A Changed Life, and a Life That Needs Changing

In the same week I received two “change” letters—one from a person with a changed life and one from a life that needs a change. I have printed them both with comments below. Praise the Lord for a changed life, and pray for the one whose life needs to change.

A Changed Life

I received this great letter of testimony recently from a person who grew up in the church, but was not given answers by his church or parents to counter the secular teaching that so pervades our culture. Now here is a changed life because of the Lord using AiG to provide answers—and not just one changed life, thousands of other lives (like this 10 year old mentioned below by the parent) who are now growing up with answers. Changed lives . . . that’s what AiG is all about!

I took an elective advance course: “the COSMOS” by Dr. Carl Sagan in college to avoid taking a boring required Earth Science course – which caused me to turn my back on Creation for 25 years. Likewise, I took an elective advance course: GENETICS, to avoid the required Biology course. Interestingly, the course professor used ‘genetics’ to “prove” evolution among animals and humans.

It seemed they had all the answers; certainly “the Church” could not refute their assertions. I grew up in a very fundamental Nazarene Church with mandatory attendance, Sunday morning and night, Tuesday morning Bible Study, Wednesday and Friday nights, Saturday noon prayers and 2 weeks of VBS every summer and at least 2 revivals every year; my parents certainly had NO answers when I began to question what I was learning in high school. The “Hell fire and brimstone” preachers of our church told my parents I was “nuts” and “demonic” for even questioning the Word of God. In the Army and in college, my World View was turned away from Creation.

Although my world view is now an ardent Christian World View, you helped eliminate nagging doubts that I had in the back of my mind. You gave the facts with such simplicity that even my 10 year old understood it, yet with such authority that it forced me to confront my doubts, which you promptly dispatched!

A Life That Needs Changing

Isn’t it amazing, that so often, those who claim to be atheists become so upset when they learn of AiG or the Creation Museum? You see, if there is no God—and thus no ultimate purpose, meaning, and hope in regard to life—why do they bother even taking the time to attack us? Why does it ultimately matter? After all, when they die, from their perspective, they won’t even know they existed or we existed; so ultimately, why does it matter to them what we believe? Now from our perspective, oh, it matters!

It matters “because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19–20). The knowledge of God is written on each heart. These atheists know there is a God; in fact, there are no true atheists. But because "the heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), these so-called atheists have to fight against what they know to be true deep down.

God’s Word explains to us what these people are like.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)

That is why these so-called atheists are so emotional and why they are so intolerant of Christians. They know what we are saying about God’s Word is true, but they are in a sense covering their ears with their hands and shouting out “no, no, no!!” And because they know God’s Word is true, they shake their fist at God. They defend evolution regardless of how foolish such an idea is. They worship the creation—the creature, just as we read in Romans 1.

One way they shake their fist against God is to vent their anger against Christians whom they know stand for the truth of God’s Word. That is why they write (often quite nasty and vile) blog posts, articles, etc. against AiG. This week we received a letter from someone claiming to be an atheist. They didn't sign it though. This person just hides behind his words written to us. The following is what was written:

Dear Ken Ham,

I came across your website by accident and curiosity made me pursue through your information only to find some almost laughable absurdities about your theories on evolution and dinosaurs. When the old testament tells us that the earth is about six thousand years old and (after much criticism from the intellectual community about such inaccuracies) the new testament says that the earth is ten thousand years old, I can’t help but wonder where it is that you people (the religious, that is) get your education from? Do you realize that in biology and anthropology classes, ten thousand years ago is considered the agricultural revolution of the human kind?

If the religious’ notion of the coexistence of man and dinosaurs weren’t so tragic, it’d be farcical. I hope you realize the disservice you are doing to your followers by keeping them dumb and under-educated in such critical issues.

Religion has always opposed science and progress, yet all your zealous lives are surrounded by inventions and discoveries that science has given us. You, god-fearing fanatics, need to stop this non-sense. Free yourselves from all the litter from the bible and from any organized religion. I guarantee that you will live a very intellectually rewarding life.”

Sincerely yours, An Atheists in the bible belt

Note there is no logical argument in this letter, which is typical of such people. Lots of emotional statements and generalizations—nothing of substance. And on this basis we are to give up the Bible?

I thought I would include the letter in this blog post to remind us to pray for such people and to pray for this person. We don’t know who it is, but God does! God knows this person’s name and this person’s heart. Pray with us that God will convict this rebellious heart and save this person for eternity.

I want this “atheist” to know “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Galapagos Adventure—Days 14 and 15

Today Dr. Georgia Purdom of our staff posted her last blog entry from her adventure in the Galapagos Islands. Here is an excerpt:

Yesterday we had an early start to hike to the top of a large cinder cone on Bartolome Island. This area has had a lot of volcanic activity in the recent past as plant life is small and sparse. We spot mollugo and lava cacti again and another pioneer plant called tiquilia. All around us and in the distance are little “hills,” which are cinder cones and splatter cones of different principal volcanoes. Our naturalist explains that many times the principal caldera of a volcano will not erupt but that gas and magma will come out the sides in the form of these different cones. He explains that cinder cones are where the gas pushes up the ground but doesn’t actually explode out, so it appears closed at the top and looks sort of sandy brown in appearance. Splatter (or parasite) cones form when magma and gas push through the surface resulting in an explosion, like a mini-volcano, and are open at the top.

Once we climb many, many stairs (!) we are awarded with a spectacular view. The naturalist tells us that on a clear day 15 islands are visible from this point. We see Pinnacle Rock, a tall slab of pointed rock that appears quite solitary. In the distance we see the lava field we climbed around the day before and the volcano responsible for it. The sheer size of the lava field (15 miles) is stunning! I take many pictures of the landscape. We then climb back down ready for the next adventure.

Visit Georgia’s blog post to read more and see some photos from her trip.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken