Down an Unfamiliar Road

DIFFERENCE MAKER –

The sight of a slouching King David making his way out of Jerusalem with his entourage through rows of disheartened supporters, before Absalom and his rebel crowd could show up and do irreparable damage to him and his household, must have been a pitiful sight to all of his loyal patronage. Now as he sat by a campfire near a waterfall, high up on a lonely plateau, miles away from his palace and God’s holy sanctuary, he begins thinking about the future and how his faith and trust in God will get him through. He knew the help he needed was beyond any man’s ability to supply, so he turned to the only One that could satisfy his heart’s desire.

“O my One True God, show that I’m Your chosen and You are on my side against these disloyal people; don’t let these thugs get to me and do me harm. You’re supposed to be my main supporter, O One True God; don’t You care anymore? Why let me be so stressed and demoralized by those causing me such anguish? Help me to understand and believe, so I can regain my joy by returning to Your holy sanctuary; to kneel at Your altar, O One True God, my heavenly King; the joy of my life; and lift my hands in song and praise to my One True God who means everything to me. So I asked myself again, why am I so upset and making such a fuss? I’m putting my hope in my One True God, and one day I’ll end up praising Him for being there when I needed Him most; He is my One True God over everything.” Psalm 43:1-5

Reflection: Elmer Bendiner, a B-17 bomber pilot in WWII, was flying a mission over Germany when his plane received numerous hits by anti-aircraft artillery, with some of the shells going directly into the plane’s fuel tanks. Miraculously, the bomber did not explode. When he landed back at a British airfield they found eleven unexploded shells in one fuel tank alone! After dismantling the shells, to their amazement they found the shells empty of any explosives. In one shell they found a note written in the Czech language. Translated it read: “This is all we can do for you now.” They found out later it came from a Czech citizen who was forced to work in a German munitions factory. No doubt that worker wondered from time to time if the unheralded work he was doing made any difference to the outcome of the war. Like David, we too often draw fire from those opposed to who we are and how we live, all intended to try our patience and discourage us from carrying on. But through the ingenuity of His Holy Spirit, God takes all the explosives out to the enemy’s fire. While they may dent our armor and inflict some pain, they cannot keep us from getting to our intended goal, and finishing the work our divine Commander-in-Chief gave us to do. So the next time you see the enemy take aim, don’t panic, because God knows whether or not it’s live fire or just another dud. Based on God’s reputation, it’s possible He arranged for our adversary to fill his cannon with harmless blanks.

My wife and I were finishing our day with prayer, and all of a sudden these thoughts started flooding my mind, so I poured them out to our Father in heaven:

“I want to thank you heavenly Father that when You sent out the Holy Spirit to bring one more to the cross for salvation, You included us.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when we arrived at the cross there was still room, and it was for us.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when we asked for mercy at the cross, there was still enough grace to forgive us of our sins.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when the fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins was checked, there was still enough blood left to wash away all our sins.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when we arrived at the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God, it was still open so we could get in.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when the Lamb’s Book of Life was opened, there was still enough space for the angel to write down our names.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when the purchase order went out for a Crown of Righteousness, there was still enough in the Son’s account to buy one for each of us.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when the Roll is called up yonder, our names will be on the list.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when the bell is rung for the marriage supper of the Lamb, there will be cards with our names on the table.

I want to thank you heavenly Father that when we finally see our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we can bow down and thank Him, face to face. Amen!”

So the next time your go to pray and you’re not sure of how to start or what to say, you may want to try beginning this way, I’m sure He won’t mind hearing it again. – by Dr Robert R Seyda

