GOD’S VALUE SYSTEM By Erwin Bourne—July 31, 2002 What was the first thing God created when He set the worlds in place? No, it was not the firmament, or the heavens. We read in Proverbs 8 that the creation of the physical universe was preceded by something else. In this passage, God’s value system—His wisdom—speaks in first person: “The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began” Proverbs 8:222-23. The moral foundation for the universe was not an afterthought that came along when mankind was created. The Ten Commandments did not occur to the Lord after He witnessed Israel’s disobedience in the wilderness. No, the meaning of right and wrong emanated from God’s own character and it has always existed. Certainly, it predated the work of creation described in Genesis 1. (Read all the verses of Proverbs 8:22-36). What does this mean for you and me? It illustrates the authority behind the moral laws found in Scripture! They actually outrank the physical laws in significance. In fact, the physical earth will some day pass away and b replaced, but God’s moral nature is eternal. And anyone who opposes it loves death. The question is often raised. Has God sent the AIDS epidemic as a punishment for homosexual behavior? Emphatically, the correct answer is “No!” Many innocent victims, including unborn babies, are suffering and dying from the disease. A curse from God would be more specific to the perpetuator. However, the HIV infection is spread by sodomy, drug usage, and promiscuity, so sinful behavior has helped to create the epidemic that now threatens the human family. We should have known with the offset of the sexual revolution back in 1967 that this day of disease and promiscuity would come. It is here, and what we do with our situation will determine how much we and our children will suffer in the future. How can we survive in such a dangerous environment? How can we cope with the fury of Satan in his final days? He especially despises the institution of the family which is symbolic of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church. It all comes down to this simple concept: God is not against us for our sins. He is for us against our sins. by Erwin Bourne <Outreach_amazon@yahoo.com>
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