¤[Music]
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¤[Music]
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¤[Music]
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¤[Music]
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>>John Bradshaw:
The great American,
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George Washington
Carver, once said:
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Reading about nature is fine.
00:02:08.76\00:02:11.09
But if a person walks in
the woods and listens carefully,
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he can learn about
more than what's in books
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because the woods
speak with the voice of God.
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¤[Music]
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Psalm 19:1 says "The heavens
declare the glory of God;
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and the firmament
shows His handiwork."
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¤[Music]
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Today on It Is Written,
let's consider what David meant
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when he wrote those words.
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¤[Music and the
sound of water flowing]¤
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There's little doubt nature
speaks about the God of nature,
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the Creator God.
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¤[Music and the
sound of water flowing]¤
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The Bible opens with the words
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"In the beginning God made
the heavens and the earth."
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And the nature we see, speaks
to us of the God we don't see.
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[Sounds from a rainforest]
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I've come to Costa Rica,
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truly one of the
most beautiful countries
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on the face of the earth.
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¤[Music]
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Costa Rica has the greatest
density of animal species
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anywhere on the planet,
all compressed into an area
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about the size of the
state of West Virginia.
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Every year millions of people
come from all over the world
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to enjoy the
natural beauty of this land.
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Costa Rica's natural
beauty is truly breathtaking.
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¤[Music]
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Remarkable animals,
spectacular beaches,
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volcanoes, and rain forests.
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Costa Rica is home to
nearly 500,000 animal species,
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an estimated four percent
of the total found worldwide.
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The lush expanse of
Costa Rica's rain forests
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is hard to imagine if
you haven't been here.
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Well over 1.200
species of butterflies
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are found in these forests,
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along with over
8.000 species of moths.
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Perhaps there's no better place
to speak of the God of nature
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and to delve deeper into the
lessons the natural world offers
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those who seek to know Him.
00:05:01.36\00:05:09.77
Nature is often referred
to as God's "second book."
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Inasmuch as nature reveals to us
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so much about
the character of God,
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it's our privilege to be able
to behold much of the wonders
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and the workings of God
in our natural environment.
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In fact, by studying
nature you can learn much
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about the plan of salvation,
00:05:27.76\00:05:29.52
about the blessings of
patience and hard work,
00:05:29.56\00:05:31.83
and about the
results of sin in this world.
00:05:31.86\00:05:35.16
Throughout the Bible, many
stories and illustrations draw
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their lessons
from the natural world.
00:05:39.57\00:05:42.34
Jesus often referred to nature
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in order to make
spiritual points clear to us.
00:05:45.34\00:05:50.01
The Bible presents
God as both the Designer
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and the Ruler of
the world of nature,
00:05:52.98\00:05:55.12
something that sets
the religion of the Bible
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totally apart from the
other religions of the world.
00:05:58.19\00:06:03.46
Most religions
throughout history,
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particularly those at the
time the Bible was written,
00:06:06.03\00:06:08.90
worshipped Gods who were
themselves products of nature.
00:06:08.93\00:06:15.04
Sun gods, moon gods, sea gods,
weather gods, fertility gods...
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all of these were not
only part of the natural world,
00:06:23.14\00:06:26.08
but were part of
religious systems which sought
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to fit human
beings into the rhythm
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and balance of nature.
00:06:31.59\00:06:33.96
The gods of most ancient peoples
worked through the cycles and
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the elemental forces
found in the natural world.
00:06:37.16\00:06:40.73
They weren't seen
by their worshippers as
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independent of these forces.
00:06:43.90\00:06:46.67
But the God of
heaven often showed Himself
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to be in control of nature,
sovereign over the elements,
00:06:48.97\00:06:53.41
the One who is in ultimate
control of the environment.
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In the Bible we read the
story of the prophet Elijah.
00:06:57.71\00:07:01.42
Through the prophet Elijah
God told Israel's King Ahab
00:07:01.45\00:07:05.22
that there would be
neither dew nor rain
00:07:05.25\00:07:07.52
in the land until
God said otherwise.
00:07:07.56\00:07:10.89
In the New Testament you
read that Elijah actually prayed
00:07:10.93\00:07:14.00
to God that this would
happen so that the people,
00:07:14.03\00:07:17.23
recognizing that God was
sovereign over everything,
00:07:17.27\00:07:21.27
would be brought to repentance.
