60th bday at NCRH

I began this week with my 65th birthday. Christian came up north to meet me

at Scheel’s Sporting Goods

for lunch and a tour of the new Scheels Sporting Goods store in Loveland/Johnstown. It was a better day than five years ago when I marked my 60th birthday just to the east of where we were in Northern Colorado Rehabilitation hospital.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain. Right now I’m going to Jerusalem to bring help to the Christians there.” Romans 15:24,25 GW 

Solomon observed in his wisdom, “The heart of man plans his way,  but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 ESV) We can readily observe that life is filled with uncertainties. At times the “best laid plans” just don’t work out the “best” way we have in mind.

The above verses reveal Paul’s plans for what he expected to take place next in his ministry. We see in 2 Corinthians Paul’s instructions to the believers about giving financially to support the suffering Christians in Jerusalem. He is now writing to the Roman Christians and tells them of his desire to come and visit them in person. He tells them that he will go to Jerusalem to take the gifts from those in Macedonia believers there. He then had plans to travel to Spain and to stop in Rome on his way.

As we read in the Book of Acts, all did go the way Paul had planned. “…Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the temple courtyard. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed Paul. Then they began shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere to turn against the Jewish people, Moses’ Teachings, and this temple.” (Acts 21:27,28 NIV)

A mob erupted resulting in Paul’s arrest. This resulted in over two years of trial, imprisonment and efforts to avoid the plans and tactics of his accusers. Oddly, Paul did end up in Rome. But it was under house arrest. It doesn’t appear he ever made it to Spain as he planned. Yet in it all we see the Lord working. It may have been Paul’s “Plan B” but seemed to be the Lord’s, “Plan A.”

Seven letters we have in the New Testament were written while Paul was in prison. His arrest allowed him to present the gospel and his testimony before the masses in Jerusalem and before religious and political leaders of the day. When Paul (then Saul of Tarsus) encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, the Lord spoke to Ananias these words: “I’ve chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel. I’ll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16 NIV)

I think of the perspective Job had of his life. “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.” (Job 29:18 NLT) Suffering was not in Job’s plans, just as it is not in any of our plans. We anticipate a smooth road through life enjoying the blessings of the Lord.

However, we certainly are made aware of the uncertainties of life and how that our plans and our trajectory in life can change in a moment. There were way too many times during my ministry when a church member was in a Sunday service and before the week was over, I was standing at their grave, the marking conclusion of their life on earth.

I recall when I was battling illness less than a month after moving to Fort Collins. Even though I was in the hospital, I was still telling Debbie that we might be able to keep our plans for the upcoming weekend. Little did I know that what I thought might be a few days, would turn into several months and a journey that would change the trajectory of my life.

It seems the words of the Apostle James ring true. “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15 NIV)

It is important that was not live our lives in fear of the unexpected. We can live life with confidence, purpose and a commitment to pursue all that is in our hearts. Yet we must hold our plans and life loosely. We must know that the Lord is with us regardless of what takes place. He will see us through and He will use all of our experiences to build our trust and confidence in Him and to place our focus on that which is eternal.

As I write, I am just few days out of my second spinal injection to address some pain that I have been experiencing in my back due to a herniated disc. It has brought some relief while I am still experiencing episodes of some significant discomfort. It is snowing lightly here in Fort Collins and we have started to decorate for the upcoming Christmas season. Time moves along as we travel this journey of life.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Therefore everyone was condemned through one failure, and everyone received God’s life-giving approval through one verdict. Clearly, through one person’s disobedience humanity became sinful, and through one person’s obedience humanity will receive God’s approval.” Romans 5:18,19 GW

Tomorrow is my 65th birthday. Somewhat of a marker of growing older in our American culture. Although with people living longer it has been said that, “50 (or is it 60?) is the new 40.” I find as I grow older and in light of my health crisis five years ago, my sense of mortality is heightened.

I believe had my life progressed as I was living it, I would have “blown through” this marker without much notice. (Other than the requirement to sign up for Medicare, in order to avoid a penalty of course.)

I have also been reading the book, Being Mortal. This is a fascinating book about medicine, life and mortality written by a doctor/surgeon. His description of aging process is quite depressing to be honest. But at the heart is something that we can observe in times of illness as well as in life. People do what they can to ignore or delay the inevitable. Death. Death in this life is an enemy.

