Although I was born in New
England and raised in Florida, I currently reside in the vast state of New
Mexico. To those of you slightly
geographically challenged, yes, New Mexico is part of the United States proper
and received Statehood in 1912. It is
that big chunk of land that lies between Texas and Arizona on any modern USA
map. According to the 2016 World
Population Review[1], New Mexico is the 5th largest state
in area, yet the 6th most sparsely populated territory—ranking #37
in population at just 2,135,288. That is
undoubtedly more information than you need or desire, so let me get back on
track.
As I said, I currently reside
in New Mexico. Recently, I was reading a
book about New Mexico and noticed several contradictions! Here is just one example:
(p. 21) “Commercial agriculture was not
practiced…families produced what they needed, with a small surplus to enable
them to afford necessary purchases.”
(p. 185) “…they built dairies to provide fresh milk
for children, had wells dug…” (One might infer that dairies, especially
commercial dairies, also tend to require large commercial crops of grain.)
So how can it be that New
Mexico does NOT practice commercial agriculture…yet it DOES build commercial
dairies/crops? Can this book be trusted?
Is it a fraud? Oh wait a minute, I
forgot to mention that the book I was reading was an anthology—a collection of
essays[2] by thirteen different authors, spanning the sixty-five
years from 1900-1965. Furthermore, the
essays range in style from narrative to documentary. However, they are ALL focused on ONE central
theme of the various components of New Mexico and its historical
development. The above quotes, although
technically accurate in wording, are definitely only partial quotes[3 and
4] and grossly taken out of context. The anthology is correct.
Those who would deny the
validity of the Bible will often make similar mistakes. They justify their position on the basis of
the Bible apparently containing several contradictory statements. Yet they
purposefully forget or refuse to acknowledge that the Bible is an anthology—a
collection of works including poetry, law, narratives, documentaries, and
apocalyptical writings—with approximately 40 authors spanning a history of approximately
1,500 years. Skeptics rarely acknowledge
the background of the authors, living conditions, or any other factors (e.g.,
geographical, economical, political, cultural) occurring during the
time of each written work. Yet the
Bible, with its variety of works and diversity of authors, has ONE central
theme—it is the inspired work of God, our Heavenly Father and Creator of all
that exists.
Here is an ironic twist for
skeptics to consider: God, who inspired
the authors of the Bible, warned in advance—yes, thousands of years in
advance—that there would be skeptics.
One of the primary authors of
New Testament writings, Paul, offers this message to Timothy:
“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”
“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NLT[5])
Peter also writes a similar
message:
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers
will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.” 2
Peter 3:3 (NLT)
The Bible makes something else
perfectly clear as well. Those who
reject truth and chase after myths will not enter the Kingdom of God.
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is
shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s
book of life.” Revelation 21:27 (NIV)
Dear Friends, you may choose to
scoff at the validity of the Bible today; however, there is a day coming—and
coming soon—that your scoffing will cease.
At that time you will know and acknowledge the truth:
God
is real. His Word is truth.
Here is another truth. The Bible offers hope. Jesus, himself, states:
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John
3:16 (NLT)
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.” John
6:47 (NLT)
God
is real. God loves you.
Respectfully
written and submitted by:
Dotty
Willmon, Resurrection Christian
[1] worldpopulationreview.com/states/new-mexico-population/
[2] DeMark, Judith B., ed. Essays
in 20th Century New Mexico History. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1994. Print.
[3] Jensen, Joan M. “Farm Families Organize Their Work,
1900-1940.” Essays in 20th Century New Mexico History. Ed. Judith
Boyce DeMark. Albuquerque: University of New
Mexico Press, 1994. 13-27. Print.
[4] Schackel, Sandra. “Healthcare Across Cultures: Public Health
Nurses in Hispanic and Native American
Communities.” Essays in 20th
Century New Mexico History. Ed. Judith Boyce
DeMark. Albuquerque: University of New
Mexico Press, 1994. 181-197. Print.
[5] Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers, 2004. Print.
