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Kyle West Story-Truth Project
Why would God use a boy with cerebral palsy? That’s what 7 year-old Kyle West asked. Now 18, God has used Kyle in incredible ways, including on The Truth Project. Despite Kyle’s difficulties, God has a plan and purpose for his life and for yours. Watch Del's bonus teaching looking at the topic now or watch the full episode online now at Cross Examine's Facebook page www.facebook.com/CrossExamine.
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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Out of Destruction, Beauty Immeasurable!
Posted on May 18, 2010
Filed Under Personal, Theology | 54 Comments
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
2 Peter 3:3-7
I am in Florida for filming but just returned from a short trip to the awesome parks near Moab Utah. I know people hate to see “home movies” so to speak, but I thought someone might be interested to see the wonders that God brings out of disaster.
I know my perspective may differ from others on this, but I am more and more convinced that the sedimentary layers that we see all over the world are the evidence of the great flood that God brought upon the world in the days of Noah.
2 Peter 3 makes the case that the evidence of this great destruction and tumult is available for us to see and that mockers overlook it—in essence saying that everything is just a uniform process all the way back.
But that is not true.
Verse 5 says that what “escapes their notice” is that there was a major catastrophe in the past, one that destroyed the world at that time and the earth was flooded.
That is why whenever I see these layers exposed, it reminds me of the awesome power of God that was on display when the earth shook with His judgment and that it will shake again someday.
Our “Group” took a few days to camp at Dead Horse Point State Park and visit Arches National Monument and Canyonlands National Park.
In one part of Arches, there is about a mile hike through “Park Avenue”. It is a “gawking” hike, through a canyon of spires and walls, balanced rocks and strange formations. It is a desolate kind of place, yet there the cactus were in bloom and flowers seemed to find a way to exist.
Out of this “destruction”, God has graciously given us awesome beauty and majesty.
Typical of Him, no?
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54 Responses to “Out of Destruction, Beauty Immeasurable!”
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How can his existent be denied? It is more difficult to believe that there is no God. I am amazed by his wonderful creation and beauty.
God’s Beauty, Love, and Creativity surrounds us and too many people just pass it by as they go along in life. Just go outside where ever you are at and take a close look. Nature speaks volumes to us. Pick anything and just think about how God breathed it into existence. Study it with your heart and you will be left standing in awe. God is!
God’s beauty is all around us…why is it that so many people don’t see His creation?
Over and Over are the evidence for a magnificent creative and caring God who blesses us. Thanks for these wonderful pics!
All the natural beauty and magnificent creation we see around us reminds me of Romans 1:20….For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse!
We have such a wonderful God! He can bring good out of any situation—beauty out of ashes–but He has that infinite power and the endless love behind it all. What a wonderful life!
To be honest I often have trouble enjoying Gods creation. So much has been corrupted and stained by our sinful practices.
But I want to enjoy the creation, because it does show how awesome God is! Even my tiny, flat country (The Netherlands) is part of Gods creation. Who am I to despise it so?
Very typical of him indeed. So many times I have seen his beauty in all of the destruction in the world. And yet sometimes it is hard to fathom all of this beauty he has created for us to enjoy that we are destroying. It must be breaking his heart to see it happening.
We just got back from our vacation to the Grand Canyon and Arches as well. Some of your pictures are exactly the same as ours! My 14 yr old son said while we were watching a sunset over the Grand Canyon that we use the word “awesome” too much; that THIS is awesome! Praise the Lord for the beauty He has given to us all to point us to Him.
Thank you, Del, for affirming God’s Word through your comments about Noah’s flood. God put the concept of young earth creationism on my heart some years ago and now it has become a “hill I am willing to die on”, so to speak. Modern Christians have such a hard time reconciling secular science with the Bible, but once they realize there is no compromise, the Christian Worldview glasses will come much more sharply into focus. It is indeed the Truth.
There is mounting evidence to support the theory that the sedimentary layers formed very quickly following the flood. Christians need to know there is evidence to support the Biblical accounts of creation and the flood in Genesis and that the earth is actually very young.