At the same time we see adds and initiatives aimed at living longer, healthier lives. While much of this can be positive some of it seems to border on the paranoid. I believe the reason is that we were created for life. That was God’s intent for the first humans in God’s created order. However, Adam and Eve messed up. Not only for themselves but for all mankind.

Paul offers this explanation, “Sin came into the world through one person [Adam], and death came through sin.” (Romans 5:12 GW) Sin is the cancer that brings death to every person. To reverse the death sentence one must find a remedy for the cause of death – sin. Paul declares, “All have sinned…” (Romans 3:23) This is simply a New Testament affirmation of the Old Testament declarations,  “…there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:3) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way…” (Isaiah 53:6)

But through Christ (whom Paul refers to as the “second Adam”) true life, eternal life is available to all. Not eternal life in this natural world, but eternal life in the world to come and that which is unseen. To the Corinthians Paul says, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive….“The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:22,45)

In the contrast between Adam and Christ, we see Paul stating that Christ’s gift overcomes Adam faults. There is no comparison between God’s gift and Adam’s failure…the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on humanity.”  (Romans 5:15, GW)

Then we see that Christ’s gift of grace overcomes our sin and the penalty of death. “There is also no comparison between God’s gift and the one who sinned.…[it is] certain that those who receive God’s overflowing kindness and the gift of his approval will rule in life because of one person, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17 GW)

Christ and His grace which results in the forgiveness of sin overcomes sinful actions and a sinful nature. Christ’s gift has no comparison and overcomes death and promises life forevermore.

We can’t stop the aging process. We can’t stop the impacts of infirmity and disease, but we can be victorious over death.

“As sin ruled by bringing death, God’s kindness would rule by bringing us his approval. This results in our living forever because of Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21 GW)

That is why Paul pronounces this victorious declaration,

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Arise and attack a nation at ease, which lives in confidence,” declares the Lord, “a nation that has neither gates nor bars; its people live far from danger.” Jeremiah 49:31 NIV

Wow! It’s been one the longest stretches since I have written a devotional blog. This one was inspired by Debbie’s morning Bible reading.

Jeremiah is the Lord’s prophet and at this point in history the Lord is using Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar to not only execute judgment on Judah, but other nations as well. The Lord reveals that He is not just the God of Israel and Judah, but all the nations of the world. As a result we see a prophecy spoken against ancient kingdoms of Kedar and Hazor.  The Lord is instructing the Babylonians to attack this nation that is living “at ease.”

The wording of this verse reminded us of years ago when were attending a Billy Graham School of Evangelism. The late E.V. Hill from Los Angeles preached one of the most challenging and convicting messages on evangelism I have ever heard. It gripped all that were in attendance. His message was on the “Sin of Job.”

The epicenter of the message is when he shared the sin of Job was in his own words, “I was at ease…” (Job 16:12 NIV) He pontificated that Job’s condition of being well provided for and blessed allowed him to become isolated and insulted from the world around. He lived among the heathen nations of his day, but….he was at ease.

1- Being “at ease” can lead to self-centered living and misplaced priorities. The NLT uses the word “complacent” to describe the people of Hazor. When we are complacent, we are not focused on God-centered living. This is the focus of the “parable of the rich fool.”

“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. ’“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? ’“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21 NIV)

 We must remember we are to live a purpose-filled life. God desires to use us regardless of who we are and where we are. There is no retirement from being a Christ-follower.

2- Being “at ease” makes us vulnerable. I thought of the verse that I share with my grandchildren. My legacy verse for them. “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith…” (I Corinthians 16:6 NIV) The cities of Jeremiah’s days were walled fortresses. But Hazor is described as being “a nation with neither gates or bars….” They had no defenses they lived care-free, unsuspecting lives.

Ezekiel speaks to Jerusalem in the imagery of “Sodom” and says her sins were, “pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security…” (Ezekiel 16:48 HCSB) The New King James version uses the words, “abundance of idleness.”

