The Works of God His Plan (4); Creation

Well, we have spent three weeks on the plan of God and there comes a point where you realize you're about to wear something out. Although I almost hesitate to say that about anything about God's word, there are times when you feel like maybe you're just about to get bogged down, you need to move along and I feel like we're just about at that point. I think I am almost certain that I have answered almost every question. I know how to answer on the plan of God. I don't have much more information to give, but I would like to finish up our outline on that topic tonight and then maybe have some time to touch on God's other works, at least one of his other works in creation. So we have talked about the characteristics of God's plan. We've defined it, talked about his characteristics. What I want to do tonight is make some important distinctions in God's plan and talk about some words that are found in the scriptures. In fact, if you'll open your Bible to Romans 8, I just want to point out the use of these words that we have on the outline tonight. There are four words that often come up in these kinds of discussions and I just want to take a moment to distinguish them, to kind of let you know the difference between them, not going to take a lot of time on them and I know they can each raise huge discussions, but they are words that are found in the Bible. For instance, Romans 8 and verse 28, and we know that all things, that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. For those God for new, there's the word verbal form of the word for knowledge, for those God for new, He also predestined, there's the word predestination or form of it, to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And then if you look down chapter 9 and verse 11, talking about Isaac or excuse me Jacob and Esau, verse 11 says, yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose in election might stand, not by works, but by Him who calls, she was told the older will serve the younger. So there's three of our words, the other word, the first one on the list, and I've got four words there for you, four ordination, predestination, election and four knowledge, and put all those thoughts together, and that's enough to tie us up in knots for a long time. The word four ordination is only found one time in the New Testament, and it's in the King James Version, in more modern translations you will not find it, but it is found in 1 Peter 1 verse 20, when it talks about Christ, who purchased us with His own blood, who was four ordained from the beginning of the world, His death was four ordained. So let me just take a moment to take those four terms and briefly define them and distinguish them, and then we're not going to try to go into a lot of depth and detail about them tonight. But just want to make sure you understand what these words are talking about in the Bible. Four ordination, the one time it is used, it is a form of the word chosen in most other translations, and it basically has to do with, it's the large word, the big word for God's overall plan. It basically is the same thing as what we've been talking about, God's overall plan, it's decision with respect to everything in the universe, His plan sometimes it's called his decree, and that means that everything is four ordained. It's a part of God's plan, it's the broadest term of these four. The second term is the term predestination, and that has to do with God's decisions about the destiny of people. Sometimes it refers to individuals, sometimes it refers to groups, but it deals more specifically with salvation. So it's a little more narrow than four ordination which has to do with everything in God's plan. Predestination basically has to do with salvation and with God's purpose for individuals. Predestination doesn't have to do only with salvation, it also involves other things that God may do. In fact, in the verse we read, the predestination here is being marked out, and that's what the word means, marked out ahead of time, predestined to be destined or marked out literally ahead of time, to be marked out ahead of time for a particular purpose, and the purpose in Romans 8 is to be conformed to the image of His Son. So those who are saved are marked out ahead of time by God for an expressed purpose, and that purpose is to be conformed to the image of His Son. So it's broader than just salvation, but it does include salvation. Now the term election is even a little bit more narrow than four ordination or predestination. It has to do with the strictly the salvation aspect of predestination. Predestination can mean God choosing or working ahead of time toward many different purposes. Election has to do specifically with salvation. It is the choice, God's choice of individuals or nations, and the Old Testament God's nation of Israel is called His elect people. And so sometimes it refers to the church as a whole, and sometimes it refers to individuals, but it has to do with God choosing for eternal life and fellowship with Him. So it's a little more narrow than even predestination. Now the word four knowledge is the word that throws most people off and is misunderstood the most. The English word sounds like to us that what the Bible is talking about is God knows everything ahead of time. And He does, and that's included in the word, but that's not all that word means. Many people have just looked at the English word four knowledge and said, well God knows everything that's going to happen ahead of time. So really it's equivalent to His omniscience. But the two are different omniscience has to do with God knowing all things. Four knowledge actually both the Hebrew and the Greek words, Old Testament and New Testament words have to do more with a favorable disposition toward and a selection of what confuses a lot of people is they see four knowledge and they think, okay God knows everything ahead of time. So God