YOU MUST HAVE GREAT FAITH TO BE AN EVOLUTIONIST – For those still enthralled and mesmerized by the fairy tale named Evolution, here is something to offer them for contemplation. David Limbaugh in his book Jesus on Trial, states that new scientific advancements have lent additional credibility to intelligent design theory. Take human DNA for instance. Professor Walter Bradley, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, and Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Baylor University suggests that the discovery of DNA is perhaps the most impressive scientific achievement of the 20^th century. DNA is a tiny molecule that contains genetic codes with instructions for building and replicating all life forms. Says, Dr. Bradley, “That such a remarkable information storage system exits, and that the DNA molecules have somehow come to be encoded with the precise information needed to sustain life is the climax to an amazing testimony from science of God’s providential care of us in His creation.” Imaginary evolution theory is like walking into a large auto parts store with hundreds of thousands individual parts made up of thousands of thousands smaller parts, and believe that over enough time and with enough earthquakes they could all somehow be thrown on the floor to accidentally form a smooth running automobile. Intelligent design simply says, it takes someone with knowledge to put those parts together in the right order in order for that car to exist and operate. Bradley notes that for the origin of the cytochrome-C molecule to have accidentally acquired the required sequencing of the various amino acids has a probability of just 1 in 10⁶⁰. Stuart Burgess, a reader in engineering design at Bristol University, England, in his book, Hallmarks of Design: Evidence of Purposeful Design and Beauty in Nature, notes that DNA contains information in a long sequence of four different chemical “letters” that produces information somewhat analogous to Morse Code. The characteristics of living organisms, such as eye color, are specified by information in this code contained in the DNA. The code has also been compared to a complete set of engineering drawings with a copy found in the nucleus of every cell in the body. Adult humans have trillions of cells and thus trillions of copies of the genetic code in their bodies. Dr. Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D., and Dr. Frank Turek in their work “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist,” say that “The incredible specified complexity of life becomes obvious when one considers the message found in the DNA of a one-celled amoeba. They note that even world renown British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author, Richard Dawkins admits, “that the message found in just the cell nucleus of a tiny amoeba is more than all thirty volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica combined, and the entire amoeba has a much information in its DNA as 1,000 complete sets of an encyclopedia.” And these “encyclopedias” are not composed of “random letters but of letters in a very specific order-just like real encyclopedias. The most frightening thing to unrepentant evolutionist, is that more and more is being discovered to repute their shaky theory, while more and more is being uncovered to support divine design of the universe.

ALONE BUT NOT ABANDONED –

Even though it had been awhile since David fled from Saul and his henchmen, those feelings of being hunted must have come back to him because now he finds himself on the run from one of his own sons. After being treated like an outcast, Absalom not only wanted to move back in with his father; but now by scheming with others he was forcing his father to move out and run for his life. I’m sure David took along all the valuables he could, but one thing he couldn’t take with him was the tent he erected and the Ark of the Covenant that sat inside; the holiest possession he had access to. The longer he was away from Jerusalem, the more he missed those sacred hours in God’s presence.

“I yearn so much to be in Your presence, O One True God, that I’m like a deer desperate for rippling streams of cool water. Yes, my soul thirsts for Your presence, O One True God, my living King; how long will it be before I stand in Your sacred sanctuary again? Day and night tears from my eyes are the only food I’ve had to eat; causing people to ask me sarcastically, ‘Where’s your One True God now?’ It causes me to think about how things use to be, and I want You to know how much it hurts, especially when I remember how I joined others on our way to worship, laughing and praising You, O One True God, all the way to Your sacred sanctuary. So why am I so upset and making such a fuss? I should put my hope in my One True God that one day I will praise Him for not leaving me alone; He’s the God over everything. So day after day I pray the LORD Eternal will assure me of His undying love, so when nighttime comes my heart will respond with song as my prayer to the One who is Lord of my life. But I still find myself asking the Lord of my life: ‘Since You are my Rock, why aren’t You doing something; why must I be so despondent and stressed out by those who are determined to make me feel miserable?’ The way they constantly treat me is killing me emotionally, especially when they taunt me with, ‘Why isn’t your One True God doing anything?’ So why am I so upset and making such a fuss? I should put my hope in the One True God that one day I will praise Him because He’s always there when I need Him the most. He is truly my One True God.” Psalm 42:1-5, 8-11

Reflection: The great British preacher Charles Spurgeon when on vacation to a remote getaway in England. It was known for all the nightingales that nested there. When he arrived the weather was unseasonably cold, and nightingales were nowhere to be seen. Spurgeon wondered if his trip had been in vain. While reminiscing about previous visits and before retiring for the night, he wishfully opened the window in his room to look and see if any nightingales were there. Suddenly he heard a delightful melody coming from a nearby tree. There he spotted a nightingale illuminated by a dim gas lamp burning at the hotel entrance; singing away as it ignored the rain and cold. Later Spurgeon wrote that he did not expect to hear anything so sweet and thrilling again until he hears the angels singing in glory.