Del, you are a man for such a time as this, as we all are who see the story of the past and the future written in geology and the Scriptures; we need to continually witness to this. Even if we were to remain silent about our Lord and his creation, “The stones would cry out…” as they abundantly have there in the Grand Canyon and inumerable places on Earth and the Galaxy.
In Florida for filming? Maybe something for the new Truth Encounter? (hope,hope
I would love to see more on that! (Your sessions in Fairhope really impacted us!)
I just marvel at the beauty of God’s creation. We have been to Colorado many times and have a hard time understanding how anyone can not believe in an awesome God that we have when you see all of His creation.
I have come to the conclusion that the Bible is correct when it states that ‘the whole world is in the power of the devil’. Whatever one has to say about that statement, one thing is becoming more & more clear: deception is growing overhand, day by day. One of the greatest deceptions of our time, is evolution. It warps peoples’ thinking. I’ve seen that happen in my country (South Africa) and in our church (Dutch Reformed). Unfortunately a large number of theologians, churches and Christian institutions worldwide have bought into the lie that ‘God created through evolution’. This is a misconception and a compromise with evil. The Scriptures deny evolution throughout. One has to deny significant foundations of Scripture in order to accommodate evolution. It eventually comes down to regarding the Truth of Scripture as not reliable – how can one be saved if you believe that? It is significant to note that people who believe in evolution over long ages, do not go into the trouble to study the SCIENTIFIC evidence for Noah’s worldwide flood – the greatest catastrophe on this earth EVER. Even without belief, the scientific evidence is right there.. if one has eyes to see it.
I marvel every day at the awesome wonder of God’s creation, the earth. I live in the Southwest, and have often thought about what tremendous amounts of water it took to carve the rock formations that are so abundant here. Although most of the land is a desert environment, I have never considered it to be desolate. The beautiful mountains are richly dressed in evergreens and aspens, and there are clear running streams of water. Such sights leave no doubt that God is in the midst of it all. How majestic is our Creator, the one and only!
‘He hath made everything beautiful in its time…
Eccl.3:11
Del, I don’t have any problem with the flood. However, I do have problems with young earth creationists who don’t answer questions.
No matter where you go on the earth, there are vast fossil beds, often on high mountains. YEC’s claim this is evidence for a universal flood. However, when pressed closely on how these vast beds of fossils appeared, they are strangely silent. Even Answers In Genesis folks have not corresponded with my repeated queries for a mechanism that accounts for vast fossil deposits of mature ecosystems that formed in the brief one-year time span when the earth was flooded.
I have no problem with a universal flood as there is evidence for worldwide inundation. What I cannot account for, though, is how a flood that lasted only one year allowed for the development of mature sea creatures to arrive many thousands of miles from their origins in the sea, settle down, establish mature ecosystems, and then were somehow fossilized at the end of the flood. Most explanations have them fossilized at the beginning of the flood which doesn’t explain how sea creatures arrived on the land, including high mountains. If we have them alive during the flood, then we do not have a catastrophe that allows for their fossilization since this occurred at the beginning of the flood.
Can you understand my frustration at why I cannot get any answers?
Fortunately or unfortunately I studied Geology in University. In these sediments we see what ‘appears’ to be evidence of water deposited sediments overlain by ‘dry’ deposits and again by water deposits in several cycles. More troubling for me is the deposits that show a layer of vegetation developed and that is eroded and then another layer of deposits that are eroded and then another layer with vegetation deposits, etc. It is not logical that these ‘cycles’ of deposits could all have occured during the 1 year (or even a few years) of The Flood. There is just too much diversity of sedimentary deposits to all have occurred during The Flood. Hundreds of feet of limestone, is not deposited rapidly. Trying to shoe horn in all the visible sedimentary formations just doesn’t work, especially in a relatively short term flood or even with in a 6000 year old earth. The only conclusion I have been able to assume is that God created an ‘old’ earth. Basicly everything we see we need to support life on this planet. In the last few thousand years we have seen large changes, but the geologic ‘record’ shows much more complexity than can be explained in a few thousand years. I believe in His creation, but not the common explanations I hear from many other believers.
