Mercy, Love and Peace
Jude 1:2
Man, mere mortal man, through his spectrograph has learned the constituent elements of the remote astral bodies.
By means of the telescope, man has looked into the infinitely large universe, learned the schedule of the planets, and viewed the landscape of heavenly bodies millions of miles distant.
By means of the microscope, man has looked into the infinitely smaller world and seen in the atoms in a particle of dust on a moth’s wing, electrons, protons, and neutrons whirling like bees around a hive.
God gives you even closer attention. He does it continually. We are continually “kept.”
The great God of the universe Who puts seven colors in every ray of light, and causes it to travel at 186,000 miles per second, has no trouble keeping you.
God, who gives this close attention, provides:
MERCY, which means deep concern.
It reveals a real need on behalf of the one receiving it and real resources on behalf of the one giving it.
Mercy describes God’s attitude toward those in distress.
God is rich in mercy. (Ephesians 2:40)
When we experience and understand mercy, we are never over-awed or overpowered by the power of the enemy or the challenge confronting us..
All of us have injuries and experience limitations. There is a delightful illustration in the Old Testament of mercy. Mephibosheth was crippled as a result of an injury. He was only five years old when Jonathan, his father, and Saul, his grandfather, were both killed in a battle on Mount Gilboa. They were enemies of David.
David took Mephibosheth into his palace, gave him an inheritance, and a place at his table. That’s mercy. That’s how God treats us.
PEACE is contentment of mind, a state of tranquility in turbulent times.
We have peace when there is no condemnation before God.
We have peace of conscience when there is no controversy with God.
We have peace of mind when there is no consternation about life.
LOVE. We now have the love of God, and love for God so let us show love to one another.
The greeting expressed in our text expresses a desire for these traits to be multiplied among believers.
This prayer for multiplied blessings of mercy, peace and love is equally needed today. Like Jude we, too, should plead God’s mercy on all His children, knowing that we also live in times when false teachers and doctrines of demons abound even in the churches of our day. Let us unite to plead God’s mercy and peace and love on all who are in Christ Jesus. May “Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”
The Joy of Being Kept
Jude 1-2
Jesus said, “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master…” (Matt. 10:25).
In reality we are. What you are and how you conduct yourself is a clear revelation as to who is your teacher/master. If your profession and practice aren’t parallel, it is your practice that is the reliable revelation of your true character.
Life is one grand show and tell time. What you show by your conduct and what you tell by your speech should be one and the same.
Jesus said, “This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Mark 7:6).
Jude gives a better understanding of the master-servant relationship.
WE ARE CALLED Vs. 1a
We are all called to be: “a servant of Jesus Christ…”
The Greek word translated “servant” is DOULOS. It was the word for a servant who is the prized purchased possession of his master. That is us. Called to Believe, Love and Obey. We are “called” as servants to these roles.
The master also had a responsibility for the servant. He was responsible for the servant’s: Provisions, Protection, and Program.
WE ARE CONSIGNED TO BE “SANCTIFIED” [BELOVED] Vs. 1b
Frequently the meaning of an English word can best be understood if a synonym for it is used. The Greek text uses a word that can appropriately be translated “sanctified.” It can and is translated in some version “beloved.” We are His beloved.
I Thess. 4:3 lets us know His desire for us as His beloved in that we be sanctified, that is, set apart.
The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same root. Holiness is a word that scares most Christians. Perhaps it can be better understood in this light.
Practical holiness is our being set aside in Christ to live for Him.
Progressive holiness is explained by Paul who in Philippians 3:12 expressed his desire to show forth Christ daily.
Positional holiness is ours in that we are made perfect in Christ.
Prospective holiness awaits us in heaven.
If you have such a long-range goal, it keeps you from being frustrated by short-range failures.
I don’t know your opinion of Christ, but His opinion of you is made quite clear. You are “beloved.”
WE CONSERVED “”PRESERVED” Vs. 1c
A synonym for the Greek word translated “preserved” is simply “kept.” You are “kept” by God. This is a fact to be enjoyed.
The word “kept” means to continually give close attention.
Even when it may seem you aren’t — you are given Jesus’ attention always.
The First Century Spread of the Gospel
The story of the spread of the gospel after the resurrection is intriguing. First, it exploded in Jerusalem and throughout the country.