00:07:21.30\00:07:23.67
"Elijah was a man with a
nature like ours, and he prayed
00:07:23.71\00:07:26.94
earnestly that
it would not rain,
00:07:26.98\00:07:29.11
and it did not rain on the land
for three years and six months.
00:07:29.14\00:07:33.31
And he prayed again,
and the heavens gave rain
00:07:33.35\00:07:36.52
and the earth
produced its fruit."
00:07:36.55\00:07:39.05
This is one of countless
times in human history when God
00:07:41.36\00:07:45.13
demonstrated who, in fact, has
power over the forces of nature.
00:07:45.16\00:07:48.33
The worshippers of the
pagan gods Baal and Ashtoreth,
00:07:48.36\00:07:52.47
which were being
worshipped in Israel
00:07:52.50\00:07:54.77
during the time of Elijah,
00:07:54.80\00:07:56.94
believed that these pagan
gods controlled the changing
00:07:56.97\00:08:00.71
of the seasons, the
climate, the sun, and the rain.
00:08:00.74\00:08:04.78
But in God's dealing with
Israel during Elijah's time,
00:08:04.81\00:08:09.15
He demonstrated
clearly who is the one
00:08:09.18\00:08:12.92
that has power over nature.
00:08:12.95\00:08:16.02
By shutting up the heavens
and causing the rain to not fall
00:08:16.06\00:08:19.16
those three and a half years,
00:08:19.19\00:08:20.86
God was, in effect,
saying to those pagan gods,
00:08:20.90\00:08:23.30
"So you think
you control nature?
00:08:23.33\00:08:24.97
You think you can make the
sun shine and the rain fall?
00:08:25.00\00:08:28.54
Now's your chance to prove it."
00:08:28.57\00:08:29.87
¤[Music]
00:08:29.90\00:08:36.14
>>Announcer: In Matthew
4:4, the Word of God says,
00:08:36.18\00:08:38.65
"It is written,
00:08:38.68\00:08:39.75
'Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:08:39.78\00:08:41.58
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:08:41.62\00:08:45.75
"Every Word"
00:08:45.79\00:08:46.79
is a one-minute,
Bible-based daily devotional,
00:08:46.82\00:08:48.99
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw
00:08:49.02\00:08:50.76
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:08:50.79\00:08:53.86
Look for "Every
Word" on selected networks,
00:08:53.90\00:08:56.56
or watch it online
every day on our website.
00:08:56.60\00:08:59.03
itiswritten.com.
00:08:59.07\00:09:01.40
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:09:01.44\00:09:03.61
Watch "Every Word."
00:09:03.64\00:09:05.04
You'll be glad you did.
00:09:05.07\00:09:07.28
¤[Music]
00:09:10.61\00:09:16.75
>>John: Have you
ever noticed how songs,
00:09:17.85\00:09:20.02
get stuck in your mind,
00:09:20.06\00:09:21.72
and sometimes you
can't get rid of them
00:09:21.76\00:09:23.49
no matter how hard you try?
00:09:23.53\00:09:24.93
There are times I'll hear a song
I haven't heard in thirty years
00:09:24.96\00:09:28.16
and I can still
remember every word,
00:09:28.20\00:09:30.30
every key change, every harmony,
00:09:30.33\00:09:32.43
as though I'd been studying
the song the day before.
00:09:32.47\00:09:35.40
God understood this,
00:09:35.44\00:09:36.34
which is why He said
in 1 Chronicles 16:9:
00:09:36.37\00:09:38.71
“Sing to Him,
sing psalms to Him;
00:09:38.74\00:09:41.24
talk of all His wondrous works”"
00:09:41.28\00:09:44.41
Here's something that
will help you get God's Word
00:09:44.45\00:09:46.45
into your mind.
00:09:46.48\00:09:47.72
If you'll sing hymns or songs of
praise or learn scripture songs,
00:09:47.75\00:09:51.49
that's Bible
verses put to music,
00:09:51.52\00:09:53.62
they'll stay in your mind
and you'll never forget them.
00:09:53.66\00:09:56.59
If you fill your mind
with the songs of the world,
00:09:56.62\00:09:59.49
you'll be blessed if
you reprogram your mind
00:09:59.53\00:10:02.50
with the songs of God.
00:10:02.53\00:10:03.73
Let the power of
music work for you.
00:10:03.77\00:10:06.50
Let's live today by every word.
00:10:06.53\00:10:09.57
>>John: One of the most
serious subjects in the Bible
00:10:11.31\00:10:13.64
is the subject of hell.
00:10:13.68\00:10:14.88
And it's one of
the least understood.