My daughter just took me on a surprise birthday vacation to Zion National Park. I had never been there. I was dumbfounded at the beauty of the landscape. To see the layers of various sandstone and the Hoodoos. We also visited Bryce National Park. Who can look upon the majestic mountains and not see the evidence of the massive water that must have compounded the sandstone. What a place of stunning beauty. God always stuns me with His creativity!
I totally agree. I attended Bible college in Arizona and I grew to really appreciate the AZ landscape. I also hiked the Grand Canyon. God’s handiwork can be seen everywhere. Even Mt. St. Helens proved that the layers can be laid down quickly after a flood.
Awesome photos!
Out of this “destruction”, God has graciously given us awesome beauty and majesty.
Typical of Him, no?
Absolutely, typical of Him in His creation of this world … but likewise in our lives too! It is His wondrous miracle that He graciously stoops to take a destroyed life, and makes it one of beauty and majesty in Christ. May He always get the Glory!
I felt the exact way about the sedimentary formations, when my children and I went to South Dakota on vacation last summer and saw the Badlands. My first thought was the flood.
We had a 40% chance of rain today and our fields really need it here in Brenham, so I pray at times like this, Lord it’s a 100% where ever you deem it, please give us some rain and it rained buckets! God is STILL doing great and wonderful things all around us.
Del, your photography shows the artist in you.
Del,
These are beautiful scenes that definitely are the handiwork of God.
However, I am disappointed that you are attributing them to the flood. I went through the Truth Project, and I have the highest respect for how you put that together. As Christians, we should always be about the truth. I (gracefully) challenge you to find one Christian geologist who believes these formations where made by the flood who doesn’t hold to a young earth perspective. The science just doesn’t support it. The only scientists who end up trying to make that claim are ones who come with the presupposition of the flood being the catch all for every large geologic formation on the planet that seems to require large amounts of time.
To take a step back, the bigger issue is the young earth/old earth one. The flood geology is just a natural outflow of the young earth perspective. Having been jimmy schnookered into believing in the Young Earth model for a time, I’m fairly passionate about this subject now, for two reasons. First, it creates an unnecessary hindrance to belief in Jesus for people who know better that it’s not a young earth/universe. Second, to send our kids into college believing in a young earth model is like sending lambs to the slaughter. This is an issue where if we do our homework, we can know the truth.
Sorry if I’ve been too passionate
You are having a wonderful impact through your ministry, and I have a ton of respect for you, but I’d hate to see you putting forward scientific information that is not accurate since it will allow skeptics to feel easily justified in discounting what you’re doing and also equip fellow believers with bad info.
The best book I’ve seen on this subject is “A Matter of Days” by Hugh Ross. I have an Aerospace Engineering friend who I work with (at a well known engineering company) who changed his long held YE perspective to OE after reading this book. The subject is dealt with very graciously and with great detail. I highly commend it to you.
I’ll reformulate a challenge I made earlier in a broader sense. If you can find an evangelical scientist who believes in a young earth apart from his prior commitment to a ye hermeneutic, I’d like to hear about him. The only way I’ve ever seen it is they have a prior commitment, and then they force the facts to fit it as opposed to coming to that idea based purely on the scientific evidence. If someone could provide compelling scientific evidence for a Young Earth, they’d win a Nobel prize next year!
Blessings,
Andy
Please continue to lift up the TRUTH as we continue to lift you up and seek God’s protection and blessing upon you and your family. a fellow servant. jim
My heart breaks for all who just will not consider the simple, yet breathtaking awesomeness of the creation. The human body alone I consider to be as magnificent as the entire universe.
Blinded by deception layered in more deception these poor souls are indeed missing the most comforting truth of all, our creator and the proof of His existence. Lord Jesus come because they need proof, and as crazy as it seems, even then they will deny it, rationalize it, and condemn themselves because they refuse accountability.