The Acts of the Apostles portrays the dispersal. After His resurrection, Jesus sent eleven of them to spread His teachings to all nations. This event has been called the Dispersion of the Apostles. They were not the only ones involved in the spread.
Before the birth of Jesus God was at work in order that things might be ready in the fullness of time.
Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world. He had developed the Koine (common) Greek language throughout, making it easy to communicate in various cultures.
Greece was conquered by Rome, but Rome stole, copied, and borrowed much of the Greek culture, including the Koine Greek which was spoken in much of the world. Some have said that Greek civilization conquered Rome. Thus, Koine Greek became the commercial language of the Roman Empire. This provided the early Christian missionaries with an open door to preach in the common language of the people of the Empire.
Rome established law throughout the Empire. The political unity of the Empire and the long peace had fostered commerce, which in turn sent Christian businessmen all over the Roman world. This great empire prepared the physical scene for the spread of the gospel in the following ways: 1) it gave peace in place of constant tribal warfare; 2) it built a great network of roads and bridges that made travel possible all over the then known world; 3) it cleared the sea of pirates so that trade by sea and travel by ship became common practice; and 4) it protected its citizens from robbers and rioting. These means of communications were set up by Rome to move her armies, but God used them to spread the gospel of peace throughout the world. Many Roman soldiers became saved and shared the gospel as they traveled.
Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity in 312 and throughout the empire thousands followed their Emperor in converting to his new faith.
A large population of early Christians were travelers or merchants, and they went to various places including Asia Minor. They spread the word broadly.
Many Jewish slaves on ships were Christians and they were popular agents of spreading the gospel in port cities.
By the year 100 AD, there were more than 40 communities of early Christians established, and most of these were in Anatolia. This place was also regarded as Asia Minor, and it was where the Seven Churches of Asia was found. Afterward, also the Greek New Testament was written in Koine Greek. Christianity spread in other places including Syria, Greece, Armenia, Africa, Arabia, India and Rome. These places served as the foundations for the spread of Christianity. Christianity had become viral.
It is up to the present generation to continue the spread.
Priscilla and Aquila: Co-Plodders 9/12/99
Acts 18:1-3
Jesus Christ spoke of the reward awaiting those who “endure” (Matthew 24: 13). Endurance is a trait of a plodder who consistently obeys Christ.
Giving one’s life to Christ introduces that person to a race. It is a life long marathon not a brief sprint. The Christian experience should not consist of fits of starts and stops. It is typified by the African runner who prayed, “Dear God, if you will pick my feet up I will put them down.”
With Christ as our companion we become co- plodders. That is, with Him we don’t quit, cop-out, or compromise. Plodders are people who pursue and produce.
From the world of business comes a peerless example of an entrepreneur who succeeded by plodding ahead against obstacles. John left his lovely home and executive position with a Fortune 500 company and moved from beautiful Hilton Head, South Carolina to pursue his dream in Orlando, Florida. He was nutty enough to think his road to financial independence would be paved with sugar-and-cinnamon coated nuts.
With a single mobile cart and the clever name of “The Nutty Bavarian” he let folks smell and watch as he roasted and glazed almonds and pecans. Competitors and established concessionaires kept him out of the more productive locations and the big companies wouldn’t let him in. Universal Studios wanted $100,000 and for him to supply all products.
John appealed to the vice president of Universal Studios for an interview. He never heard back. Finally, he wrote the VP saying he would call every day until given an appointment. The appointment was granted.
John brought his roaster into the boardroom and started preparing a batch of savory cinnamon-glazed pecans. The aroma wafted through the office suites and attracted uninvited executives.
Everyone was treated to a taste of the hot roasted glazed-nuts. The executives demurred saying they needed more time. John countered that if they would give him a thirty day trial he would personally operate his pushcart every day for twelve hours and give Universal 25% of the sales. All he wanted was a chance to prove himself. Agreed. Thirty days later his single cart had grossed $40,000. After the thirty days John added a second cart and signed a two year deal. At the end of the first year sales reached $1 million.
The Nutty Bavarian now licenses carts in 150 domestic locations and three foreign countries. Annual sales exceed $10 million. John Mautnere was a plodder.