00:10:14.91\00:10:17.61
What does the Bible
really say about hell?
00:10:17.65\00:10:19.85
Is there a
hell, and if there is,
00:10:19.88\00:10:22.08
how long will it burn?
00:10:22.12\00:10:24.29
You don't want to
miss today's free offer:
00:10:24.32\00:10:26.82
“Understanding Hell:
Separating Fact from Fiction.”
00:10:26.86\00:10:30.29
It's a practical
biblical look at a subject
00:10:30.33\00:10:32.76
that has
puzzled a lot of people.
00:10:32.79\00:10:34.46
“Understanding Hell.”
00:10:34.50\00:10:36.03
To receive it, simply
call us: 800-253-3000.
00:10:36.06\00:10:40.20
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:10:40.24\00:10:41.94
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:10:41.97\00:10:45.81
¤[Music]
00:10:46.81\00:10:49.74
God's supremacy over
nature, His absolute control
00:10:49.78\00:10:53.28
over nature's
forces and nature's laws,
00:10:53.31\00:10:56.02
is one of the very first
messages contained in the Bible.
00:10:56.05\00:11:02.76
It's what the
creation story is all about.
00:11:02.79\00:11:05.59
"In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth."
00:11:05.63\00:11:08.93
[Sound of rainfall]
00:11:08.96\00:11:12.33
Nature is not God,
according to Scripture.
00:11:12.37\00:11:15.14
God is the one who
brought nature into existence.
00:11:15.17\00:11:20.64
It's interesting that in
the Genesis creation story,
00:11:20.68\00:11:23.28
the sun and the
moon are not named.
00:11:23.31\00:11:25.75
This was undoubtedly because
these heavenly bodies were
00:11:25.78\00:11:29.25
considered divine in
the ancient world and Moses,
00:11:29.28\00:11:33.46
who wrote the Book of Genesis,
00:11:33.49\00:11:35.26
is saying that
these created objects
00:11:35.29\00:11:36.86
are not in any sense divine.
00:11:36.89\00:11:42.90
Describing the
creation of these bodies,
00:11:42.93\00:11:44.30
the Bible simply states:
00:11:44.33\00:11:46.77
"Then God made two great
lights: the greater light
00:11:46.80\00:11:50.41
to rule the day, and the
lesser light to rule the night."
00:11:50.44\00:11:56.04
By refusing even to name these
objects in the creation account,
00:11:56.08\00:12:00.55
while simply declaring
them to be great lights
00:12:00.58\00:12:03.65
which God made,
00:12:03.69\00:12:05.25
the Bible is denying to
these bodies any right to
00:12:05.29\00:12:09.12
reverence or worship.
00:12:09.16\00:12:11.16
This is one reason why
the theory of evolution is so
00:12:14.00\00:12:17.33
unacceptable both to God
and to the message of the Bible.
00:12:17.37\00:12:22.34
God didn't need evolution
00:12:22.37\00:12:24.87
to bring His
creatures into existence.
00:12:24.91\00:12:27.48
He spoke them into existence.
00:12:27.51\00:12:30.35
The Bible makes clear
that God is the Sovereign
00:12:30.38\00:12:32.98
and the Master
of all of creation.
00:12:33.01\00:12:35.92
In fact, the Bible says this:
00:12:35.95\00:12:39.45
"By the word of the
Lord the heavens were made
00:12:39.49\00:12:42.09
and all the host of them
by the breath of His mouth.
00:12:42.12\00:12:44.63
For He spoke, and it was done;
00:12:44.66\00:12:48.30
He commanded,
and it stood fast."
00:12:48.33\00:12:52.80
In other words, God
didn't just oversee the process
00:12:52.83\00:12:56.17
of bringing nature into being.
00:12:56.20\00:12:58.81
God spoke it into being.
00:12:58.84\00:13:00.98
The power that gives life
to this world is not inherent
00:13:01.01\00:13:05.35
in nature itself, rather, it's
the gift of the all-knowing,
00:13:05.38\00:13:09.75
all-powerful Creator God.
00:13:09.78\00:13:13.12
As we look around our world,
00:13:13.15\00:13:14.32
we're reminded pretty
well everywhere we turn
00:13:14.36\00:13:16.66
that this world
cannot be nearly as beautiful
00:13:16.69\00:13:20.86
as was the Garden of Eden.
00:13:20.90\00:13:22.06
But, in spite of the scars
that sin has left on our planet,
00:13:22.10\00:13:27.24
all is not ruined and
ugliness in the world of nature.
