40 years of marriage!

Next month is a special month for my wife and me. We celebrate 40 years of marriage!

This month as I was thinking about our anniversary, I contemplated how many Christian leaders over the years had fallen from their positions because of moral issues in regard to marriage, etc. This is so sad, and what a terrible example for the world and generations of young people (and others) they influenced!

I realize that even the best of people who believe God’s Word can fail if we let sin get ahold of us in an area of weakness. We all have feet of clay. Remember how the Lord inspired Paul as he wrote about this danger in Romans 7:18-19?

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

That’s why later on, God through Paul told us the following:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Now, I don’t know (nor do I want to know) all the sad details regarding these fallen Christian leaders. To me, however, this danger is a reminder that we need to stand uncompromisingly on the Word of God from the very beginning, and we always need to make sure that God’s Word is the ultimate authority in everything we think and do.

We do our best at Answers in Genesis to set that example, and I pray this ministry will never depart from it.

As I contemplated the fall of such Christian leaders over the years, I was reminded of many things.

• God gave a warning concerning those who have been placed in a position of great influence. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).
• Satan will do all he can to cause those in Christian leadership to stumble. Such leaders do need your prayers.
• Leaders have an enormous responsibility to remain true to God’s Word.

I am often reminded of such things when I receive emails like the following recent one:

I’m a young man, 22 going on 23. Sometimes patronizing statements by critics are directed to me, to the effect that my passion for God's Word is “just a phase that you'll grow out of when you mature.”

But the contrary is true, when I consider “belligerent” stalwart believers like you and Ray Comfort, who draw much ire from the world system for your headstrong refusal to compromise on truth.

As you are both in your 60s, I think I can safely ignore the claim that loving God and loving His truth is something I'm ever going to grow out of. Ken, it appears to me that you have the accumulated wisdom of someone 40 years older than yourself, and the energy and heart of someone 40 years younger.

Thank you for being an encouragement and role model to a young lad like me (from Maryland).

This email was humbling—but in a way it was also frightening. I realize this young person (as well as so many others) looks up to those of us in Christian leadership. What an enormous responsibility we have before the Lord!

Here is another letter I recently received.

In the early 1970s, Francis Schaeffer and C. S. Lewis had a huge impact on my coming to Christ. I had never had anyone explain to me why I should believe in a Creator God or, for that matter, Christianity.

As a medical student and “scientist” observing how the human body functions, there always was a question in my mind how those marvelous bodies of ours could just “evolve.”

And then, and I do not recall how it came into my possession, I read your book The Lie. I devoured it—it sort of looks “beaten up” but is a true treasure; and after twenty-five years, I still refer to it. Can’t thank you enough for being the one used of God to get the scales off my eyes.

We do praise the Lord for the encouragement He sends us—for the lives so positively impacted by this ministry and for Him allowing us the privilege and honor of being a part of it.

But there is another aspect of faithfully honoring God’s Word that is personal to me, which I would like to bring to your attention. It brings me back to our 40th wedding anniversary next month.

When I was about 10 years old, I went forward at an outreach meeting for children in Australia to commit to be a missionary for the Lord. I told the Lord I was willing to go anywhere He wanted me to go and do whatever He wanted me to do.

Unknown to me back then, at about the same time a young girl called Mally went forward at a Sunday school meeting. She committed her life to the Lord and said, “Lord, you died on that Cross for me. You did that for me, so I want to do whatever you want me to do and go wherever you want me to go.”

Years later the Lord brought Mally and me together. We were married December 30, 1972.

And I have to say that the ministry of AiG and the Creation Museum would not be what they are today except for the godly, dedicated wife (and now mother and grandmother) the Lord brought into my life. She has never complained about my absences as I have travelled the world speaking.

Quietly, in her reserved way, she has supported me more than I could even attempt to put in words. And her witness (and commitment in homeschooling our kids) has had such an impact on our children, who are all committed Christians, with four of the five married and now training their children in the things of the Lord.

As the precious stone ruby is associated with 40 years of marriage, I thought this verse of Scripture is very apt.

Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies. (Proverbs 31:10)

Thank you for your investment in AiG as a ministry that stands uncompromisingly and boldly on the authority of the Word of God. We take the responsibility in leading this ministry seriously—and we always want to honor the trust you have in us as you support this vital organization prayerfully and financially.

Please pray with us that AiG, the Creation Museum, and the coming Ark Encounter will always remain a faithful witness for the Lord and His Word! And in so doing, please pray that millions of lives will be impacted for the Lord Jesus Christ.

At this Christmas time, we especially remember, as we should every day of the year, the greatest gift of all—the gift God gave to us in His Son to pay the penalty for our sin.

In all we do at AiG, including the resources the Lord enables us to produce and the Creation Museum (and coming Ark Encounter), we do it for one reason and one reason only—to proclaim the truth of God’s Word and the saving gospel message.

Thank you for your generosity as we stand together on the Word of God!