When Everything Seems Uncertain

We certainly live in tumultuous times with so much uncertainty. Moral and social changes have swept dramatically through our culture, and technology like AI is advancing at a rate we can’t really comprehend. We can’t even trust many of the videos, photos, or reports we see on the internet as much is now doctored to look real. Change is all around us. Deception is all around us.

I feel stressed just writing the above, but . . . let’s take our eyes off the world for a moment and look at something that does not and never will change—God’s Word and the saving gospel.

Let’s focus on these words from Scripture, God’s Word to us:

Cause my eyes to turn away from looking at worthlessness, and revive me in Your ways. (Psalm 119:37 LSB)

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 LSB)

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will make you mighty, surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 LSB)

Ah! I needed to be reminded of those verses. Yes, as the prophet said to encourage his people,

Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no produce on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields yield no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength, and He has set my feet like hinds’ feet and makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17–19 LSB)

God called Mally and me to found this ministry and appointed me to lead. In his sovereignty, he has allowed AiG to face another year in which we will proclaim the most vital, important, and transformative message in the universe—the gospel:

Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who inhabit the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” (Revelation 14:6–7 LSB)

The message of the gospel is to be proclaimed to everyone throughout the earth!

Yes! The message of the gospel is to be proclaimed to everyone throughout the earth! This message impacts our eternity.

As I lead this ministry to which the Lord has called me, I have always been one to continually look at how the culture and technology are changing, and therefore how our methods of reaching the culture should change to ensure the changeless message of God’s Word and the gospel is clearly proclaimed and understood.

I have often used Jesus’ parable of the 10 minas where Jesus taught that God has given various gifts (talents, material resources, etc.) to people. Now that he has ascended to heaven, he expects us to use those gifts/resources until he returns. And when he returns, we will be accountable for how we used and invested those resources:

A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, “Engage in business until I come back.” . . . And it happened that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know how much they had made in business. So the first appeared, saying, “Master, your mina has made ten minas more.” And he said to him, “Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.” . . . Then another came, saying, “Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a cloth; for I was afraid of you, because you are a strict man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “From your own mouth I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am a strict man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?” (Luke 19:12–23 LSB)

God has entrusted us at Answers in Genesis (our staff and our supporters) with resources that we need to invest in doing the business of the King (proclaiming the truth of God’s Word and the gospel) until he returns.

And this is also a reminder to us of what the primary thrust of Answers in Genesis should always be:

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But when the disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good work to Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:6–13 LSB)

The story of the woman with the alabaster jar alludes to Jesus’ death and burial. It also emphasizes worship and devotion over material things. In other words, this prioritizes spiritual ministry over ministry business. It certainly was a sacrificial act showing her love for Jesus. But because the disciples were thinking in terms of the money, and thus a business emphasis, they saw it as a waste. In pouring this over Jesus’ head and running down his clothing, it was also symbolic of the gospel and knowledge of Christ being proclaimed to the world. Jesus rebuked his disciples for not thinking of the spiritual aspect of this first. What she did was an act of worship and showed that she had a deep spiritual understanding. It was not a business transaction. In God’s kingdom, spiritual value is placed over material gain. God’s Word and the gospel are the priority.

Answers in Genesis is primarily a ministry proclaiming God’s Word and the gospel. This permeates every bit of the organization in many different ways. We must obey the laws in regard to business, and we need to have the most proficient business skills and maintain the highest of integrity. But the ministry/mission is the priority, which also involves pleasing God through (responsible) faith. And that is the primary focus of what we do with the financial resources you, our supporters, entrust to us.

As we begin this New Year, let me first thank you all for your faithfulness in praying for us and supporting us financially and in other ways.

Secondly, as we consider the state of the nation and the world, be assured that we will do all we can with the resources you entrust to us to impact this nation and the world by impacting hearts and minds with the truth of God’s Word.

I ask that you prayerfully consider a special gift this month—as well as designating a monthly recurring gift for our core ministry—to encourage us as we begin yet another year of serving the Lord. You may do at AnswersDonate.com. Your donation of any size is a great blessing to Answers in Genesis.

Thank you again for being a part of the AiG family and joining us to impact millions with the most important message in the world!

In Christ,
Ken