Theology and Time

Theology is the study of God. God is a being outside of time. Time is a created thing.

The bible starts and God is. Then he begins creation. You see many Theologies wish to place an emphasis on time or base observations upon time.

There is a truth that God reveals himself in time and is aware of the order of revelation. But an over emphasis on time is almost always unhelpful.

You see the nature of God is that he is outside of time. His revelation in time is progressive but he is not. He is not inside time.

In a sense he entered into time as his son Jesus eternally God and Man entered into history and took on human flesh. But you see Jesus is a figure who transcends time. His work breaks down the limits of time.

You see Israel's faith is a forward looking faith that is based on a promise. They are saved by believing in the promise which is Jesus.

You today we are saved by looking back but it is all the same event. Often people wish to get around the fact of Israel being saved by looking forward to the cross.

This or that is how they are saved. You see the reality is always that we are saved by trusting in the promise of God and what he says he will do.

Israel looked forward to a promise of a future event that was described in detail but not easily understood. We look back to an event in history which is described in great detail but easily rejected.

Always we are saved by faith and live by faith and walk by faith. We never get past faith.

Humor as a Part of Theology

Laughter in the bible is portrayed equally as positive and negative. The role is based on context.

God is one who laughs at the folly of men. Jesus promises to bring the oppressed laughter.

There is laughter which is linked to unbelief and thus put into a negative context. But you see that laughter in and of it is good.

Its connection to the fall at times has turned it into an ugly thing, but in its nature there is nothing wrong with laughter.

There are those in the church which seem to have lost the idea of a joke as having an appropriate context. The bible does not follow this viewpoint.

Ultimately the Christian life is about joy. It is about real joy though. Not some canned joy that the world provides that is here today and gone tomorrow.

God wants us to be happy, but not some fleeting happiness mixed with misery and pain. The problem often is that as C.S. Lewis says that "we are far too easily satisfied."

Paul counted all things as loss for the surpassing glory to come. Why? Because to see correctly is to see that real joy and real happiness is found in relation to Jesus.

The bible is concerned with the happiness of men. But it is concerned about eternal happiness and not in a quick fix here and now immediate happiness.

Eternal Life

Heaven is considered to be a great place because we will always be happy there.  I would like to suggest that eternal life without any pain or suffering or any hardship need not necessarily lead to a enjoyable life. It will not lead to an enjoyable life like this.

1) We desire things.

2) If we live eternally then our desires become infinite

3) The number of created things to desire is finite.

4) Any song you listen to 1,000 times will become old

5) Many created things get old slower than songs but none of them are incapable of getting old

6) Therefore eternal joy cannot be found in created things

So have we lost?  Is heaven about to be very very dull?  Is eternal life bad news.  Well there is only one infinite thing in the universe and that is God.  If God is what we will delight in infinitely is that good news?  Because needing to delight in the infinitely dull is bad news. A few scripture texts to prove that it is very good news.

 Psalm 19:9-10: "The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."

Psalm 63:3: "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."

Revelation 1:12-16 (speaking of Christ): "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and among the lamp stands was someone 'like a son of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."

Psalm 119:103: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

And if the words of lord are sweeter than honey and he is far sweeter than his words and if he is the only sweetness that lasts forever why do so few drink deeply of him eagerly?  God is far more brilliant than all the earthly pleasures combined and he is infinite.  So drink deeply and delight with much happiness in God's glories.