As a long-haul truck driver I have seen most of the great canyons and valleys that were created by the Great Flood. The secular world says, “Ice Age” but we Christians know better. I personally believe that some of the great columns were pushed up or the adjacent valleys were crushed down with the tremendous weight that the Great Flood presented. Most likely the ocean floors collapsed to form the deep basins that hold the water. We don’t know what the land looked like before the flood and the Bible tells us that the world was formed by water. But we will know some day when our Lord returns for His Bride! Come Lord Jesus!
Grand Canyon, Monument to Catastrophe, edited by Stven A. Austin, Ph.D., is an excellent interpretation of the canyon from a Biblical perspective. Lots of geologic and biologic that points to the glory of God.
I pray that somehow out of the horrific destruction in the gulf that something that glorifies His name will emerge or appear or be formed.
I also pray that the leaders of this country learn something about how they must keep their hands from twisting the arms of the Israeli’s when it comes to what to do with the land of Israel and Jerusalem.
This I know, building a mosque at ground zero would NOT glorify HIS name.
More truth. Ahhh. Thanks for reminding us.
The heavens decalare the glory of GOD and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Many times while both at sea or in the mountains, this verse has come to mind. Even the “rocks would cry out” the existence of our Creator!
To think that evo–fools can believe that a sense of beauty can be felt by creatures that are the result of cosmic accident.
DO NOT PASS BY BRYCE CANYON WHILE YOU ARE IN UTAH OR YOU WILL BE MISSING THE BEST PART!–!–!
HIKING BOOTS AND CAMERA REQUIRED.
Just a big thank you for all you have done and are doing to call our attention to the information around us that supports the Biblical world view. Your pictures are much appreciated as are your thoughts upon viewing the scenes you photographed for us. Thank you!
As I stood at the Grand Canyon, in awe of it all, it hit me that the greatness of it all can’t even begin to compare with the depth of God’s love for us. If He could show us something like this now, what must eternity be like !!!
Thanks Del! God is awesome (a name I reserve for Him) and His works are glorious! Thank you for pointing TO HIM!! May God bless your endeavors for HIM! =D
Just think of how much God loves us , that He would give us all the beauty of this world… Just look around,, You see what He created. And He did it for us who love Him and seek Him. Praise His Name Forever!!!!!
From the tiniest flower to the most majestic canyon His creation shouts for us to believe and acknowledge Him as Lord of all that exists.
I thank God and praise him for giving us His beautiful creation. We should worship Him and not the creation. How anyone could do otherwise is unfortunate for them for they have not taken the time to notice and to acknowledge Him.
God’s beauty of his creation is all around and it is so amazing. His signature can not be missed!
Although I faithfully believe in God and all of his works, I believe that we have the time line a little convuluted. I am a Christian first and use the brain that God has given me to study his works, use the Bible as my source, and have come to realize that there is more to this than we can ever imagine.
I agree with the comment about the exposed surface layers, but what leaves me without explanation (everything does not have to be explained, of course, and personally I find it fascinating to consider that as Adam was not created a baby but probably a thirty something, so the earth may have come into existence “pre-aged”)are the deep (5000-20,000 ft below the surface) layers that have been named for the ages they supposedly existed as exposed surface. I realize some of the current exposed layers were hoisted from the depths by fault shifts.
Looking at God’s creation through a biblical world view a beautiful view. I am afraid that the majority have fallen prey to the evolution worldview and loose a prospective of how great and mighty out God truly is. I often wonder as beautiful as our world is how awesome the perfect world he created was before sin began the deterioration. As Christians we will one day view that perfect creation. What a mighty God we serve.
DEL,
Thanks for the update and the photos. Joan & I saw many of the same things on our trip to Utah and Colorado.
Lyle
The heavens declare his majesty, the earth is filled with his Glory…yes, but…we ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!!!! Hallelujah!!
