God's
Evolving CREATION
(
"Creational Evolution" )
"DARKNESS"
to "LIGHT"...
"Let
there be light"...
A tablet
from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's
Terrific Tablets"
(
http://www.terrific-tabs.com
)
by John
N. Todd III, M. D.
(link)
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article is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_darkness_light.htm
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See related
topics: Scientists
have "ALL the answers" about
CREATION
(link)
AND:
Can
the EXISTENCE of GOD be PROVEN?
(link)
Posted
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It is my
perception -- my understanding, my
belief -- that at some early time in
God's on-going process of
designing and creating our
World, and the Universe.... God decided to
"awaken" His human-creations, and to allow
some of those we now call "man" to become
aware of their Creator-God.... and to become
cognizant of their own "human-ness"; and God caused
these selected "humans" to begin to "think";
and to plan; and to calculate; and to record ("write"); and
to invent.... and to tolerate one another.
Thus, God caused and allowed man to
"evolve".... and to become capable of
overcoming many of the intrinsic "animal" characteristics
which bedevil almost all living
creatures.
I believe that in God's progressive
creative plan
of evolution for our World --
at a moment when God was satisfied that the time was
right, in His opinion -- God spoke the
earth-shaking words, "Let there be light".... and by
so ordaining, God caused His
chosen "human" creations to become
distinct individual
beings -- "enlightenend" by awareness of their
own origin, and their finiteness -- and
mindful of Him who caused their
creation. By this illumination
from God, "man" was allowed to "evolve", and to become
separated from the "dark" universe.... the
"darkness" of insouciance, and obliviousness, and
animality, and ignorance.... those bleak
characteristics that are the "fate" of ALL
still-blind-and-deaf
creatures.... those who have not yet been
"awakened", by God.... and allowed to
"see the light". (See link Individuation
by God.)
When God allowed this enlightenment of
some of His "human" creations,
He thus brought about the dominance of
cognizant "man".... over all other
forms of evolving "life".
(Of course, all of us know the Biblical account of
"creation". It is not my intention to become
imbedded in the man-made "evolution/creation" debate
-- except to say that [in my opinion] both
"creation" and "evolution" have proceeded
precisely according to the
outline established by
God-the-Creator. How can there
be any other reasonable concept?)
It is my understanding that the entire process
of planning and designing and constructing the Universe
originated solely with Almighty God.... and on
God's schedule. We humans have no idea -- only
guesses and speculation and hopes -- about God's
"timetable", and about God's ultimate intention.
Hence, it becomes pointless and futile for us
human-animals to argue and fight with each other, and
to belittle each other with rigid
doctrinal claims
(link) and "religious" concoctions.... concerning the
precise times and mechanisms of
"creation".
In this "tablet", I want to refer to numerous Biblical
references to "darkness" and "light".... starting, of
course, with Genesis. I will show examples of how
"darkness", converted to "light", is a
frequently-used Biblical metaphor for
God's process of
"elucidating" His people....
awakening them to the existence of God
Himself; and to the presence of God in the lives of
His people; and to the activities of God; and to the
characteristics of God; and to God's
revelations of "truth" about Himself.
A computer search of the Bible (KJV) reveals that there are
31 verses in the OT, and 24 verses in the NT,
that contain both the words "light", and
"darkness". Many of these scriptures will be shown,
below. Similarly, in NRSV, there are 31 verses in OT,
and 23 in NT, which contain both of the words,
"darkness" and "light".
Note the following precise quotations. Read these
out loud, so that you may hear
the words of God, while you "see" God's
message:
Genesis 1:
1 (NRSV) In the beginning, when God
created the heavens and the earth, 2 the
earth was a formless void, and
darkness covered the face of the deep --
while a wind from God swept over the
face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there
be light".... and there was light. 4
And God saw that the light was good; and
God separated the
LIGHT from the DARKNESS.
5 God called the light "Day", and the
darkness he called "Night".
Exodus 4: 11 (NRSV) Then the LORD said to him,
"Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or
deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the
LORD?