It is interesting how a sense of security can lead us to believe we are not vulnerable. I say that with a degree of self-conviction. I would have to admit there was time when it was easy for me to think at least self-consciously, “bad things happen to other people, but not to me!” The verse in Job says, “I was at ease; but He shattered me…”

3 – Being “at ease” leads to temptation. The picture from Jeremiah is an army well prepared and focused that swoops down on an unsuspecting people and before they know it, there sense of security is gone, their freedom is gone.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV)

I recall a leader making the statement, “unseized time, leads to our greatest area of weakness.” This is not just about physical activity. Paul the apostle tells us our thought life is a key to peace in our life. Have you ever heard of the expression, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop?”

Paul says that God’s peace comes when we fix our minds on, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Just before this list the apostle gives the assurance that the “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 NIV)

The Lord allow us to live in His peace and provision, but He doesn’t want us to become self-centered and vulnerable by simply living “at ease”  and becoming complacent in life.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “…Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3,4 NLT

An important aspect of our faith is our hope in God making everything right. Everything new. Restoring that which was intended from the very beginning of creation. Restoring that which was lost due to sin and rebellion. We see that all described in Revelation as John’s vision comes to an end.

The place where God dwells, God’s, “home” is the place where all of His people are to view as their “home.” It is one thing to be in our “own” home. It is another to be in someone else’s home. What is pictured here is a sense of God’s home and our home being one. It is the place where we are destined to be, it is a place of refuge, safety and provision.

I think of Jacob at Bethel. As he received his vision of the ladder reaching heaven, he declares, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God…” (Genesis 28:17 NIV) The Lord brought the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt to settle them in their own land. A (temporal) place where they would live on earth and serve, honor and trust the Lord. Jesus words of comfort to His disciples were, “I go to prepare a place for you….that where I am there you will be also.” (John 14:3)

What is striking about this ultimate picture of the end of the age is not God’s people going to be with God, it is God coming to be with His people. It is the fulfillment at the end of Revelation of the spiritual promise at the beginning of the book when the Lord says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

Throughout scripture we see the “with them God.” This is emphasized in these verses. God “with” His people. God’s people “with” Him.

Then we see absent in God’s home, what is so prevalent in our “earthly” home.  “…and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT) This life is filled with death, sorrow, crying and pain. Someone said, “If pain were water, the world would drown.” All that characterizes this life will be gone in the next and in God’s home.

When I read this verse recently, I found myself pausing and focusing on some of the key words. Words like, “no more.” And then the absence of all that challenges our worldly existence is underscored with the words, “All these things will be gone forever!” 

This is not some temporary relief. On an individual basis we may have season that is absent from death, sorrow, crying and pain. But they are the reality in our world for somebody, somewhere. But in God’s home, death, sorrow, crying and pain are gone for everyone, everywhere FOREVER.

That’s the home we need and we can look forward to when our faith and trust is in Christ alone.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” Revelation 16:17 NLT

For most of us it is with a sense of relief or accomplishment that something is finished or the end of a task has come and we are “done.” While most translations use the word, “done” in Revelation to describe some key points in time, the words, “it is finished” are ones that get our attention.

The phrase is best known for the words of Christ uttered on the cross before He breathed His last breathe. But in God’s redemptive plan we find three key junctures that signal the fulfillment of what was long anticipated.

The Plan of Salvation. “When Jesus had tasted it [sour wine on a sponge], he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30 NLT)

The death of Christ on the cross was the fulfillment of that which the prophets had foretold. The man on the cross was the “seed of the woman” from Genesis. This was the suffering servant that Isaiah foretold would be “wounded for our transgressions.” This was the root of the stump of Jesse. This was the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” 

The coming of the Messiah who would restore the throne of David, was foretold and anticipated. It was believed, but also doubted. It was hoped for and yet misunderstood. John’s gospel, declared, “He came to His own, did not receive Him.”

But God’s plan is above the minds of man and the time of history. What God has determined with be fulfilled and accomplished. It will be different than what we can comprehend or image, but as sure as the sun rises each day it will take place.

The Jewish leaders thought they were getting rid of an antagonist and threat to their authority and status. The crowds worshiped Him and then turn on Him. The disciples followed Him and then fled. But in it all scripture was fulfilled and God’s plan for the salvation of humanity was taking place. So, with His last breath and His last words Jesus said, “It is finished.”