00:13:27.27\00:13:32.71
The rising and the
setting sun still warm the soul.
00:13:32.74\00:13:35.71
The flowers of spring and
the freshness after the rain
00:13:35.74\00:13:39.58
still remind us of the
rebirth and transformation
00:13:39.61\00:13:42.98
promised by the Gospel.
00:13:43.02\00:13:45.35
One author
described the season of spring
00:13:45.39\00:13:47.36
as the "theater
of resurrection."
00:13:47.39\00:13:50.56
The bursting forth of
life following the cold and
00:13:50.59\00:13:53.93
dearth of winter is perhaps
one of the loveliest metaphors
00:13:53.96\00:13:57.23
of Christ's own
resurrection from the dead.
00:13:57.27\00:14:00.30
In the wake of
Calvary's unspeakable agony
00:14:00.34\00:14:03.24
and the dashing of hope
inflicted by Christ's dying
00:14:03.27\00:14:07.01
on so many hearts.
00:14:07.04\00:14:09.61
The complexity
of the natural world
00:14:09.64\00:14:11.98
is probably one of the strongest
proofs of God's creatorship.
00:14:12.01\00:14:15.42
Think of the intricacies
of just a single human cell.
00:14:15.45\00:14:19.59
Biology textbooks only a few
years ago, were able to produce
00:14:19.62\00:14:25.09
material two inches thick
just on the subject on the cell.
00:14:25.13\00:14:29.86
Now they can produce books
00:14:29.90\00:14:31.23
that thick on the
individual parts of the cell.
00:14:31.27\00:14:34.80
It can be hard to see how
anyone can view the complexities
00:14:34.84\00:14:38.14
of nature and not be persuaded
that God put all this together.
00:14:38.17\00:14:43.75
Speaking through
the prophet Isaiah,
00:14:43.78\00:14:47.12
God declares of His creation,
"For thus says the Lord,
00:14:47.15\00:14:51.22
who created the
heavens, who was God,
00:14:51.25\00:14:54.59
who formed the
earth and made it,
00:14:54.62\00:14:57.93
who has established it,
who did not create it in vain,
00:14:57.96\00:15:01.23
who formed it to be inhabited:
00:15:01.26\00:15:03.90
'I am the Lord,
and there is no other.'
00:15:03.93\00:15:08.10
According to God's word, nature
doesn't exist to glorify itself,
00:15:08.14\00:15:14.64
rather, it exists
to glorify its Maker.
00:15:14.68\00:15:18.85
We read this message over
and over again in the Psalms.
00:15:18.88\00:15:23.22
"The heavens
declare the glory of God,
00:15:23.25\00:15:25.45
and the firmament
shows His handiwork.
00:15:25.49\00:15:28.86
Day unto day utters speech,
00:15:28.89\00:15:31.63
and night unto
night reveals knowledge.
00:15:31.66\00:15:35.03
There is no speech nor language
where their voice is not heard.
00:15:35.06\00:15:41.27
Their line has gone
out through all the earth,
00:15:41.30\00:15:43.54
and their words to
the end of the world."
00:15:43.57\00:15:47.91
In another passage we read,
00:15:47.94\00:15:50.18
"Those who go down
to the sea in ships,
00:15:50.21\00:15:52.58
who do business on great waters,
00:15:52.61\00:15:55.15
they see the works of the Lord,
and His wonders in the deep.
00:15:55.18\00:16:00.82
For He commands and
raises the stormy wind,
00:16:00.86\00:16:04.83
which lifts up
the waves of the sea.
00:16:04.86\00:16:08.33
They mount up to the heavens,
00:16:08.36\00:16:10.53
they go down
again to the depths:
00:16:10.57\00:16:13.30
their soul melts
because of trouble."
00:16:13.34\00:16:16.57
"Then they cry out to
the Lord in their trouble,
00:16:16.60\00:16:19.11
He brings them out
of their distresses.
00:16:19.14\00:16:21.51
He calms the storm, so
that its waves are still."
00:16:21.54\00:16:26.31
This Psalm was
literally fulfilled
00:16:28.82\00:16:30.62
in the earthly
ministry of Jesus.
00:16:30.65\00:16:33.02
One night, Jesus
and His disciples
00:16:33.05\00:16:35.19
were on the Lake of Galilee
and a tremendous storm rose.
00:16:35.22\00:16:38.56
The Gospel of Mark
takes it from there.
