Children’s Story

1. Children’s Story The Cannibal’s Testimony A skeptic visiting the Solomon Islands tried to persuade a native that the story of Jesus and the Bible were a myth. The native explained that before the missionaries came, their villages were dirty and they ate pigs. Also, they were cannibals who ate foreigners and enemies. All that changed when they heard about Jesus and the Bible. Then, he looked at the skeptic and said, “I hope you are wrong, because you are looking delicious to me!”

2. Alternate Introduction Introspection Why do we need to examine ourselves? Because we are creatures of habit, unconsciously bringing a cartload of notions and ideas that can impede or divert us. -- S. Pandit, Bk. 1, p. xiii

5. “NOTHING CREATED NOTHING!” By Robert C. Quillin, D.Min., Ed.S.

6. David Salazar • David Salazar is a landscaper in Freeland, MI who loves the Lord. He is not a SDA, but is a Sabbath-keeper. Speaking to one of his customers after work, they began to talk about politics and world events. The man was a Hindu and suddenly began to rail on Christians and the Bible. He claimed to be an atheist, then began expounding pantheism, saying everything was god. There is no personal God, and the Bible is myth. He claimed that a good God would not allow all the suffering and evil in the world, if He existed.

7. David Salazar • Taking just so much of it as he could, David began to challenge him, replying, “You said you were an atheist, yet you rally do believe in god, but that god is everything. You said I am god and you are god. If you are god, why did you cause all this wickedness, and what are you going to do about it?” The man got very angry and stormed into the house. Later, he spoke civilly to David and did not fire him.

8. Text: Genesis 1:1 • If God does not exist, than Genesis 1:1 presents a problem. It says: • “1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” • Either this statement is true or it is false; there is no other choice. If God does not exist, He is nothing! In that case, where did everything come from?” What was the “something” that was the “First Cause?”

9. Main Thought • Something can create something, and Something can create nothing, but Nothing creates Something, and Nothing creates Nothing. • Since I am surrounded by many things, Something must have created them. What or Who is that Something? How could something just suddenly appear from nothing? That is unscientific and illogical.

11. Nothing • “The only reasonable belief is that we came from nothing, by nothing and for nothing”. --Quentin Smith, Theism, Atheism and the Big Bang Cosmology (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1955), p. 135).

12. There Is No Reason • …Thus far, Earth is the only place we have evidence for life….And yet with all our yearning to find life elsewhere, the cosmic distance scale is unbelievably huge….Still the question of life, its cosmic prevalence, and its meaning tug at us. From the universe’s point of view, life doesn’t have any meaning…..There is no reason such order couldn’t have arisen in millions of places across the galaxy… (David J. Eicher, Astronomy Magazine, October 2016, p. 8.)

13. Hebrews 11:6 • 6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

14. Romans 1:20, 21. • “20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: • 21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

15. Psalm 14:1. • “1: The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God….”

16. Proverbs 1:7 • 7: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

17. Proverbs 9:10 • 10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

18. Atheistic Science • Have you noticed that the evolutionary Theory of Uniformiterrianism (all things continue as in the past), which I was taught in school has changed in recent times? The Bible warned of it. • 2 Peter 3:3, 4. • “3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, • 4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

19. Changing Theories • It is because more scientists are finding evidence of a intelligent design in nature, and a catastrophic event that altered the past natural history. Rather than acknowledge a divine origin of life on earth, and a sudden death of prehistoric animals, new theories are being taught as scientific fact, when they are unsustainable. • 1 Timothy 6:20. • “20: O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:”

20. The Search for Origins • The Big Bang Generated All Things What existed one second before the Big Bang? Where is the scientific proof to sustain it? • Space Aliens Creatures from outer space are credited for life on earth according to the “History Channel.” Where is the scientific proof to sustain it? • Comets Brought Biological Life Where is the scientific proof to sustain it?

21. The Space Program • Although the modern space program has greatly increased our understanding of the marvelous universe, it still has not answered the major purpose for which it was established—how did everything begin, and where did life on earth come from? • Some theories are actually ridiculous in their attempts to circumvent the clear declaration of Genesis 1:1. All try to find a first cause other than that of Scripture.

22. The Meaning of Life? • What is the meaning of life? It’s perhaps the oldest philosophical question. At the end of a hysterical movie, the Monty Python gang told us it’s, “Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.” (David J. Eicher, Astronomy Magazine, October 2016, p. 8.) • [Scripture tells us the reason for life Fear God, give glory to Him, for this is the whole duty (reason, purpose) of man.]

23. There Is No Reason • …Thus far, Earth is the only place we have evidence for life….And yet with all our yearning to find life elsewhere, the cosmic distance scale is unbelievably huge….Still the question of life, its cosmic prevalence, and its meaning tug at us. From the universe’s point of view, life doesn’t have any meaning…..There is no reason such order couldn’t have arisen in millions of places across the galaxy… (David J. Eicher, Astronomy Magazine, October 2016, p. 8.)

24. Ecclesiastes 12:13 • 13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

25. Micah 6:8 • Micah 6:8 (NKJV) further says, He as shown you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

26. Pasteur’s Discovery: • Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) of France discovered that diseases are spread by bacteria saved countless lives. Others saw bacteria before Pasteur did. But he was the first to show that living things come only from living things. Before that, many scientists believed in spontaneous generation a theory that life could come from things that are not alive, such as dirt. (World Book Encylopedia, Vol. 15, 1989 Edition, p. 193.)