Dear Dr. Del Tackett,
Thank you!
Your e-mail couldn’t have come at a more providential time. I literally just had someone walk out of my office, a member of my church, an ardent evolutionist and rejecter of the world-wide flood, who routinely comes in to debate me.
After our very difficult conversation, I took a deep breath, said a short prayer, took drink of sweet peach tea [which always helps] then opened my e-mail, only to find your letter affirming the universal flood sitting at the top. What a blessing!
It was a direct affirmation from God, to me, through you. Thank you!
In Him,
Pastor Jeremy
My chem prof at Trinity Western used to begin discussion of Carbon-14 dating (and other methods): “Assuming the assumptions are correct…” Many scientists believe that natural processes have gone on at the same rates over all of history. That’s how they can extrapolate the data to determine that certain fossils are so many billion years old. They don’t take into account that the flood and other God ordained incidents in the past most likely caused these processes to go on at different rates — cataclysmic rates! The evidence is there if we acknowledge God’s handiwork.
May I share a few words from John Piper’s sermon, November 5, 2000 which resonate with, and hopefully contribute to this discussion!
Wake Up, O Sleeper!
These are the great things of the universe. And we have the unspeakable privilege this morning of lingering here and looking at them and meditating on them and being transformed to see the world for what it really is and to live in the light of Truth. I know that some of you are not the least interested in these things. You have no emotional resonance with what I am saying at all. What you really get excited about is a new CD. Or a new outfit. Or losing five pounds. Or watching a ballgame. Or adding a room to your house. Or getting a new car or computer. To you – children, teenagers, adults – I plead, along with the apostle Paul, “Wake up, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light” (Ephesians 5:14).
Don’t be like the person who goes to the Grand Canyon with a little garden shovel in his hand, and on the precipice of that majesty turns his back to the Canyon, kneels down, and digs a little trough with his shovel and shouts, “Hey, look at this! Look at my trough! Isn’t that cool!” I know that the pressing and desirable things of your life seem big. But just a little clearheaded thought will show you they are not. Get up and turn around and look at the Canyon. Don’t live your life walking down the E Concourse thinking that yogurt and sweet rolls and short skirts are really what it’s all about. For the entire sermon go to:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2000/34_Do_Not_Let_Sin_Reign_in_Your_Mortal_Body_Part_1/
Oh, I forgot to thank you Del for sharing these photos. As an Army Chaplain, some years ago, I had the privilege to fly through this entire area in the back of a UH-60 Blackhawk—WOW! Seeing this kind of beauty and greatness is a huge part of our joy in life! To the Glory of God.
Thanks for reminding me of the awesome journey my family took three years ago, when we sold our home, bought an RV and took our four kids on the road (homeschooling all the way) to see God’s glory. Everywhere we looked, God was there, even in unexpected places like “Pebble Beach” in Crescent City, CA. Arches was one of the many national parks we visited, and we enjoyed an incredible sunset with worship music playing in the background. While this earth resounds with His glory, I know at the same time it groans for His coming. I, too, eagerly await the day when I shall see my Savior’s face and all things made new!
We have no excuse to deny Him, and His creation.
I used to for over 35 years. He opened my eyes, with a story someone told me about the Grand Canyon. It was affirmed when I saw what my garden hose did to my front yard in just a few seconds. The amount of dirt that washed away in those few seconds made me see what a lie I was taught in school. I was so angry. Now I get sick when I hear it still being taught. The power of God, and yet He can be so gentle and loving to save a wretch like me.
Del
Appreciate your commenting on Francis Schaeffer’s DVD:
“How Should We Then Live”
Thanks
Layers upon layers and yet they believe the lie. My first thoughts were of Mt. St. Helens and the layers laid down all within a short span of time. My second thoughts were of how God has used you to teach me to look at the TRUTH and not Judge others, show LOVE and UNDERSTANDING. Prayers are with you Del.
And it was recently pointed out to me that while we look at the beauty of HIS creation, it should remind us of HIS faithfulness.