00:16:38.59\00:16:42.93
"And a great windstorm arose,
00:16:42.96\00:16:45.63
and the waves
beat into the boat, so
00:16:45.67\00:16:48.17
that it was already filling.
00:16:48.20\00:16:50.64
But He was in the
stern, asleep on a pillow.
00:16:50.67\00:16:54.48
And they awoke
Him and said to Him,
00:16:54.51\00:16:56.28
'Teacher, do you not
care that we are perishing?'
00:16:56.31\00:17:00.28
Then He arose and rebuked
the wind, and said to the sea,
00:17:00.32\00:17:03.22
'Peace, be still!'
00:17:03.25\00:17:08.62
And the wind ceased
and there was a great calm.
00:17:08.66\00:17:12.63
And they feared exceedingly,
and said to one another,
00:17:12.66\00:17:15.13
'Who can this be,
that even the wind
00:17:15.16\00:17:19.30
and the sea obey Him!'
00:17:19.33\00:17:22.00
Again and again
Jesus demonstrated
00:17:22.04\00:17:24.01
that nature is
under His control.
00:17:24.04\00:17:26.81
So many times
Jesus healed diseases
00:17:26.84\00:17:29.34
and vanquished
afflictions for which
00:17:29.38\00:17:30.81
there was no natural or
medical remedy then or now.
00:17:30.85\00:17:35.08
Paralyzed limbs were
restored to health and vigor.
00:17:35.12\00:17:38.32
Blind eyes were
made to see again.
00:17:38.35\00:17:40.56
Even the dead were
brought back to life.
00:17:40.59\00:17:42.89
And perhaps greatest of all,
00:17:42.92\00:17:45.36
Jesus' own
resurrection demonstrates
00:17:45.39\00:17:47.93
that God is above nature.
00:17:47.96\00:17:50.73
The decay, the eventual oblivion
that has become part of our life
00:17:50.77\00:17:55.84
because of what sin has
done, are not the final word.
00:17:55.87\00:17:59.77
God has the final say.
00:17:59.81\00:18:02.41
When He chooses to do so, God
is able to interrupt the rhythm,
00:18:02.44\00:18:06.21
and the balance,
00:18:06.25\00:18:07.22
and the inevitability
of nature and its laws.
00:18:07.25\00:18:11.69
The wind and the sea
still obey God's voice,
00:18:11.72\00:18:14.69
even today.
00:18:14.72\00:18:15.82
The God of Scripture is
still the God of nature.
00:18:15.86\00:18:19.76
I especially enjoy
the stories of faith
00:18:19.79\00:18:21.76
concerning that
Christian giant, George Mueller.
00:18:21.80\00:18:25.40
One story has it, George
Mueller was traveling across
00:18:25.43\00:18:28.74
the Atlantic Ocean to a speaking
appointment in Quebec, Canada,
00:18:28.77\00:18:33.51
when the ship was socked in
by fog and the captain announced
00:18:33.54\00:18:38.05
that he had to
slow the ship down
00:18:38.08\00:18:40.02
for the safety of
everybody involved.
00:18:40.05\00:18:42.22
Mueller explained to the
captain that this would not do.
00:18:42.25\00:18:44.49
Surely, he would now
miss his speaking appointment,
00:18:44.52\00:18:46.99
so could he please go to the
ship's chart room to pray that
00:18:47.02\00:18:51.13
God would lift the fog.
00:18:51.16\00:18:52.86
Accompanied by the captain,
Mueller went to that room
00:18:52.89\00:18:55.00
and he prayed that God
would take the fog away.
00:18:55.03\00:18:57.60
The captain began to pray too
but during the captain's prayer,
00:18:57.63\00:19:01.44
Mueller interrupted him.
00:19:01.47\00:19:02.67
He said, why don't we go up
now and see if God has answered
00:19:02.70\00:19:06.81
our prayer
because I think He has.
00:19:06.84\00:19:09.61
When the two men
went up to the bridge,
00:19:09.64\00:19:12.01
the fog was completely gone.
00:19:12.05\00:19:14.72
God is still the God of nature
00:19:14.75\00:19:18.35
and the captain became
a Christian soon after.
00:19:18.39\00:19:24.69
In Costa Rica there
are 894 species of birds,
00:19:26.39\00:19:31.53
more than in the United
States and Canada combined.
00:19:31.57\00:19:35.90
The beauty of the
scarlet McCaw or the Quetzal,
00:19:35.94\00:19:38.51
is perhaps
unrivaled anywhere on earth.
