The Great Separation

Genesis 1 is a straight-forward account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Multiple themes appear in this chapter, most of which highlight aspects of God’s character. His divine power is on display, His goodness is revealed, His creational intent is revealed—that mankind should fill and subdue the earth (this is not a command to exploit, but to be a steward exercising benevolent responsibility). His creative genius is manifested—an aspect of God’s character that becomes ever clearer the more we learn of the complex and symbiotic systems of both the animate and inanimate parts of the cosmos.

We also learn that God is a God of order, who brings forth order out of chaos. This is an attribute of God seen through the divine separations that appear in Genesis 1. He separates light from darkness (v 4), the waters below the expanse from those above (v 7), the waters below from the dry land (v 9), the heavenly bodies that separate day from night, again, separating light from darkness (vv 14, 18). And though the verb itself does not appear, He separates man from all other creatures by declaring him to be made “in His own image” (v 27).

God’s sense of order is further seen in the separation of the ability to reproduce: His created beings multiply after their “kind,” horses producing more horses, not producing birds. The principle of separation is revealed in the Law, as the children of Israel were not to mix seed in their fields, nor wear garments of mixed material (Leviticus 19:19), nor plow with a mixed team (Deuteronomy 22:10), and so on. These laws were designed to reinforce to the Israelites that God is a God who separates things according to their nature. The principle of separation is revealed in a spiritual sense as God calls His people to be separate from the rest of the world (Leviticus 20:24, 26). The Bible speaks of two separate spiritual seeds, or lineages: the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent—the Devil (Genesis 3:15).

So fast-forward to the present day. Creation has been finished for a long time, the Old Testament era is in the rear-view mirror, the Law has been fulfilled by Christ. In what sense is God’s attribute of order, manifested by separating things, still operative? Since God does not change in His essential character (Malachi 3:6), He must still be separating things as He maintains order in His creation. And indeed He does. For instance, He calls Christians to be separated from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17).

But there is a tragic, final separation coming when He makes a new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:13). That final separation is mentioned many times in Scripture. One place is in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. There Jesus relates a parable of the kingdom of heaven in terms of a wheat field into which an enemy (Satan) secretly sows tares, or darnel. At the end of the age, the angels will separate the wheat, the “sons of the kingdom,” from the tares, the “the sons of the evil one.”

Into which group will you fall? Make no mistake—no matter when the final separation occurs, you will be alive and conscious. You will participate, willingly or not. When God separates you into your destination—whether heaven or hell—He is acting in complete consistency with His character. In Scripture He has forewarned us repeatedly, making it very clear what we must do to be saved, to be a “son of the kingdom.”

“. . . Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14–15)

Don't try this at home. . . .

Or at church, or seminary, or in the library, or in your study, or in your secret heart of hearts. Because you will fail.

What I am referring to is the lamentable tempation to set dates for the Lord's return. It is a really bad idea, especially since Jesus says in Matthew 24:36 that you can't do it.

So someone decided that they had it figured out. Note the date of this post: it is May 22. Are you still here? Because yesterday was supposed to be a bible-guaranteed judgment day. You realize, I could be posting this from heaven. Maybe you got left behind.

Relax, I am posting this from Panera Bread in Cincinnatti, which is about as far removed from heaven as you can get, this side of Sheol.

Take a gander at this screeprint from my browser - did it just a minute ago, wanted to catch it before their poor webmaster takes it down. Notice my very artistic red circles.

Here is a closeup of the big red circle:

And a closeup of the little red circle. Please believe me when I say that I have not monkeyed with the date:

5/22/2011. Okay, so the countdown clock ran down and the judgment fizzled. The more jaded side of my nature looks forward to the explanation that will have to be posted as to what went wrong. The better side of my nature is heart-broken, and here is why.

We live in a secular culture which has sold its soul for a mess of rationalistic, materialistic [nuance warning: speaking of philosophy here, not greed] pottage. Our neighbors reject the spiritual when it comes to talking about the personal God Who is, who has objective existence, who transcendently exists outside of and separate from all aspects of creation; I am referring to an active, living, thinking, choosing (and judging) personal God. And yet our culture delights in the paranormal, horoscopes, wicca, mother nature, gaia, and other non-theistic spiritualism. America is very picky as to what requires "scientific evidence" for its justification (such as the existence of the true God) and what does not (such as your latest flavor--and there are many--of humanistic spirituality).

By putting such a silly prediction on the front page, and then having it be so wrong (as it must be, because of Christ's statement in Matt 24:36), they make it appear to a secular, skeptical public as though the Bible, and biblical truth has failed.

The purveyors of the "Judgment Day" calculation claptrap above have trivialized and rendered liable to ridicule what is actually a traumatic and dangerous truth: Christ is going to return, personally, visibly, really, in judgment and every knee will bow to His sovereign majesty. We just have no idea when His return will take place; and we were told it would be at a time when we think not (Matt 24:44).

When believers chase ridiculous rabbit trails, they discredit the gospel and make it very difficult to have a serious discussion with a skeptic about the gospel.

Thank you, Family Radio.