2 Corinthians 4: 6 (NRSV) For it is the God
who said, "Let light shine out of
darkness," who has shone in our hearts to
give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of
God.... in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that
it may be made clear that this extraordinary
power belongs to
God.... and does not
come from us.
Same (KJV) For God, who commanded the
light to shine out of
darkness, hath shined in our hearts.... to
give the LIGHT of the
knowledge of the glory of
God.... in the face of
Jesus Christ.
John 12: 46 (NRSV) (Jesus speaking): I have come
as light into the world, so that everyone
who believes in me should not remain in the
darkness.
1 John 1: 5 (KJV) This then is the message which
we have heard of Him, and declare unto you -- that
God is light, and in Him is
no darkness -- at all.
1 Peter 2: 9 (NRSV) But you are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation..... God's
OWN PEOPLE, in order that you may
proclaim the mighty acts of Him who
called you out of DARKNESS
into His marvelous
LIGHT. 10 Once you were not
a people, but now you are God's
People
(link).... once you had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy.
Luke 1: 78 (KJV) Through the tender mercy of our
God; whereby the dayspring from on high
hath visited us, 79 To GIVE
LIGHT to them that sit in
DARKNESS, and in the shadow
of death -- to guide our feet into the way
of peace.
Luke 1: (NRSV)
76 And you, child
("John-the-Baptist"), will be called the
prophet of the Most High; for you will
go before the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 to GIVE KNOWLEDGE of
SALVATION to His
people by the forgiveness of
their SINS. 78 By the tender mercy
of our God, the DAWN from on
high will break upon us, 79 to GIVE
LIGHT to those who sit in
DARKNESS.... and in the shadow
of death.... to guide our feet
into the way of
PEACE.
John 3: 19
(NRSV) And this is the judgment, that the
LIGHT has come into the world; and people
loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were
evil. 20 For all who do evil
hate the light, and do not come to
the light -- so that their deeds may
not be exposed.
Isaiah 42: 16 (NRSV) (God speaking through
Isaiah): I will lead the
blind by a road they do not
know..... I will guide them by paths
they have not known. I will turn the
DARKNESS before them into
LIGHT -- the rough places
into level ground. These are the things I
will do..... and I will not
forsake them.
Psalm 139: 11 (NRSV) If I say, "Surely the
darkness shall cover me, and the light
around me become night," 12 even the
darkness is not dark to you. The
night is as bright as the day, for
darkness is as light to you.
Isaiah 45: 7 (KJV) -- I
form the light; and create
darkness. I
make PEACE -- and CREATE
EVIL. I
the LORD do ALL these
things.
Daniel 2: 20 (NRSV) Daniel said: "Blessed be the
name of God, from age to age -- for wisdom and
power are His. 21 He changes times and
seasons; deposes kings; and sets up
kings. He gives wisdom to the wise -- and
knowledge to those who have
understanding. 22 He REVEALS
deep and hidden things. He
knows what is in the
DARKNESS
-- and LIGHT
dwells with Him.
Same (KJV) 22 He revealeth the deep and
secret things. He knoweth what is in the
DARKNESS.... and the LIGHT
dwelleth with Him.
Ephesians 5: 8 (NRSV) For once you were
darkness, but now in the Lord,
you are light. Live as
children of light.... 9 for
the fruit of the light is
found in all that is good and right and
true. 10 Try to find out what is
pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take
no part in the unfruitful works of
darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what such
people do secretly; 13 but everything
exposed by the light becomes
visible, 14 for everything that
BECOMES VISIBLE is
light. Therefore it says, "Sleeper,
awake! Rise from the dead; and
Christ will shine on
you."
2 Corinthians 6: 14 (NRSV) Do not be mismatched
with unbelievers (JNT note: those who have been
"left in the dark"). For what partnership is there
between righteousness and lawlessness? Or,
what fellowship is there between light and
darkness?