From the battle field and playing field comes a sterling example of a plodder. The war in Vietnam was at its worst. In close quarter fighting the platoon was cut off. Rocky had speed but it was no match for the bullet that tore thorough his left thigh. Before he even felt the pain he was down. A grenade exploded nearby and ripped into both legs, shattering bones in his right foot. He passed out trying to crawl to safety.
When he awoke Rocky lay severely wounded on a stretcher having been miraculously rescued from the battle field. “What did you do before the war, son?” asked the doctor. “I played football for the Pittsburgh Steelers.” The doctor winced and said, “I’m afraid your football playing days are over.”
The war was over and soon he was discharged, an ex-football player with a 40% disability. Rocky was a dreamer and extended himself in a recovery attempt. Futility stared him in the face. Always slow his sprints were even slower now. He tried a comeback with the Steelers but was cut almost immediately. He was five- feet-nine, too small, and too slow. Everyone said it’s time to give it up. His heart said no. Coach Noll advised him to stick with the insurance business.
Mostly out of sympathy for a veteran he was allowed to travel with the Steelers to Green Bay. He thought it would be a good opportunity to visit home in Appleton, Wisconsin and have a talk with his pastor. His compassionate pastor had the capacity of asking the right questions. He said, “I guess it’s time to decide whether you’ve tried long enough, Rocky. How do you feel about it?”
Rocky was silent for the longest then he replied, “I made a promise back in Vietnam. When I was lying there wounded, I prayed that if I survived I’d do the best I could with my life… I promised I’d keep trying.”
His pastor smiled and replied, “I guess you‘re learning something about life now. Rocky a lot of things require two wills —- yours and God’s. We used to talk about how the Lord must have His hand on your shoulder, because of how well you played in high school and at Notre Dame, remember? Well, the hand’s still there, Rocky, but do you feel it? Or are you just trying to make it on your own?”
Rocky returned with renewed determination. Each day that passed and he went injury free he thanked God. He was used sparingly as a blocker. He lived with restraints and setbacks, but he plodded on.
In 1975 Rocky Bleier made the starting lineup as the primary blocker for Franco Harris. That was the year of their first Super Bowl. The Steelers were playing the Vikings in New Orleans.
Rocky tells how he arrived early. He walked to the mouth of the tunnel leading to the field and paused. “Lord,” he said, “I can hardly believe you put me here. The Super Bowl. I couldn’t do it on my own. A lot of the players are out here today because they’re fast or strong or naturally great athletes. I am not any of those things. And now I realize —- that’s the gift You gave me. In your will, my will worked.”
A key play occurred in the fourth quarter as Terry Bradshaw handed off to Bleier the blocking broke down and he fought his way to a first down keeping the winning drive alive.
As he walked back to the huddle a big lineman slapped his hand on his helmet and said, “Attaboy, Rocky. Never give up. If we can’t do it for you, do it on your own.”
Rocky smiled behind his face mask knowing he could never have done it on his own.
Never quit, never give up. Frame that in the words of his pastor, “It takes two wills —- yours and God’s. Find God’s will and find your joy in conforming your will to it.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the French Jesuit and paleontologist, has written: “Our duty as men is to proceed as if limits to our ability don’t exist. We are collaborators in creation.”
Cautious friends offer this council. “Don’t overreach yourself. Don’t shoot too high; establish goals well within your capacities to reach.”
Most people fall short of their ultimate goal, but in doing so they reach farther than life would have otherwise have permitted them.
Should you reach beyond your capacity?
You will never know your capacity until you reach.
Plodders always go further and achieve more than those who quit, copout, drop out, compromise, or capitulate.
Now consider a husband and wife duo who were plodders.
Aquila and Priscilla, Aquila the husband, Priscilla the wife.
Aquila meant “eagle.”
Priscilla came from the prominent elegant royal Roman name Prisca meaning “simplicity.”
By the fortuitous grace of God Paul and Aquila and Priscilla were brought together. God is at work even in what we call coincidences. Observe the circuitous circumstances that brought them together. A company of thieves in Judea had robbed Stephanus, a servant of the emperor, and killed the soldiers who were his companions.
Hearing of this back in Rome Emperor Claudius issued an edict ordering all Jews out of Rome. Aquila was a Jew from Pontus living with his wife in Rome. They were forced to leave and in their new home met Paul in Corinth. Wasn’t that odd! No that was God. He is no less at work in our lives.