00:19:38.54\00:19:41.94
Birds in Costa Rica range
in size from tiny humming birds
00:19:41.98\00:19:45.25
barely two inches across,
00:19:45.28\00:19:47.25
to huge birds with a
wingspan of up to nine feet.
00:19:47.28\00:19:51.39
It isn't hard to imagine
that God cares for creatures
00:19:51.42\00:19:54.42
who display such beauty.
00:19:54.46\00:19:55.76
But on one occasion,
00:19:55.79\00:19:58.33
the Lord took notice of
the little sparrows and stated:
00:19:58.36\00:20:03.13
Not one of them is
forgotten before God.
00:20:03.16\00:20:05.67
If it had been one of
these spectacular birds
00:20:05.70\00:20:09.50
like the ones here in Costa Rica
that Jesus was talking about
00:20:09.54\00:20:12.94
His audience might
have understood better,
00:20:12.97\00:20:14.48
but Jesus was reminding
His hearers that even such
00:20:14.51\00:20:18.65
apparently insignificant
creatures as the little sparrows
00:20:18.68\00:20:22.55
command the
attention of our loving God.
00:20:22.58\00:20:26.05
He then went on to say,
00:20:26.09\00:20:27.92
"Do not fear therefore:
00:20:27.96\00:20:29.82
you are of more
value, than many sparrows."
00:20:29.86\00:20:35.16
Here in Costa Rica,
00:20:35.20\00:20:36.73
stewardship for the
land is taken very seriously.
00:20:36.77\00:20:39.60
Costa Rica's "pura vida" image
has been carefully cultivated
00:20:39.63\00:20:44.57
and is known and
appreciated around the world.
00:20:44.61\00:20:47.88
But stewardship for the land is
actually a very biblical idea.
00:20:47.91\00:20:51.68
You go to the Bible,
00:20:51.71\00:20:53.52
you read in Genesis
2:15, that in the beginning,
00:20:53.55\00:20:56.92
"God took the man and put
him into the garden of Eden
00:20:56.95\00:21:00.92
to dress it and to keep it," and
at the other end of the Bible,
00:21:00.96\00:21:04.69
in Revelation 11:18,
00:21:04.73\00:21:07.36
it tells us that
when Jesus returns
00:21:07.40\00:21:09.63
and the final judgment
of humanity is complete,
00:21:09.66\00:21:13.44
God will "destroy
those who destroy the earth."
00:21:13.47\00:21:18.57
Some years ago a prominent
government official in the
00:21:18.61\00:21:21.38
United States, a Christian, said
that he believed that it really
00:21:21.41\00:21:25.75
didn't matter how we
treated the environment because,
00:21:25.78\00:21:28.22
after all, Jesus
was coming back soon.
00:21:28.25\00:21:31.82
Well, I don't know.
00:21:31.85\00:21:33.89
Nature itself has
suffered under the weight
00:21:33.92\00:21:38.16
of the sins of humanity.
00:21:38.19\00:21:40.06
Not only do God's people look
forward to the return of Jesus,
00:21:40.10\00:21:45.13
but nature itself looks forward
to the time the sin problem
00:21:45.17\00:21:50.41
is going to be
brought to a conclusion.
00:21:50.44\00:21:52.44
Consider these words
written by the Apostle Paul.
00:21:52.47\00:21:57.11
For the earnest expectation
of the Creation eagerly waits
00:21:57.15\00:22:00.48
for the revealing
of the sons of God.
00:22:00.52\00:22:02.12
For the creation was subject
to futility, not willingly,
00:22:02.15\00:22:06.52
but because of Him
who subjected it in hope:
00:22:06.55\00:22:09.76
because the creation
itself also will be delivered
00:22:09.79\00:22:13.93
from the bondage of corruption
00:22:13.96\00:22:15.56
into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.
00:22:15.60\00:22:19.90
For we know that the whole
creation groans and labors with
00:22:19.93\00:22:23.97
birth pangs together until now.
00:22:24.01\00:22:26.64
And not only they, but we also
00:22:26.68\00:22:29.54
who have the first
fruits of the Spirit,
00:22:29.58\00:22:32.01
even we ourselves groan
within ourselves, eagerly
00:22:32.05\00:22:35.82
waiting for the adoption,
the redemption of our body."
00:22:35.85\00:22:40.69
Even nature wants
Jesus to come again soon.
00:22:40.72\00:22:44.39
This sin-ravaged world
will experience its final death
00:22:44.43\00:22:47.96
agonies when Jesus
returns to this earth.