If you’ve ever waited for a taxi to pick you up for an important engagement; or a friend to meet you to discuss some serious matter; or an ambulance to arrive because of an emergency; you can recall the panicky feeling that came over you when the taxi, or the friend, or the ambulance did not arrive within the expected time. The longer it took the more frustrated and frightened you became. Sometimes we experience the same emotions when God doesn’t meet our need in the time we allot; or gets us out of a tight situation when it looks like we may go under. It should not come as a surprise that unbelievers, and even some fellow Christians might ask, “Where’s God when you need Him most?” But David didn’t panic, he turned to a source of comfort that he carried inside; if he couldn’t reach the place where God dwelt, God would be able to reach him where he was. So like the nightingale, David began to sing praises to God even in the darkest of times. Maybe he knew that someone else who also needed to be encouraged might be heartened by hearing his song. If that’s true of David, perhaps it can be true of you as well.

TRUE LOVE – 

In this psalm David gives us an assessment of what he just went through with Bathsheba and their first child dying; and how he struggled with the consequences of his terrible sin and how others evaluated him during his fight with depression and physical deterioration. He saw people who supposedly were his best friends, like Ahithophel, even family members, such as his nephew Joab, turn against him when he needed them the most. But he had one friend he could always depend on, and that was His LORD.

“Count your blessings if you are wise enough to have compassion on those who suffer, for when things get hard for you the LORD Eternal will see to it that you through as well. Yes, the LORD Eternal takes special interest in such people, and helps them enjoy the life they’ve chosen; and ensures that their critics do not dampen their spirit. For the LORD Eternal Himself will tend to them when they are sick, especially when their illness causes them to become restless. That’s why I cried out, ‘O LORD Eternal, be merciful to me; restore me mentally and emotionally for I have done this terrible thing against You.’ My situation has prompted my critics to go around sarcastically joking about when I was going die, and ruined my family in the process. Now when people come to visit me, they aren’t sincere in their attempts to comfort me; as a matter of fact, in their minds they’re already imagining the worst that could happen, and once they leave they go around telling everybody they’re hoping it will happen. Not only that, but when they get together with others they gossip about me; they wish the worst for me by saying, ‘Well, he finally got caught; now look at him, he’ll never survive this mess.’ To top it off, the person I thought was my very best friend, the one I often spent time with eating and enjoying his company has double-crossed me. But I’m calling on You, O LORD Eternal, treat me with mercy so I can get up out of this bed and prove them all wrong. That way I’ll really know that You care for me, because these hypocrites will have no reason to be smug because of my situation. I’m sure You will stand by me because I’ve always been honest with You; all I want to do is follow Your will for my life from now on.” Psalm 41:1-12