knows what we're going to do. So since he knows what we're going to do, then he makes it a part of his plan. And that's not really what the Bible teaches. In that scenario, basically God is responding to everything we do. We're really running the show. We're the one that decides what's going to be done and God says, okay, since I know what they're going to do now I'll back up and make that a part of my plan. So God is us and the driver's seat and God subservient to our will. And that's not really what the Bible teaches. Four knowledge is much more than just God knows ahead what's going to happen. It has to do with His gracious selection and favorable disposition toward. And I've got a bunch of verses here that talk about that. We're not going to take the time to look at them because I did kind of want to summarize these and move on. I know we could get into intense discussions and we've already discussed a lot about this whole subject of God's plan. And really the terms we're talking about now have more to do with salvation. And if we ever get to that doctrine, which I hope to on the Wednesday night, grow class, we will deal with each of those terms in much more depth. But I'd like to save them until we get to the doctrine of salvation because you really can't understand those terms completely until you put them in the bigger context of the doctrine of salvation and the death of Christ. So do I ask if there are any questions? Any questions? I don't see any hands. Four knowledge is not just God knowing ahead what's going to happen. Four knowledge has to do with His gracious selection of and favorable disposition toward. Someone or a group or a nation. Favorable disposition toward and selection really is included in the concept of four knowledge. Okay. I do want to make a distinction between God's decree and desire. And I think these next two distinctions are really going to help us kind of tie this whole thing together and help us see the balance that we need to keep. God's decree and God's desire. Those two terms are very important in understanding this whole balance in this important doctrine. When Bible students and theologians and so forth speak of God's decree, and that is a biblical term, by the way, when they speak of God's decree, they're saying basically the same thing as God's plan. It includes everything that God has decided ahead of time that will happen. It will actually happen. So whatever actually happens is in the plan of God is a part of His eternal decree. That's the term that's usually used for that. However, God's desire could be described as His feelings and attitudes and the eternal decree. Attributes toward His plan, what His wishes are, and sometimes what God desires is not a part of His decree, is not a part of His plan. You say, well, how can that be? Doesn't God get whatever He wants? Well, it's not quite that simple. Let me show you three verses that I think will help kind of flesh this out. Look at Ezekiel chapter 33, Ezekiel 33, and verse 11. And I think this is going to help us understand how human responsibility fits into the plan of God. I think when we see this, at least in my mind, becomes more clear. Ezekiel 33, verse 11. Ezekiel is being told by God the message He's to give the Israelites, and He says in verse 11, say to them, as surely as I live declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways. Why will you die people of Israel? Okay, there you see God's heart, there you see God's desire, and God's desire was that no one die in their wickedness. In fact, the nation of Israel, he's calling for them to turn. Did they turn? No. This is Ezekiel. Ezekiel is ministering to the nation of Judah, all that's left of Israel now. And actually, Ezekiel is taken into Babylon as part of the second of the three Babylonian captivity. And he's ministering in Babylon to the Jews who are there already in captivity. And there will be one more captivity in 586 where the whole nation is practically decimated. So do they turn? Do they turn back to God? No, they don't. It will be God's purpose, it will be in God's plan to judge them, but it is in God's heart for them to turn. God wants them to be saved. God's desire, his longing is for his people to be saved. But God's purpose and plan never violates the responsibility that people have to turn and believe it. And that's why God appeals to them. Turn, turn. You have a responsibility here. You have a decision to make. And I'm calling upon you to do that. Did they do it? No, they didn't. So God in his plan, in his decree gives us room and responsibility to believe or not believe, to turn or not turn. And God wants people to turn, but not everybody's going to turn. God wants people to believe, not everybody's going to believe. So that's not a part of his decree or purpose, but it is a part of his desire. Okay, two other verses that are very similar in the New Testament. First Timothy chapter two and verse four. First Timothy two, look at verse three, which begins in the thought. He's talking about praying for all people, for kings and those in authority, verse three says, this is good and please has got our Savior. Now verse four, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth? You know, God wants everybody to be saved. All people to be saved. He wants all people to come to a knowledge. Are all people going to be saved? No. No. So in the end, it is revealed and seen that it was not God's purpose that everybody be saved, but it's certainly is God's desire. That's what he would want. Why aren't all people going to be saved if that's what God wants? Because God leaves room in his plan and purpose for our human freedom to make choices to decide whether or not to believe or not, whether or not to believe. Okay. One other passage. First Peter three nine. First Peter three nine. Excuse me. I'm looking for second Peter three nine. Second Peter three nine. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So what God wants and in the context, he's talking about why the Lord delays his coming and into the end of the world kinds of stuff, judgment and that kind of thing. The earth being burned up with fervent heat. The day of God coming. Why does he? Why does he postpone that? Why does he delay that in a sense? Why is it taking so long? Because it's not that God's slow in keeping his promises. It's not that he's forgotten about it or he just tardy in doing no, no. God's plan for the ages is set. He knows exactly when that time comes, but it is taking so long because God desires people to come to repentance. He doesn't want anyone to perish. Now, are people going to perish? Yes. Is everyone going to come to repentance? No. So ultimately, we know that's not a part of God's purpose and plan and decree, but it is part of his heart. God does want everybody to come to know him. So again, there's this tension and balance that we need to keep between God's purpose and plan, his sovereignty, his decree and his desire, which leaves room for our personal world. So we need to keep our personal world for our personal responsibility. The freedom of these given us to make a choice, whether or not to turn, whether or not to believe, whether or not to repent. So both of those are involved and both of them have to be held in balance. The one that kind of ties it together also is sovereignty and responsibility. Those are the terms we usually use rather than decree and desire, but God is sovereign and we are responsible. God is sovereign in the sense that he is in control. He has decided what will be. He has a purpose and a plan that nothing will frustrate. God's purpose and plan will be done. Ephesians 111, remember kind of our key verse. He works all things after the counsel of his own will or his own plan, his own purpose. So God's in control, everything is moving along exactly as he intends to move to accomplish his ultimate purpose. But we are also responsible. Within that purpose and plan of God, somehow he has left room for human responsibility to believe. We also have the responsibility to evangelize, to witness, to pray. All of those are a part of our responsibility and all of those are built into God's purpose and plan. None of us knows the details of God's plan. We can only see it in reverse. We can only see it after it's happened. So none of us knows what God except what the Bible has revealed about what God is going to do in the future. So since none of us knows how long it's going to be until he comes back, none of us knows who is going to be saved. We have a responsibility to work like mad and pray like mad and witness like crazy to get people to come to Christ. We have that responsibility to bring the loss to him. So I guess the appeal that I'm making here is that we don't get so caught up on the sovereignty side of things that we lose sight of the balancing responsibility that we have. Because the Bible is clear, God has a purpose and plan, but we also have a responsibility to believe, to pray, to witness, to obey, to do whatever his word tells us to do. So there's some important distinctions that I think we need to keep in balance in this whole issue. So before we make a few practical applications and move on to another work of God, any remaining questions? That's a crazy question, self. There are all kinds of remaining questions, Steve. I think you're on to something there. I think what I would probably prefer to say, and I think it's the same thing you're headed towards, Steve, is that God's, there are two different kinds of conviction of the Spirit, actually three different kinds in the New Testament, but two different kinds that we're dealing with here. One can be resisted, and one is what the Bible calls his effectual call, which is the drawing of the Holy Spirit for a person to be saved. That, yes, that part is God's, a part of God's plan and decree and purpose. When God, the Holy Spirit is working in people's hearts that way, they're going to get saved. That is his calling, his effectual work, which always is effective. But our faith, our responsibility to believe from our side of things. Yes, that's our responsibility. God is working, but we are also hearing the gospel and believing the message and trusting Christ as our Savior. God is sovereign in all of that, but we still have that responsibility. The Spirit's work does factor into that. All right? We good? A few practical applications. I've listed some for you on the outline, so we'll go ahead and fill those in, and then others that you may have, certainly, be glad to hear. God's plan. That's what we're seeking to apply now. The fact that God is sovereign, that He has a plan, that He's working out that plan. Number one, that encourages confidence and trust. Boy, does it ever? I mean, God's will is going to be accomplished. Nothing can ultimately frustrate His purpose. To know that, to know that no matter how dark it seems, no matter how difficult the days are, personally, or in our nation or in our world, God is not frustrated by things. And God is not taking off guard by things, and God is not scrambling around and having tried to figure out how He's going to clean up our mess. God has everything under control. He knows exactly. And surely man can make a mess of things, but remember, God works all things, the good and the bad, together for good in His purpose, His plan. So it's all going to come out right. It's going to look messy along the way sometimes, but it's all going to come out according to God's plan. And that gives me amazing confidence and trust. If we focus on that, then we know that we can trust Him, no matter what's going on, we can trust Him. Okay? Second, a practical application for me is an encourages faithfulness. Nothing about God's sovereignty should ever, ever induce laziness or indolence in us spiritually. In fact, knowing that God is at work ought to encourage faithfulness on our part because we know that