27. Spontaneous Generation • In honesty, George Wald stated in an article entitled “The Origin of Life” in Scientific American, Vol. 190, August 1954: • “Spontaneous generation was disproved a hundred years ago. But that would lead us to only one other conclusion, that of supernatural creation. We cannot accept that on philosophical grounds. So we choose to believe the impossible, that life arose spontaneously.” -- Pandit, Vol. 1, p. 33.

28. Other scientists admit: • “Singularity [the point of origin] has no ‘around it. There is no space for it to occupy, for it to be… There is no past for it to emerge from. And so, from nothing, our universe begins. In a single blinding pulse…the singularity assumes heavenly dimensions, space beyond conception…So, what caused

29. Continued • it?...some quality or thing, that introduced a measure of instability into the nothingness that was.” --Bill Bryson, in A Short History of Nearly Everything(New York: Broadway Books, 2003) pp. 10-13.

30. Continued • “…The materialistic views of Darwin, Huxley, Simpson, Monad, and Dawkins are based on personal philosophy, not empirical evidence…this is not science but myth.” –Wells, Icons of Evolution, p. 228). • “I didn’t want there to be a God, who would hold me responsible for my immoral lifestyle.” (Lee Strobel [as an atheist], in The Case for a Creator, p. 29.)

31. Texts • 1 Timothy 1:4. “4: Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” • 2 Peter 1:16. “16: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

32. Atheistic Evolution is a Religion, Not Science. • From the mouth of scientists and philosophers comes the open admission that the “so called scientific” theories of origins are based on atheistic evolution, which is not rooted in science, but in faith. Faith that— • “1: In the beginning God DID NOT created the heaven and the earth.” • That qualifies it as a religion based on a belief, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

33. Atheistic Religion • Our children are being taught a religion of atheistic belief [religion] in school and in the media, passing as science and fact. It is unsubstantiated hypotheses or myth.

34. Evidence • The Bible gives ample evidence of the loving character of God, and the evil nature of Satan—both of who are real and exist. If the first cause of evil exists, so must the First Cause of good exist. That does not mean they are both the same in origin or character.

35. Faith vs. Myth • Hebrews 11:1. 1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. • Faith is based upon evidence and builds confidence in the fulfillment of what is promised. Myth is built upon unsubstantiated belief.

36. Goodness • The justification given by atheists is that a good god would not allow so much evil in the world. However, that is not evidence of God’s existence, it is a statement of their belief about His character. If evil proves that God does not exist, doesn’t goodness, love, heroic self-sacrifice prove that God does exist?

37. Romans 2:4. “4: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

38. Self-Deception • “A person can be persuaded by an abominable argument and remain unconvinced by one that ought to be accepted.” Antony Flew, ‘There is a God’ (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2007) p. 41, quoted in S. Pandit, Bk. 1, p. 33. He defended atheism ardently for 60 years before his conversion.

39. Wicked Men? • There are wicked men in the world, and there are good men in the world. Does that prove that men do not exist? It only gives evidence of the character of certain men. • The Bible gives ample evidence of the loving character of God, and the evil nature of Satan—both of who are real and exist.

40. Proverb 14:27 • 27: The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

41. Summary • Atheistic evolution does not have scientific, philosophical, or Biblical support. Either God is the First Cause of all that exists, or He isn’t. Both are a matter of faith. There is abundant evidence to support that God did do what Genesis 1:1 said He did. He created all things—except evil, which originated in a perfect angel who used his power of choice for selfish purposes.

42. F. Bacon • In the words of Sir Francis Bacon, • “A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.” -- Sir Francis Bacon (G.B.F. Hallock, 5,000 Best Modern Illustrations, #299, p.51.)

43. Conclusion • Even noble and educated men can wrest the word of God and nature to say things that are not true to justify their unbelief. To believe that God exists warrants the question of accountability and judgment for our lives. Some would prefer to believe that He does not exist, or to believe a myth about His character that to repent and be saved.

44. Application • How is it with your life? Are you playing games with God, hoping that He really doesn’t hold us accountable for our deeds and thoughts? He wants to recreate the image of Christ in you for His glory. He can and will do that if we cooperate with Him. He can make you a new person when you are born again.

45. Psalm 14:1 • You see, Someone created something! That Someone is Christ, through His Holy Spirit, and that something is the image of Jesus’ character in you, “the hope of glory.” Will you let Him recreate you into a son or daughter of God? • Psalm 14:1. “1: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God….”

47. Bulletin Information • Call to Worship #867, Psalm 134, TEV • Opening Hymn #21, Immortal,Invisible, God Only Wise” • Scripture: Genesis 1:1, KJV • Children’s Story: Elder Robert C. Quillin • Sermon Title: “NOTHING CREATEDNOTHING” • Speaker: Elder Robert C. Quillin • Closing Hymn: #88, I Sing the Mighty Power of God • Benediction: #917, 1 Timothy 1:17, KJV

48. Vital Information • Use Record: St. Charles, MI SDA Ch. 8/6/16 Bad Axe, MI SDA Ch. 8/27/16 Vassar, MI SDA Ch. 9/11/16 Midland, MI SDA Ch. 9/24/16 Kentwood (GR), MI SDA Ch. 11/12/16 • Alternate Children’s Story: A boy told his skeptical teacher, who disbelieved the Bible saying the Israelites crossed at the Reed Sea, which was shallow. “Praise God!, said the boy, “It’s a bigger miracle than I thought. The Lord drown the whole Egyptian Army in 6 inches of water!”

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