It's amazing how science and religion are merging these days. It's been happening for a while. Using the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope astronomers are now able to peer 13.5 billion years backward in time, to the very dawn of the material universe. Everywhere they look in the staggeringly huge universe, the same thing is going on, in accord with the same laws of physics. And the same elements (hydrogen, iron, helium, carbon, etc.) are present. What is happening? Refining. Purifying. Transformation. Birth and death. All the stars and galaxies are huge furnaces where things are furiously burning down to the atomic level; being consumed, annihilated, emitting energy, and becoming purer; or turning to ash and waste which is then recycled and used again.
The universe is an astoundingly violent place. Surprisingly, this squares perfectly with Biblical Scripture regarding the coming of the Messiah:
“ But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire..." Malachi 3:2
What is God asking us to do, to become purer? Well, eliminating lies and deceptions is at the top of the list. Particularly hypocrisy, which proves that we know the difference between right and wrong. Here's an example from Dennis Miller, comedian and social commentator. He recently said, "We say 'Christ'; they say 'Darwin'. We say 'Darwin', they say 'Christ'."
Miller was pointing out the utter falseness of Democrat 'progressives' who always take the expedient, easy way out of every argument. They play atheist/agnostic on subjects like abortion, and pious Judeo-Christian on the welfare state, saying, "You can't impose your religious judgments on others! Choice [abortion] is a right!" [unless it's your money or your guns they want]. Or, "You Republicans and teaba**ers want to deprive people of their God-given rights to medical care, good jobs, good housing, convenient transportation, college educations, good food, self-esteem, and wellness!"
They are endorsing violence more and more openly now, to get their way.
We know that becoming a religious person carries risks, and many people whom we consider friends will abandon us if we really become serious about our spiritual beliefs. The subject comes up again and again in religious writings, and must be faced. No matter what religion you join, there will be a price to pay. This is why the reward of heaven is something that is also emphasized again and again. As it says in Revelation 3:18:
"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich;
And white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
And salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."
The process of being refined in the universe can be seen as difficult and painful, but something that is rewarded richly.
Here's another example of Scripture and science merging: the DNA code. It's now a known fact that every individual alive and who ever lived is unique from every other who ever lived. All the great religions emphasize the intrinsic worth of every individual, and their uniqueness. Now we have proof.
The universe is an astoundingly violent place. Surprisingly, this squares perfectly with Biblical Scripture regarding the coming of the Messiah:
“ But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire..." Malachi 3:2
What is God asking us to do, to become purer? Well, eliminating lies and deceptions is at the top of the list. Particularly hypocrisy, which proves that we know the difference between right and wrong. Here's an example from Dennis Miller, comedian and social commentator. He recently said, "We say 'Christ'; they say 'Darwin'. We say 'Darwin', they say 'Christ'."
Miller was pointing out the utter falseness of Democrat 'progressives' who always take the expedient, easy way out of every argument. They play atheist/agnostic on subjects like abortion, and pious Judeo-Christian on the welfare state, saying, "You can't impose your religious judgments on others! Choice [abortion] is a right!" [unless it's your money or your guns they want]. Or, "You Republicans and teaba**ers want to deprive people of their God-given rights to medical care, good jobs, good housing, convenient transportation, college educations, good food, self-esteem, and wellness!"
They are endorsing violence more and more openly now, to get their way.
We know that becoming a religious person carries risks, and many people whom we consider friends will abandon us if we really become serious about our spiritual beliefs. The subject comes up again and again in religious writings, and must be faced. No matter what religion you join, there will be a price to pay. This is why the reward of heaven is something that is also emphasized again and again. As it says in Revelation 3:18:
"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich;
And white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
And salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."
The process of being refined in the universe can be seen as difficult and painful, but something that is rewarded richly.
Here's another example of Scripture and science merging: the DNA code. It's now a known fact that every individual alive and who ever lived is unique from every other who ever lived. All the great religions emphasize the intrinsic worth of every individual, and their uniqueness. Now we have proof.