our labor is not in vain. We're not to be weary and well doing because we will reap if we don't faint. And God is at work. And so it should encourage faithfulness because here's the thing. If I thought the results and everything that's going to happen is totally dependent on me, I'd give up in discouragement because I'm not equal to that task. But when I realized that God commands me to be faithful to Him and He will work, His purpose will be accomplished. Then that makes me want to stick with it because I want to see what God's going to do. And I'm not going to get frustrated and discouraged and quit. I mean, we all get to those points where we feel like that at times. But when we back up and realize and lean ourselves back against that steady wall and foundation of God's sovereignty, God's plan, then it encourages us to stay faithful to keep going, not give up. Third thing, it encourages submission. As we pray and as we work, we need to do so with the constant yieldedness to Him that we are submitting to His will and His purpose. So as I pray, I'm going to boldly ask God to heal people and to work in people's lives and to save people and all the while I'm going to do it with an attitude of submission that if I don't get what I ask, it's not going to crush me because I know God's in control. And I know He's working at His own purpose. And I can trust Him with that. So it encourages submission, submission to the will of God to His sovereign plan. And then fourthly, God's plan and understanding of that does exalt God to the rightful place of an all-wise, infinite God. If I'm in control and God is just responding at my whim, if I'm calling the shots, then who's all wise and who's infinite? Who's really running the universe? Me. And that, my friend, is a scary thought. A real scary thought for any of us, but God is running the universe. And so He rightfully takes His place as all-wise and infinite and none of us fit that job description. What other encouragements do you find or practical application for your life from the fact that God has a plan toward which He is working? Is that... We're purpose driven. Yes. Yes. We can have purpose and aim in life knowing that God is in control. We can trust Him for what's coming. We can be driven by His purpose, His plan. Yes. Don't we all? But John is right. If we really believe this, it should take the worries out of life. I don't know about you, but I worry when I feel like I'm the one responsible for everything is going to turn out. I'm not sure it's going to turn out right, so I start worrying about it. To really trust God in His purpose and plan does remove worry, does remove anxiety. He's living that, isn't it? Practicing it. Okay? I've been very encouraging to know what God's word says about Him and His greatness, His plan. That should be encouraging to us. Okay? Let's talk a little bit about creation tonight. We're going to jump into something else. And I want to make a disclaimer right off the bat. I'm going to give you a very basic survey of just some of the basic things related to God Himself in regard to creation and some of the very basic foundational things that Scripture say. I'm not going into a creation evolution debate here. Okay? That's not my purpose. We're doing a study of what the Bible teaches about God. One of His works is creation. So I'm just going to basically summarize and state very briefly God's work in creation. And I'm assuming, assuming that what the Bible says is true. I'm not going to try to prove it. We're not going to get into a creation evolution debate. If you want to do that, there's lots of good literature out there published by answers and Genesis and Institute for Creation research and Jeff Bolton. It really, if you're interested in that kind of study on a deeper level, you might want to get into the Apollogia class where Jeff is teaching apologetics. And I think he has been doing or made do some things on Bible and science. But I'm just going to give you some of the very basics. Okay? First of all, when it comes to creation, we need to understand God created all things. That's very clear. Bible says God created all things. Look at three passages, Psalm 148. Psalm 148, we're just going to summarize it basically with three passages. Psalm 148 is a Psalm of praise to the Lord for His power and His greatness. Verse 1 says praise the Lord, praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights above. Now look at verse 2. Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts. There's good Hebrew poetry, which is often parallel to parts of the verse in Hebrew poetry. You know, English poetry uses a lot of rhyme and meter. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum. It's kind of the way English poetry works. Hebrew poetry is not the same. Hebrew poetry uses parallelism. Two statements which either say the same thing in different words or contrast with each other or the second part of the statement completes the first part of the statement. Those are three forms of Hebrew poetry. And you find that a lot in Psalms, Proverbs, Clisastes, those are an even in Job, the poetic books, not so much in song and solemn and that's got a little different purpose. But in any rate, this is good Hebrew poetry. Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts. The heavenly hosts are the same as the angels. It's just a reinforced way of saying it. The heavenly hosts are the angels. So it's repeated. Then verse three, praise Him sun and moon. Praise Him all you shining stars. There's an addition in the second line. Praise Him you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Now look at verse five, which kind of summarizes it. Let them praise the name of the Lord for at His command. They were created. Who was created? Everything mentioned in verses two through four. Angels, sun, moon stars, heavens, waters. Now a lot more than that was created. But what this passage tells us that we don't find in a lot of other passages is the fact that the angels were created. We can find sun, moon stars, waters, birds, animals, plants. You can find that in a lot of other places. It's one of the rare places where we find clearly stated that angels were also created beings. So God created angels. Secondly, God created the material universe. That's basically everything else. Colossians chapter one verses 16 and 17. For in him speaking of the Son of God in verse 15, for in him all things all things were created things in heaven and on earth visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. Those are different ranks and levels of angels. All things have been created through him and for him. This is such a good verse because it's emphatic. Twice it says all things were created by him and it gives some examples in in earth and in heaven. That covers a lot of territory. So all things all things were created by him all things were created by him. Okay, and then Genesis one and two we're not going to read the whole two verses or whole two chapters. But but that also gives us all things it basically goes through the six days of God's creative activity where the material universe and the planet earth, our solar system, sun moon stars. Animals, plants and then finally man were created. All of that was created by God in verses 26 and 27 man the crowning achievement of God's creation. So all of that is created. I don't want to get into a bit about how it was done. You know whether the light on the first day is some kind of crazy different light than the sun that's not created till the fourth day. I'm not going to get into all that. That's not my purpose. I just want us to stress the fact that the Bible makes clear God created all things now that does not mean that God created every every spider or every dog God created the different kinds he created a dog that had all of the genetic potential for the different varieties of dogs that would develop. And from the original pair came came dogs the many different kinds of dogs that we have today. So that same thing would be true in the animal kingdom across the board. But here's my point. There is no room for for theistic evolution in what the Bible teaches theistic evolution basically says we're intimidated by evolution and all these people with PhDs after their names say evolution is true. And so somehow we got to fit God into that. So maybe God started it all and then it evolved over millions and millions of years and then when it hit a bump where it couldn't go to the next phase God kicked it up an auction. Help that to that next phase and then it evolved for another that's theistic evolution which tries to fit God into evolution and the Bible has no room for that simply has no room for that the clear statements of the Bible are God created all things. And John one is another one that we could have used John one says nothing exists except was created by God all things were made by him and nothing exists that was not made by him basically says in John one so all things God created all things second thing I think I want to make clear about creation and God's work is that God created in six literal days. Now this is a huge debate and I know there are even some in our church that do not agree with this and it's not it's not necessarily a test of fellowship. But I do believe a careful understanding of the Bible leads one to believe that God created in six literal 24 hour days. I know that's ridiculed it's mocked even by many Christians. But Genesis one and two basically describe six days of creation activity and on the seventh day God rested again I'm not wanting to get into all the arguments but there are plenty there. The word day with the Hebrew numerical adjective the way it's used in the scriptures always refers to a literal day 24 hour day there are a couple of times where it almost sounds like an exception that some people have tried to raise but it's not the same expression. Evening in morning one day evening and morning second day indicating the two parts of a literal day not of a great age and then the real clincher is Exodus chapter 20 verses eight through 11 where the creation week is used by God himself as the example for our rhythm of work and rest in the 10 commandments where God says in Exodus 20 verse eight. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God on it you shall not do any work neither you nor your son or daughter nor your male female servant or your animals or any foreigner residing in your towns. Now it's obvious that there he's talking about literal days six days you shall work one day you shall rest is that mean I got to work six long ages before I get your rest no clear talking about literal days and then he says in verse 11 four because in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth to see in all that is in them but he rested on the seventh day. Now contextually lexically which means the use of the Hebrew words it is inappropriate to take those days in the same context and make them mean anything else then six literal 24 hour days because what God did is used as the example of what we're to do and it's clear what we're to do is six literal days you work one day your rest. And the reason for that is because God did the same thing he did his creative work in six days rested on the seventh day and there is nothing to indicate that should be stretched into long ages so therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day what is that the seventh day the day he rested a literal 24 hour day that he rested. Did God rest for ages is he still resting no he has ceased his creative work but God is not still resting he is still very active and so I think the Bible and many other reasons for this but the Bible indicates God created all things no room for theistic evolution God created all things in six literal days no day age theory no gap theory no that kind of thing. The last thing is seen in the Bible but