00:22:48.00\00:22:51.40
This is what Peter wrote:
00:22:51.43\00:22:52.97
"But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night,
00:22:53.00\00:22:56.24
in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise,
00:22:56.27\00:23:00.58
and the elements will melt with
fervent heat: both the earth
00:23:00.61\00:23:05.61
and the works that are
in it will be burned up."
00:23:05.65\00:23:08.65
The Book of Revelation
also describes this moment:
00:23:08.68\00:23:12.55
"And there were noises and
thunderings and lightnings:
00:23:12.59\00:23:16.29
and there was a
great earthquake,
00:23:16.32\00:23:19.13
such a mighty and great
earthquake as had not occurred
00:23:19.16\00:23:22.76
since men were on the earth.
00:23:22.80\00:23:25.40
Then every island fled away, and
the mountains were not found."
00:23:25.43\00:23:32.14
But that isn't
the end of the story.
00:23:32.17\00:23:34.34
After you read about the
millennium of Revelation 20
00:23:34.38\00:23:37.48
you then read about what God is
going to do to this sin-damaged
00:23:37.51\00:23:41.95
earth, how He is going
to re-make His Creation.
00:23:41.98\00:23:46.65
Restoring the glory and
the beauty of a lost Eden.
00:23:46.69\00:23:51.96
Revelation contains
this fantastic promise:
00:23:51.99\00:23:56.33
"And I saw a new
heaven and a new earth;
00:23:56.36\00:23:59.00
for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away:
00:23:59.03\00:24:03.51
and there was no more sea.
00:24:03.54\00:24:05.97
And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying;
00:24:06.01\00:24:08.11
'Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and
00:24:08.14\00:24:12.61
He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people.
00:24:12.65\00:24:16.69
And God Himself will be
with them, and be their God.
00:24:16.72\00:24:22.06
And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes:
00:24:22.09\00:24:25.69
There shall be no more
death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
00:24:25.73\00:24:30.37
And there shall be no more pain,
00:24:30.40\00:24:31.90
for the former
things have passed away.'
00:24:31.93\00:24:35.54
Then He who sat
on the throne said,
00:24:35.57\00:24:38.91
'Behold, I make
all things new.'"
00:24:38.94\00:24:41.94
And then this chapter goes on to
tell us about the glorious city
00:24:41.98\00:24:47.75
that God is
preparing for His people.
00:24:47.78\00:24:51.82
"And the city had no need of
the sun or of the moon to shine
00:24:51.85\00:24:55.76
in it, for the glory
of God illuminated it.
00:24:55.79\00:24:59.76
And the Lamb is its light.
00:24:59.79\00:25:02.73
Its gates shall not
be shut at all by day
00:25:02.76\00:25:06.90
(there shall be
no night there)."
00:25:06.94\00:25:10.81
At last, God and nature
will be fully reconciled.
00:25:10.84\00:25:15.58
All of creation will be
restored to Eden beauty.
00:25:15.61\00:25:19.61
God's people will live
in full harmony with nature
00:25:19.65\00:25:22.42
and with the God of
nature for all eternity.
00:25:22.45\00:25:27.46
George
Washington Carver once said:
00:25:27.49\00:25:29.56
"I love to think of nature as an
unlimited broadcasting station,
00:25:29.59\00:25:33.90
through which God
speaks to us every hour,
00:25:33.93\00:25:37.67
if we will only listen."
00:25:37.70\00:25:39.70
If we'll only listen.
00:25:42.10\00:25:43.94
Are you listening today?
00:25:43.97\00:25:45.97
I want to encourage you to
see evidences of a loving God
00:25:46.01\00:25:49.68
in the created world around you.
00:25:49.71\00:25:52.11
When you look at nature,
00:25:52.15\00:25:53.11
look beyond the
nature that you see
00:25:53.15\00:25:55.72
and let nature remind you that
God is good and God is love.
00:25:55.75\00:26:01.36
[Fire crackling]
00:26:06.39\00:26:07.50
>>Girl: My mom woke up at
11:45 and she smelled smoke.
00:26:07.56\00:26:12.30
>> Man: About maybe
1:30 in the morning,
00:26:12.33\00:26:14.40
the uh, my wife
got a phone call.
00:26:14.44\00:26:18.24
And I could hear the voice
on the other end of the line,
00:26:18.27\00:26:20.81
and she was
basically uh, screaming:
00:26:20.84\00:26:23.55
“there's a fire, it's massive!