1 Samuel 2: 9 (KJV) He will keep the feet of
His saints, and the wicked shall be
silent in darkness; for by strength
shall no man prevail.
Isaiah 50: 10 (KJV) Who is among you that feareth
the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that
walketh in darkness, and hath no
light? Let him trust in the name of
the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Colossians 1:
9-11 (NRSV)
For this
reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased
praying for you, and asking that you may be
filled (JNT note:
"enlightened") with the
knowledge of God's
will -- in all spiritual
wisdom and understanding, 10
so that you may lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing to Him.... as you bear
fruit
(link) in every good work; and as you grow in the
knowledge of God. 11
May you be made strong, with all the
strength that comes from His glorious
power; and may you be prepared to endure
everything with patience, while joyfully giving
thanks to the FATHER -- who
has ENABLED you to share in
the inheritance of the
saints.... in the LIGHT.
Same (NIV) 10 And we pray this in order
that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, and may
please Him in every way: bearing fruit in
every good work, and growing in the knowledge
of God.... 11
being strengthened with all power according to
His glorious might, so that you may have great
endurance, and patience -- joyfully
12
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you
to share in the inheritance of the saints.... in
the Kingdom of LIGHT.
1 Corinthians 4: 3 (Paul speaking) (NIV) I care
very little if I am judged by
you, or by any HUMAN
court. Indeed, I do not even judge
myself. 4 My conscience is clear -- but
that does not make
me innocent. It is
the Lord who judges
me. 5 Therefore, judge nothing
before the appointed time. Wait till the Lord comes.
He will bring to
LIGHT what is HIDDEN
in DARKNESS.... and will
expose the motives of men's hearts. At that
time, each will receive his praise --
from God.
Jeremiah 33: 2 Thus says the LORD who made
the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it
-- the LORD is his name: 3 Call to
me, and I will answer you; and I will
TELL you great and HIDDEN
THINGS.... that you have not known.
John 8: 42 (NIV) Jesus said to them, "If
God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from
God, and now am here.... 47 He who belongs
to God hears what God says. The
reason you do not hear is that you do
not BELONG TO GOD. If God
were your Father.... you would listen."
It is my
understanding, that God causes His
people to become "awakened", from time to time, to
certain "truths" which have lain "dormant" (in the
"darkness").... until God "speaks the word", and
thereby allows enlightenment and
awareness and knowledge to develop in His designated
human creations. For example, I am thinking particularly of
some of the great spiritual "minds" of the past....
those individuals whose seemingly "original"
human-thoughts were conceived, then documented
and shared -- actual spiritual
revelations and "decipherings" which
subsequently blossomed (came to "light") in the
hearts and minds of God's children.... God's people.
Consider also the thoughts and writings of the "Old
Testament" prophets.... and then the
revelations of God-Incarnate, and His Apostles; and
Saul of Tarsus (Paul); and St. Augustine; and Jacob
Arminius, John Calvin, Martin Luther, "Erasmus", Huldrych
Zwingli, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon; and on and on....
those spiritual giants who were inspired by
God to lead God's
people
(link) out of "darkness" -- into God's spiritual
"light".
Think, also, of those mighty minds in
the "physical" world.... those individuals whose
impact on understanding of the "mechanical
universe" brought-about huge leaps in
much-needed "scientific" knowledge.... required
information for the benefit and progress of
"mankind". There have been many of these mental
"giants", from Galileo and Koepler and Isaac Newton, to
Albert Einstein, and many, many more.... those whose
"foresight" and far-advanced ideas (I believe) could not
possibly have sprung from untaught
human-beings.... unless inspiration from
God had been "implanted".
From "DARKNESS" to "LIGHT", I say....
entirely under the watchful and caring "eye" of
The Almighty.... all planned and purposed, as
a part of God's "EVOLVING" process of
"CREATION".... for reasons that we
"Godspeople" cannot yet understand.
As PJT, the wife of this author, has said:
"Creation includes
evolution".
Isn't that obvious to everyone?
What do you say.... about all this? Think about
it.
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