God created in six literal days and then one other thing and I'll open it up for any questions you've got all three are involved all three and this is difficult to know exactly how but all three members of the Trinity were involved the father was involved in creation let me give you just a couple of verses first Corinthians chapter eight and verse six. The Christians eight six yet for us there is but one God the father from whom all things came and for whom we live and there is one Lord Jesus Christ through whom we're all things through whom all things came and through whom we live so the father is the originator of all things Ephesians three nine is another passage Ephesians three nine says and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery which for ages past was kept hidden in the Bible. In God who created all things who created all things God the father but who created all things Jesus Christ also John one three passage I was referring to earlier in the beginning was the word words with God word was God that's Christ he was with God in the beginning verse three says through him through Christ all things were made without him nothing was made that has been made. He created all things the father who created all things Jesus Colossians one sixteen and seventeen that we looked at earlier talking about Christ created all things Hebrews one two Christ created all things those three passages make it very clear. So who created all things the father who created all things the son who created all things the Holy Spirit. Genesis one two in the beginning God created the heavens in the earth now the earth was formless and void it was not yet formed it was still empty of plants and animals and man so the six days of creation or how God formed and filled it but it says this darkness is over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters the Holy Spirit is also seen in Psalm 104 as being involved in creation by your spirit all things were created he says some. One of four I think verse thirty so all three are involved how well that's part of the mystery of the Trinity some people try to make nice little distinctions the father is the architect the son is the contractor the Holy Spirit is the laborer. I'm not sure quite works out that easily all we know is that all three are involved in creation exactly who did what what the overlap of responsibilities were I'm not ready to hazard a guess all we can say is that all three were involved in creation. And wouldn't you expect that from what we saw about the Trinity they all have equal nature equal power equal wisdom they're all equal in every way in Jesus in the gospels would say. As my father works so I work my father's given me this work to do he works and I work and so we're doing the same thing so wouldn't that be true in creation as well they're all involved all doing the same thing. Exactly what it looked like my little brain can't figure out but they're all involved. Okay any questions at all about creation. Okay Steve. We don't have a billion years of Sabbaths coming up. Actually we do coming up yeah we don't know but we've got that blessed eternity of rest to look forward to so we've got to be in and more but yeah here no. Yeah right yeah yeah that's that's the first mention of the parts of a day and it begins with evening and morning and the Jews always have seen days as beginning in the evening. Six o'clock in the evening the beginning of the next day so they do it see it as evening and morning in the western world we see it as morning and evening that's the way that we they start in the beginning in the morning ends in the evening and you see it the other way around. Okay yes sir. Okay. Yes notice exactly what it says though that's second Peter three what eight verse eight a day is with the Lord as a thousand years doesn't say it is a thousand years says it is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day the idea there is a comparison in God's framework of time. Thousand years is just like a day there's no difference there is no time reckoning in God now he he fits his activity into the time of history but as far as how God views time thousand years just like a day. It's not saying that a thousand years is a day but a thousand years is as a day like a day so the basic point there is that God doesn't reckon time like we do. In his mind but in history in the outplay of human history we are locked into time and a day is a day and a thousand years is a thousand years. Now one of the things that many people get hung up on our time is gone one of the things a lot of people get hung up on is the use of the word day to refer to long periods of time like the day of the Lord or the day of judgment or whatever is not just specifically a day but that's a clear use of the word. It's not the first day the second day composed of evening and morning that's a different way of expressing a day. Obviously we all talk about you know a day of whatever I'm trying to think of an example a day of you know a day of reckoning is coming a day of whatever we may be talking about a long period of time there and the Bible uses the word that way too but not in the creation story. Not at all in the creation story. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. God knew how to reckon time didn't he? 120 years was 120 years it wasn't a long period of time it was 120 years so years meant years days meant days. Okay. Our time is up and the kids are ready for us so we better pray and go. Father thank you for the opportunity to look into your word and just to be awed and amazed at your great work. Lord it's so easy for us just to summarize creation in a few simple words and yet when we look around us and see the wonder and the variety the amazing universe that you created it certainly brings us to our knees to our faces in all of you. Thank you for who you are your greatness your infinite power and wisdom in Jesus name we praise you. Amen.