Reflection: Twins Donnette and Dawn Liotta were born premature, and placed in incubators until they were three weeks old. Donnette grew up a beautiful young lady with normal vision, hearing and speech. But her twin Dawn was not so fortunate. While in the incubator, the doctor administered too much oxygen. She was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.  She went through several unsuccessful surgeries to restore her sight which was completely gone in her left eye and only 68% detectable in her right eye. Along with all this she was legally deaf in her right ear. She had to wear braces on her legs and walk with crutches.  While growing up, Donnette became very distraught because her twin’s condition caused her to be picked on as well. So she began to loathe her sister, and did everything and anything to get her into trouble for being born mentally retarded and physically disabled. She was embarrassed to be seen with her, so she made fun of her right along with the other children.  By the time she turned twelve years old, Donnette’s mother was so disgusted with her behavior towards her twin, that one night she restricted her to the bedroom and gave her a thick yellow photo album to look at. There were numerous baby pictures of her and her twin sister dressed alike, the only difference: Dawn was hooked up to tubes and machines.  Her little hands and fingers were taped so that she would not pull off the patch covering her eye from surgery.  She looked like a mummy.  However, Donnette looked small and peaceful.  There were several pictures of the two of them in the hospital, and as Donnette looked closely, she could see the pain reflected in Dawn’s eyes.  But the picture that really caught her eye was a snapshot of the two of them in a crib hugging each other.  The caption below was a message from Dawn: “I am so happy to get a visit from my twin sister, Donnette.  The doctors make me cry; she makes me laugh.” Donnette realized then what her mother was trying to get her to understand.  Suddenly she felt ashamed of the way she had been treating Dawn, and cried herself to sleep. Later that evening, Dawn crawled over and woke Donnette up for dinner.  Donnette kissed her and hugged her and profusely apologized for her behavior.  Dawn looked at her with uncertainty in her eyes.  She wasn’t sure what Donnette was up to, but Donnette knew her whole mindset had been changed. From that moment on, Donnette was her sister’s best protector.  No one was going to hurt her for any reason.  If the children in the neighborhood did not want to play with them, so be it.  They would play with each other.  Over time they became inseparable. Donnette said, “As I look back, I realize that I never once took my sister’s feelings into consideration.  I did not want to know my own sister’s story of why.  I was so caught up in my own selfishness that I never saw her pain.  I never put myself in her shoes.  I never had to struggle to do normal, everyday activities.  I could run and jump all on my own, without crutches.  I never knew how blessed I truly was, or how special Dawn is. I know that I made it worse for her, because she longed to be ‘normal’ like me.  Strangers did not understand her because they didn’t know how to deal with her.  But I was her sister, her blood, and I should have been there for her straight from the beginning.  I am her other half, just as she is my other half.  When Dawn hurts, I hurt: that is the unbreakable bond Dawn and I share.”  Seems God felt the same way about David. So, no matter what others may think about you or why, one thing you can count on is that God will always be with you, and love you most of all.

GOD’S AMAZING GRACE –

The Law of Moses clearly stated that anyone guilty of murder or adultery be condemned to die. David had just committed both of these horrible crimes with Bathsheba and against her husband, so he now felt like a dead man walking. But the same prophet that God sent with a message to hold David accountable and suffer the consequences of his sin, also let David know that God’s grace was available to save him from certain death. So with this psalm David wanted to thank God for not throwing him away in the trash like damaged goods, but restoring him through His love, grace and mercy.

“I hoped and hoped the LORD Eternal would respond to me; finally He reached out and lifted me up. He pulled me out of the big mess I was in, and helped me straighten out my life so I could move on. This inspired me to write a new song so I could praise my One True God for what He had done. Many will hear it and find the story incredible; this will encourage them to absolutely trust the LORD Eternal. You should count your blessings if you make the LORD Eternal the one you trust the most; and do not pay any attention to those who look down on you; those who know nothing about sincerity. O LORD Eternal and One True God, You have done so many wonderful things on our behalf; things that only You could have done. If I were to try and tell the whole story, I would run out of time before I ran out of miracles. The one thing I learned that helped me understand what I read in Your Word, was that You are not interested in what we can try and do to save ourselves; that’s why I want to do it Your way, and have Your Word etched in my heart. As You know, I have testified about this before the congregation, I left nothing out, O LORD Eternal. I made sure they heard how good You were to me; I told them all about Your trustworthiness and saving grace. I wanted them to know the truth about Your undying love. That’s why I know You will always have compassion for me; that Your undying love and assurance will always be available to keep me safe.” Psalm 40:1-11

Reflection: Born in 1725 to a poor family, a young lad saw his mom die when he was only seven. At age eleven, with only two years of education, he went to sea with his dad. There he learned the skills of a mariner, as well as the reckless ways of a sailor, which caused him to end up being thrown off the ship and spend fifteen months exiled as a half-starved slave in Africa. At age twenty-three he was finally rescued by a British merchant ship. On their way back to England they encountered a severe storm which lasted for eleven hours, but managed to survive and arrive safely. For the next six years he was master of his own slave ship. One day someone gave him a copy of a book entitled, “Imitation of Christ” by Thomas à Kempis. He began reading this book while out at sea. One day, as he looked out over the ocean waves, he remembered those terrible years and that horrible night tossing on the white caps. So this once forlorn and sinful sailor composed a poem that to this day remains the most popular hymn in Christendom: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” No doubt David felt much like that seaman, John Newton, as does every person once they freely receive God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness instead of the divine punishment they deserve.