00:26:23.58\00:26:25.18
It's headed your way!
00:26:25.21\00:26:26.61
You need to get
out and get out now!”
00:26:26.65\00:26:28.98
>>Woman: After I hear
fire, I hear in the background:
00:26:29.02\00:26:31.75
“the fire is two to four
blocks away from your house,”
00:26:31.79\00:26:34.36
and I panicked.
00:26:34.39\00:26:35.66
We started praying; our
prayers didn't last long.
00:26:35.69\00:26:38.33
They were
desperate, they were rushed,
00:26:38.36\00:26:42.53
there was a need, it was urgent.
00:26:42.56\00:26:44.30
It was very very urgent.
00:26:44.33\00:26:45.73
I said, "please
save my children."
00:26:45.77\00:26:48.70
¤[Music]
00:26:48.74\00:26:51.74
>>John: Where was God
when the fires burned?
00:26:51.77\00:26:53.07
Where was God
as people suffered?
00:26:53.11\00:26:54.91
Where was God
while people were dying?
00:26:54.94\00:26:57.58
Where was God in the
midst of the devastation?
00:26:57.61\00:27:00.18
[Fire crackling]
00:27:00.22\00:27:05.89
>>John: One of the most
serious subjects in the Bible,
00:27:07.09\00:27:09.62
is the subject of hell.
00:27:09.66\00:27:11.39
And it's one of
the least understood.
00:27:11.43\00:27:13.73
What does the Bible
really say about hell?
00:27:13.76\00:27:15.96
Is there a
hell, and if there is,
00:27:16.00\00:27:17.77
how long will it burn?
00:27:17.80\00:27:19.97
You don't want to
miss today's free offer:
00:27:20.00\00:27:22.50
“Understanding Hell:
Separating Fact from Fiction.”
00:27:22.54\00:27:26.04
It's a practical
biblical look at a subject
00:27:26.07\00:27:28.51
that has
puzzled a lot of people.
00:27:28.54\00:27:30.18
“Understanding Hell.”
00:27:30.21\00:27:31.78
To receive it, simply
call us: 800-253-3000.
00:27:31.81\00:27:35.92
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:27:35.95\00:27:37.69
or visit us
on-line at iiwoffer.com.
00:27:37.72\00:27:41.56
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:27:42.36\00:27:44.33
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:27:44.36\00:27:47.66
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:27:47.73\00:27:50.90
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:27:50.93\00:27:55.24
You can send gift
tax-deductible gift
00:27:55.27\00:27:56.67
to the address on your screen,
00:27:56.71\00:27:58.07
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:27:58.11\00:28:02.11
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:28:02.14\00:28:04.78
Our number
again is 800-253-3000.
00:28:04.81\00:28:09.05
Or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:28:09.08\00:28:12.25
I'd like to pray with you now.
00:28:14.09\00:28:15.06
Would you pray with me?
00:28:15.09\00:28:16.26
Let's take a moment to do that.
00:28:16.29\00:28:18.33
Our Father in heaven,
00:28:18.36\00:28:19.26
thank You that You
are the God of nature.
00:28:19.29\00:28:21.90
Thank You that You
made this fabulous world
00:28:21.93\00:28:24.70
and the beauty we see in it.
00:28:24.73\00:28:27.37
I thank You that one day soon
You will recreate this earth,
00:28:27.40\00:28:31.04
that the blight
of sin and the curse
00:28:31.07\00:28:32.51
will never be seen again
and that we will live with You
00:28:32.54\00:28:35.28
eternally in a land that
is only pristine and beauty.
00:28:35.31\00:28:40.55
Lord, as You have made
this earth and will remake it,
00:28:40.58\00:28:44.09
I pray that You will remake us
00:28:44.12\00:28:46.35
and bless us with
the presence of Jesus
00:28:46.39\00:28:50.13
and the beauty of His character.
00:28:50.16\00:28:53.09
We thank You today and
we pray in Jesus' name,
00:28:53.13\00:28:55.83
Amen.
00:28:55.86\00:28:58.33
¤[Music]
00:28:59.10\00:29:12.45
Thanks for joining
me today in Costa Rica.
00:29:13.68\00:29:16.62
I look forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:29:16.65\00:29:18.32
Until then, remember,
00:29:18.35\00:29:20.39
"It is written,
00:29:20.42\00:29:22.06
'Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:29:22.09\00:29:25.03
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:29:25.06\00:29:30.20
¤[Music]
00:29:30.23\00:29:46.21