"REDEEMING VALUE???"

As those of you who are members at Lewisville know we are working our way through the book of Genesis on Sunday nights this year. Well, sort of.  We are nearly half way through the year and we just completed Genesis chapter 4. At our current rate our study of Genesis will take us into 2013. We are committed to studying the entire book; therefore we will take whatever amount of time is needed.

I don’t know how folks who are listening to the lessons feel about the study, but I know I am loving it. I’ve never studied Genesis as much as I am right now. There is so much rich material in this Book of Beginnings.

There is so much here that helps us learn more about our Great God and how He wants us to live our lives. There is so much about how we should relate to Him as well as how we should relate to one another.

In Genesis chapter 4 we spent several weeks investigating the family of Cain and the family of Seth. We learned that the line of Cain was a remarkable family. His descendants were inventors, they were builders of cities, and they created an entire society.

The descendants of Cain perfected farming, they invented metallurgy, they invented music, and so much more.

By the way, our first ancestors were not “cave dwellers” as they are often portrayed in literature and the news. They were geniuses. After all, they lived hundreds of years and had plenty of time to perfect their craft.

But there is something that is clearly missing in the family of Cain. There is no mention of God. They built a society that forgot about God.

On the other hand, we learn that the line of Seth, at least some attempted to turn men back to God. Then men began to call upon the Name of the Lord. (Genesis 4:26) Do you think it is coincidental that our Savior came through the line of Seth? (Luke 3)

So, what does all of this mean to those of us who are living in America in 2012?

It should cause us to consider deeply the question, “What kind of society are we building?”

Obviously there are some in our country who are great society builders. They are genius when it comes to technology, science, education, the arts, etc. The question is in our rush to create, invent, and perfect are we forgetting about God?

All the technology, education, and knowledge in the world apart from Jesus Christ will not save us. There is no redeeming value in our inventions, creations, and education.

Our dear friend, Doug Lawyer used to say to us at our weekly prayer breakfasts, when we would discuss technology, “Boys, remember, there are no souls in those computers.”

I know that some of you who are reading this about now are saying, “HE WAS WRONG.” I know that all of these wonderful tools can be used to reach people in ways that nothing else can. And I believe that we should use them.

We can use these tools to reach out to old friends. We can use them to make new friends for the Gospel. We can use them to advertise special events. Some people will not communicate in any other way; therefore we should communicate with them through Email, Texting, Face book, etc.

Yet in and off themselves, like the inventions of the family of Cain, they have no redeeming value. So what does have redeeming value?

RELATIONSHIPS. Foremost is our relationship with our Lord. It is through Jesus Christ that we find salvation. (John 14:6) It is through Jesus that we find peace. (Matthew 11: 28-29) It is through Jesus that we find hope. It is through Jesus that we are able to talk with our Father. (1 Timothy 2:5)

In addition, our relationships with the followers of Christ are so vitally important to our walk with the Lord. (Philippians 3:15-17) Relationships with people of God will encourage us and build us up. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

WORSHIP. Time spent in worship allows us to grow in our faith. It allows us to grow in our walk with the Lord. It allows us to grow closer to Him. Worship brings us into the presence of our Lord and heightens our awareness of what it means to be in His presence. (Revelation 4:8-11)

STUDY. When we study the Word of God we become stronger Christians.  When we study we are able to distinguish between right and wrong. (Hebrews 5:12-6:1) We are commanded to grow in our faith (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18), and failure to do so causes great concern.

SERVING OTHERS. Jesus taught us throughout His life the great need for serving others. (John 13:3-9) When we stand before God in judgment we will be asked about our service to humanity. (Matthew 25: 32-46)

The tremendous advancements in our day and the lack of focus on spiritual matters remind us of these words from the beloved Apostle Paul. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Dear Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for sending Jesus into the world so that we might be redeemed. Help us dear God to remember that much of what we concern ourselves with in this world is of no redeeming value. Help us to focus on the things that we cannot see rather than what we can see. In the Name of our Redeemer we pray, Amen.