Paul used the common denominator to identify with them. They, like Paul, were tent makers. Joining them in this labor gave plenty of time to share faith in Christ and disciple them. Being fellow-workers in tent making they became fellow- workers in Christ Jesus.
These plodders set for all worthy examples. They were —-
I. EARTH SHAKERS
They were workers not shirkers. Paul had no more loyal supporters at any time than they. He complimented them with the title, “my fellow-workers in Christ” (Romans 16:3).
They were known for spreading the good news every where they went.
Their love for Christ was known because it was shown. It was not known because they had a warm fuzzy feeling about Jesus, nor because they could repeat all the popular Christian slogans. It was known by their faithful service.
The term “fellow-workers” means co-workers, or workers together. It is this team effort among believers that commends itself to the world.
After a long list of persons to be greeted a caution flag is raised in the text. Not all things are always peaceful and beautiful within churches. The Scripture notes this: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses…and avoid them” (Romans 16: 17).
Two forces restrict the effectiveness of a church. The hurricane forces of evil from without that assail it and the rumbling volcanic force of division within. Often the hurricane force brings people together in the church for shelter. Such opposition can be a blessing. It is the volcanic disruptions within that cause the most difficulty. To be an earth shaking church the body must be together. I have seen the destructive force of division and the developing faith of cohesiveness. Lost persons are attracted to harmonious churches as musicians are by beautiful music. It arrests attention.
II. THEY WERE RISK TAKERS
A modern translation by Moule renders Romans 16: 3,4: “For my life’s sake submitted their own throat to the knife.”
This likely happened when they were in Ephesus when a violent riot broke out involving Paul (Acts 19: 28-31).
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Here is an example of this principle. They were defenders of Paul. Today, Christians need the defense of one another in our hostile society. Do you dare speak up for Christ and risk your reputation for His reputation?
If a minister is set for the defense of the faith he is deserving of faithful defense and support. I want to publicly acknowledge I have been the beneficiary of such loving support. There are those who have come to my defense even without my knowledge. Their love for their Lord and devotion to His church has motivated such defense. I have plodded with some of the best.
That is friendship at its best.
III. THEY WERE STANDARD MAKERS
In a time when Christians were persecuted the young emerging church had many challenges. The collective body of Christ had not yet begun to build church buildings as they were soon to do. Therefore, home-churches were the norm. More than one reference is made to “the church that is in their house.” They opened their residence to the Christian community and made it a place of worship.
Our society doesn’t need home-churches. The church has outgrown that stage. It does need homes wherein the family lives for and serves the Lord. I know a number of families who have made their home open for use by the church. Thus, these gracious members are expanding the circumference of influence to include their community.
IV. THEY WERE TRADITION BREAKERS
They encountered the brilliant Alexandrian Apollos, a gifted orator. As a prophet Apollos had a large and devoted following. He had one major liability. He knew only the “baptism of John” (Acts 18:25, 26). He knew nothing of salvation through the cross.
Aquila and Priscilla followed his crowds and listened to his message. He preached no negative error and did not deny essential faith. What he preached was good as far as it went, but he was not yet aware of the grace of God as expressed by Christ on the cross. Quietly and lovingly they invited him to their home and privately with consummate tact shared with him the further revelation of Jesus Christ.
“They expounded unto him the way of God more carefully” (Acts 18: 26).
Apollos receptively responded positively. The result was dramatic. He became one of the most dynamic evangelist of the era. Some in Corinth considered him an equal to Paul and Peter. By breaking with tradition a new and effective herald of the good news emerged.
The last biblical reference to these two is II Timothy 4:19.
This was about the year 66 A.D. Extra biblical tradition says that on July 8, of that year, Aquila and Priscilla were martyred for their faith and faithfulness. If, as history indicates, this was their fate they faced their future with faith. They were ready for their voyage to their heavenly home and the fellowship that awaited with Peter, Paul, Apollos, and a legion of others they had helped introduce to Jesus Christ. They kept plodding until they started trodding the streets of gold.
These tent makers not had a mansion in glory.
The Scripture refers to the human body as a “tabernacle.” The Greek word so translated would today more accurately be translated “pup-tent.” A pup-tent is not intended to be a permanent residence. It is temporary housing.
Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1 – 3).
Death is thus profiled as moving from the pup- tent into the palace.