SAY IT ISN’T SO –

David was not content in keeping the personal lessons he learned during this whole tragic episode a secret; he wanted everyone to know what he went through and how immorality can so quickly destroy you; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. So he wrote a song and gave it to the chief musician Jeduthun to have it chanted in the temple courtyard, with the appropriate music. David was not worried what others thought of his public confession of wrong doing and how it almost ruined his life; rather, he wanted others to see what unbridled emotions can do to a person, but how faithful God is in coming to our rescue when we call for His love to grant us mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

“I once decided I wasn’t going to say or do anything that might offend someone, that’s why I kept my mouth shut, especially when those who didn’t like me were around. So I closed my lips and wouldn’t comment on anything or try to defend myself; but it only made matters worse on the inside. My face turned red with rage, and my emotional state was like a roaring inferno. Then I exploded, ‘O LORD Eternal, when will this all end? How much longer will this go on? How close am I to being done in? It seems that You have shortened my stay here on earth; my life span compared to Yours is like a puff of air.’ Sometimes, people like me find ourselves walking around in circles; so busy with trying to make it big in life that we get burned out; constantly putting money away for a rainy day and someone else ends up spending it. So I ask You, O Heavenly Master, what is there to look forward to? You are my only hope. So free me from my own shortcomings; don’t let people with no moral compass think I’m foolish for following Your word. I should have spoken up but I kept my mouth shut and didn’t say a word. Now I feel like You are punishing me because of it. Please hear my prayer, O LORD Eternal, please pay attention to my cry for help; don’t be unresponsive to my tears. There’s a long line in my family who never paid You any respect, and I feel like I’ve become one of them; just an onlooker. So I beseech You; give me another chance to get through this before my time runs out and it’s all over for me down here.” Psalm 39:1-9, 12-13

Reflection: Not too many years ago Mr. Al Johnson, from a small town in Kansas, was converted and became a strong, devout believer. As a result of being born-again, Mr. Johnson confessed to fellow believers that as a nineteen year old kid he participated in a bank robbery. Although the Statue of Limitations had already exempted him from prosecution for this crime, he still insisted on restitution for what he had done. So he notified the bank and voluntarily repaid his share of the stolen money. Everyone was surprised that he didn’t keep quiet about it and go on with his new life. To him it was a matter of ethics, and he didn’t want it coming up later and mar his testimony. After all, since God forgave him, why make it public and open himself up to ridicule? David felt a similar sense of obligation after realizing that he jeopardized losing everything God did for him since, as a shepherd boy, he was anointed as the next king of Israel. After all God did for him, he wanted to do all he could to show God just how grateful and thankful he was. What a lesson for us all; never give up, no matter how desperate and difficult things might be after we make a fool of ourselves. Remember, God’s mercy sees you for what you can be. So let Him restore your life and dignity and make you whole again. It doesn’t mean you are obligated to go around and graphically describe how horrible your sinful life was; but it does mean that you should never be ashamed to confess that you once were lost, but now you’re found; you were blind, but now you see; and all because of God’s amazing grace.

THE GALLOWS OF GUILT –

Having to deal with Ahithophel’s treachery brings back memories of one of David’s saddest moments, his murderous and adulterous affair with Ahithophel’s granddaughter Bathsheba. Neither Saul’s constant pursuit nor Absalom’s traitorous rebellion brought him as close to despair as the guilt he bore and wrestled with over during the lowest time in his life. Especially after the prophet Nathan exposed him as the culprit. But he knew that wallowing in guilt did not heal the wounds. It took the balm of God’s grace applied to his heart to stop the emotional bleeding. So he went to the Great Physician for healing.