The Judgment of the earth. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” Revelation 16:17 NLT

The Book of Revelation “reveals” Christ reclaiming His rightful rule over all the earth and the final judgments on the world for their idolatry and rejection of God’s plan and purpose. It is God restoring to Himself a people of worship and holiness, to be with Him forever. In the early chapters a scroll is depicted in the hand of God who is on the throne in heaven. Only the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” in all of heaven and earth is found as the “worthy one” who can take the scroll and open the seals that release the judgments of God on the earth.

Seven seals are broken. Each with corresponding events. The last seal is broken and it causes silence in heaven as the scroll unfolds in awe and anticipation. Seven angels sound their trumpets. With each, judgments in all of their forms take place. The seventh angel blows his trumpet and there are seven last bowls of judgment that are “poured out” on the earth. As the seventh bowl judgment is poured out a loud shout from the throne Temple. This is the voice of God Himself!! “It is finished!”

The restoration of heaven and earth. “And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6 NLT)

This is after the 1,000 years of Christ’s rule and Satan final deception and judgment. John sees in his vision, a new heaven and a new earth. There is a new Jerusalem coming down from heaven and the declaration of “I am making everything new!” What we see is the culmination of the history of the earth from beginning to the entrance of sin and the promise of a Savior and a restoration of what which was lost.

It is promised and prophesied. It is yet to take place and will only happen in God’s time and manner. Some will grow weary others will doubt. But, “one golden day break Jesus will come!” In the words of the old song of the Gaither’s there will be the realization that, “It is finished the battle is over, It is finished there will be no more war, It is finished the end of the ages, It is finished and Jesus is Lord.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT

This is the final verse of 1 John. John shares with his readers, instructions and gives warnings about living life in a challenging world. His letter ends somewhat abruptly. Most translations word this final verse as, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” The New Living Translation speaks to the “modern” heart with relevance about the real issue, “the heart.”

If prostitution is the “world’s oldest profession” then idolatry is the world’s oldest sin. It should be no surprise the first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20)

The history of God’s people is rampant with the issue of idolatry. The four hundred years of captivity in Egypt among all the idols in the land, had generational ramifications for God’s people. Idolatry become their “Achilles heel” that brought their downfall.

However, the record reveals the issues of worshiping God alone, and the influence of surrounding cultures predated their centuries in Egypt. As Jacob’s family prepared to return from the house of Laban we read his instructions to his family, “So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.'” (Genesis 35:2 NIV)

We see during the Exodus, that early in their journey to the promised land, as Moses was on Mount Sinai in their impatience the people turn to Aaron and ask him to make them golden caves as their gods.

As God’s people prepared to enter the promised land under the leadership of Joshua, they declared that they would serve the Lord. Joshua commanded them, “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:23 NIV)

Samuel who was the priest-judge of Israel, before Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel told an imperiled people threatened by the might of the Philistines, “…If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:3 NIV)

The next significant point in their history was when King Solomon in his old age accommodated his foreign wives by building shrines to their gods. This began hundreds of years of idolatry and at its best split loyalty between Jehovah and the idols of the nations around Israel. Finally the Lord sent His people into captivity in foreign lands in an attempt to rid their hearts and lives of idolatry.

Even when the idols in their forms where absent, there remained a deeper issue. The Lord spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces….” (Ezekiel 14:3 NIV)

So, as John writes to first century believers and warns them about loving the world, it seems fitting for him to warn them about the devotion of their hearts. What is needed is a “new” heart, a transformed life….a heart “transplant.”

The Lord’s promise through the prophet was, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…” (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV) Jesus said the greatest commandment was, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…” (Luke 10:27 NIV) Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.” (Ephesians 6:6 NIV)

An old chorus contains the words, “change my heart O God, make it ever true…” That is our sincere prayer to God, our responsibility before God is to heed John’s words, “keep away…from anything that might take God’s place in your heart.” As Solomon learned perhaps too late, but wanted to pass one to other, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

Christ can change our heart, we have the responsibility to guard our heart.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1 NIV

“In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, [the] king of Babylon…released Jehoiachin …from prison…the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.” Jeremiah 52:31-34 NIV

When I returned to my mother’s house where she had lived for 60 years to see the renovations that the buyer of her house had made, I couldn’t help but notice the gangly looking “bush” growing between the curb and the sidewalk. Years ago it was a nice shaped healthy tree. But the city cut it down during some sidewalk work. But it refused to die. I remember trying to trim it or cut it down to the ground, but it continued to somehow shoot back to life, even though it was a sad appearance of its former state.