“O LORD Eternal don’t stay mad at me; please don’t whip me while You’re angry with me. Your arrows of conviction have already wounded me, and I feel as though I’ve been struck hard by Your hand. I feel miserable from head to toe, and don’t think I can last another day. What I did was so horribly wrong that I get dizzy just thinking about it; it’s like a huge weight causing me to sink into a hole too deep for me to survive. I can’t take it anymore; just thinking about how reckless I was makes me sick. I’m miserable, depressed, and walk around in a cloud of despair. I’m hurting all over, and every part of me is suffering. I feel numb inside and out; my heart is so shattered I feel like screaming. O Heavenly Master, You know I’m desperate for an end to this misery; I can’t hide anything from You. My head is spinning; I’m worn out; the sparkle has vanished from my eyes. My family, friends, and associates avoid me like the plague. Others have now joined in with threats and ridicule; it’s a constant barrage of insults. I try not to listen or pay attention to what’s going on; I just keep my mouth shut. I’m waiting for You to answer, for I know You will, O LORD Eternal, my Heavenly Master and One True God. I’m afraid that if I don’t make it and mess up even more, they will be encouraged and come at me with a vengeance. I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown; I can’t seem to get away from what’s tormenting me. And now that I’ve owned up to my moral failure, I feel more convicted than ever. And while I suffer, the growing crowd that despises me are living the good life and don’t seem to have a single worry in this world. No matter how conciliatory I’ve tried to be with them, they return my good with evil. So please, my LORD Eternal and my One True God don’t abandon me now; don’t just stand by and watch it happen. Hurry up and help me, O Heavenly Master, You are the only one who can save me now.” Psalm 38:1-23

Reflection: The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody once visited a prison on Center Street in lower Manhattan, N.Y., called “The Tombs,” to preach to the inmates. After he finished, Moody talked with a number of the men in their cells. He asked each one what brought them there. Again and again he received the same reply, “I don’t deserve to be here”; “I was framed”; “I am innocent!” As he neared the end of the cell row, he saw an inmate with his face buried in his hands. Moody asked, “What’s wrong?” The prisoner responded through tears, “My sins are more than I can bear.” Moody thanked God for the man’s honesty and agreed to lead the man in a sinner’s prayer. The man then smiled as he felt the shackles of sin fall away. What a lesson that although God’s Son died on the cross and shed His blood for everyone, only those who repent and ask for forgiveness will receive the joy that comes with being set free. Because once Jesus sets you free, you are pardoned, not paroled. Some people follow Saul’s example and let their guilt drive them to suicide. But David quickly and unreservedly poured out his heart to God; admitting his sin and the pain and humiliation it caused. He knew that God never turns away a sinner under conviction who sincerely asks for forgiveness, no matter how despicable the sin.

COULD THIS BE ME –

Alexander of Aphrodisius, the Greek philosopher and commentator on the writings of Aristotle once stated, “There are three causes that prevent men from discovering the exact truth: first, arrogance and vainglory (conceit); second, the subtlety, depth and difficulty of the subject which is being examined; thirdly, ignorance and want of capacity to comprehend what might be comprehended.” Moses Maimonides stated that there was a fourth cause, and that being habit and training. Says Maimonides, “We naturally like what we have been accustomed to, and are attracted towards it. This may be observed among villagers; though they rarely enjoy the benefit of a shower or bath, and have few enjoyments, and pass a life or privation, they dislike town life and do not desire its pleasures, preferring the inferior things to which they are accustomed, to the better things to which they are strangers; it would give them no pleasure to live in palaces, to be clothed in silk, and to indulge in baths, ointments, and perfumes.” Maimonides goes on the explain, “The same is the case with those opinions of man to which he has become accustomed from his youth; he likes them, defends them, and shuns the opposite views. This is likewise one of the causes that prevent men from finding the truth, and which make them cling to their habitual opinions.” These may be the wise thoughts of ancient men, but they should never become ancient thoughts to men and women of wisdom. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

INTELLIGENT DESIGN THEORY IS NOT NEW –

If you think the big bang theory as the prevailing cosmological model for the birth of the universe, stars and planets began in 1927, or the theory of evolution developed after the first edition of “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin in 1859, here is a little primer on what was being said over 800 years ago. When Moses Maimonides (1135-1204), medieval Jewish philosopher and theologian wrote his “Guide for the Perplexed,” this was already being discussed. Here is an excerpt for your perusal, and something you can use on those who believe this is a modern concept.