That tree is like the city of Jerusalem and the tribe of Judah. Jerusalem was the capital of God’s chosen people. Although they lived in outright rebellion against the Lord for many years they had endured. As a result of times of revival and returning to the Lord they even prospered.

But God’s judgment finally came and the grandeur of the great city would be cut down by the Babylonian sword and God’s people would be in exile for 70 years. However, the Lord promised to one day return His people to their homeland.

However, the city of Jerusalem would never be what it once was. The prophecy of Isaiah of a “shoot from the root of Jesse…” was not about the restoration of a nation as much as it was about a coming King who would be of the lineage of Jesse and would sit on David’s throne. It was a prediction of a coming Messiah that was fulfilled in Christ.

But for that prophecy to be fulfilled there needed to be an historic link back to the royal line of King David. That is where Jehoiachin comes in. Jehoiachin ruled only thee months and is described as “[dong] evil in they eyes of the Lord.” When Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem he surrendered, saving his life, and was taken captive to Babylon all in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah.

But for some unknown reason this insignificant king with a direct tie to the throne of David is released from prison by a new king of Babylon and given a place of honor and provided provisions until the “day he died.” Both 2 Kings and Jeremiah end with the released from prison and restoration to “kingly” status of Jehoiachin.

The historic and all important genealogical tie to Jesus the Messiah is found in Joseph’s family line recorded in Matthew 1. “Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel…” (Matthew 1:11,12 NLT)

It is fitting for Jehoiachin to be the “son of David” that is mentioned in connection with Jesus. Jehoiachin hardly had a reign, there is nothing of historical significance other than being the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy of judgment on his father, Jehoiachim. But Jehoiachin, this insignificant King, is shown “grace” (unmerited favor) by the King of Babylon.

How fitting for the One who would “slip into the world” as a baby born in a manger, who John would describe as coming, “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) God always makes a way for His purposes to be fulfilled, even when there seems to be no way for it to happen.

God is able to accomplish His purposes for the world and in our lives, even when it doesn’t seem possible or make sense as to how it will take place.

I remember a song from a musical by Don Moen that said,

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me;

It is interesting to find references to science-based discoveries in the pages of the Bible. For example consider three in their historical context and the Bible references.

Water Cycle 

The first published thinker to assert that rainfall alone was sufficient for the maintenance of rivers was Bernard Palissy (1580 CE), who is often credited as the “discoverer” of the modern theory of the water cycle.

However, the “water cycle” and the impact of rain and ocean levels is seen in multiple places in scripture.

The prophet Amos declared, “He…who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land
 the Lord is his name.” (Amos 5:8 NIV)

“All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.” (Eccl. 1:7 NIV)

“He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams.” (Job 36:27 NIV)

Flat Earth or Round Earth?

While many believed the earth was flat,  Eratosthenes, a Greek astronomer from Hellenistic Libya (276–194 BC), estimated Earth’s circumference around 240 BC. He had heard that in Syene the Sun was directly overhead at the summer solstice whereas in Alexandria it still cast a shadow.

We read in scripture of the observations of Solomon the wise:

“The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.” (Eccl. 1:6 NIV)

“He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy…” (Isaiah 40:22 NIV)

Gyroscope…Key to navigation

Historically, The first instrument used more like an actual gyroscope was made by Johann Bohnenberger of Germany, who first wrote about it in 1817. At first he called it the “Machine”. Bohnenberger’s machine was based on a rotating massive sphere.

As the prophet Ezekiel received a vision of the four angelic creatures, we read this description. “Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.” (Ezekiel 1:6,7 NIV)

While the Bible is not a book of scientific discovery, we see the God who is all powerful, creator, the “only wise God.” Knowing God is the greatest discovery. The prophet speaks of a future day, “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9 NIV)