“According to Aristotle, none of the products of Nature are due to chance. His proof is this: That which is due to chance does not reappear constantly nor frequently, but all products of Nature reappear either constantly or at least frequently. The heavens, with all that they contain, are constant; they never change, as has been explained , neither as regards their essence nor as regards their place. But in the sublunary world we find both things which are constant and things which reappear frequently [though not constantly]. Thus, e.g., the heat of fire and the downward tendency of a stone are constant properties, whilst the form and life of the individuals in each species are the same in most cases. If the parts of the Universe are not accidental, how can the whole Universe be considered as the result of chance? Therefore the existence of the Universe is not due to chance. The following is, in short, the objection which Aristotle raises against one of the earlier philosophers who assumed that the Universe is the result of chance, and that it came into existence by itself, without any cause. Some assume that the heavens and the whole Universe came into existence spontaneously, as well as the rotation and motion [of the spheres], which has produced the variety of things and established their present order. This opinion implies a great absurdity. They admit that animals and plants do not owe their existence or production to chance, but to a certain cause, be that cause Nature, or reason, or the like; e.g., they do not assume that everything might be formed by chance of a certain seed or semen, but that of a certain seed only an olive-tree is produced, and of a certain semen only a human being is developed. And yet they think that the heavens, and those bodies which appear divine among the rest of bodies, came into existence spontaneously, without the action of any such cause as produces plants and animals. Having thus examined this theory, Aristotle then proceeds to refute it at greater length. It is therefore clear that Aristotle believes and proves that things in real existence are not accidental; they cannot be accidental, because they are essential, i.e., there is a cause which necessitates that they should be in their actual condition, and on account of that cause they are just as they in reality are. This has been proved, and it is the opinion of Aristotle. But I do not think that, according to Aristotle, the rejection of the spontaneous origin of things implies the admission of Design and Will. For as it is impossible to reconcile two opposites, so it is impossible to reconcile the two theories, that of necessary existence by causality, and that of Creation by the desire and will of a Creator. For the necessary existence assumed by Aristotle must be understood in this sense, that for everything that is not the product of work there must be a certain cause that produces it with its properties; for this cause there is another cause, and for the second a third, and so on. The series of causes ends with the Prime Cause, from which everything derives existence, since it is impossible that the series should continue ad infinitum. He nevertheless does not mean to say that the existence of the Universe is the necessary product of the Creator, i.e., the Prime Cause, in the same manner as the shadow is caused by a body, or heat by fire, or light by the sun. Only those who do not comprehend his words attribute such ideas to him. He uses here the term necessary in the same sense as we use the term when we say that the existence of the intellectus necessarily implies that of the intellectum, for the former is the efficient cause of the latter in so far as intellectum. Even Aristotle holds that the Prime Cause is the highest and most perfect Intellect; he therefore says that the First Cause is pleased, satisfied, and delighted with that which necessarily derives existence from Him, and it is impossible that He should wish it to be different. But we do not call this “[evolutionary] design,” and it has nothing in common with [evolutionary] design. E.g., man is pleased, satisfied, and delighted that he is endowed with eyes and hands, and it is impossible that he should desire it to be otherwise, and yet the eyes and hands which a man has are not the result of his [own] design, and it is not by his own determination that he has certain properties and is able to perform certain actions. The notion of design and determination applies only to things not yet in existence, when there is still the possibility of their being in accordance with the design or not. I do not know whether the modern Aristotelians understood his words to imply that the existence of the Universe presupposes some cause in the sense of design and determination, or whether, in opposition to him, they assumed design and determination, in the belief that this does not conflict with the theory of the Eternity of the Universe.” There doesn’t seem to be a year that goes by without which we read the words, “Astronomers were astounded….” at some new discovery in space. The most recent being that the universe is larger than they ever thought it would be. They will never discover God in the universe, because He is bigger than the universe. But they certainly have found His fingerprints, and that should be enough for them to finally accept the first verse of Genesis as real.