On a trip to England a few years ago, I found myself wondering about signs that dotted the roadways and parking lots. “Heavy Plant Crossing,” “Stop When Lights Show,” “Give Way.” Even the subway offered warnings: “Mind the Gap.” I heard about signs that said “Caution: Sleeping Policeman Ahead,” but I never saw either—the sign or a policeman who was sleeping. In a crushed-gravel parking lot near a centuries-old castle, I chuckled over this one: “Please Park Prettily.”
I asked friends who lived in England to explain their homeland signs. They cleared up the confusion about language-use variations and even the history behind some of the verbiage. Heavy Plant Crossing signs didn’t refer to jaywalking trees—they were warnings about big equipment vehicles crossing the road. And a speed bump, better known as a “hump,” is also called a sleeping policeman. Studying the cultural differences helped me understand the often-unfamiliar wording choices I encountered.
We may sometimes experience similar confusion as we read our Bibles. In one passage we see “to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” and in another place we read “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (Revelation 1:5; 1 John 1:9). How can washing in blood make us clean? If we don’t study God’s Word diligently and have the help of the Holy Spirit, we can completely miss the meaning and direction of these and other Bible passages—we’ll be lost, as if we were traveling in a foreign country.
Confusion about God’s Word, as well as difficulty with understanding the presuppositions behind secular science, may be part of the problem for those who do not believe in a recent creation. But Dr. Henry Morris III reveals there’s even more going on in our culture today—many in our generation reject “a recent creation in six literal days” and “the literal words of Genesis” (pages 5-7). “Indifference to Genesis,” Dr. Morris says, “sets the stage for selective obedience.”
Other articles address some difficult questions raised about creation and help us understand how science confirms Genesis. Dr. Vernon Cupps continues his series on problems with radioactive dating methods (pages 10-11). Dr. Jeffrey Tomkins points out the contradictions of assuming that animal and human genomes “are littered with vast amounts of genomic viral DNA fossils” (page 12). Brian Thomas tackles the question “Did humans evolve from ape-like ancestors?” (page 15).
If you find yourself wondering about these and other creation questions—much like I did with the signs in England—try going to the source. Read the Genesis account, the narrative of what happened “in the beginning.” Ask God for understanding. Study the meaning of the words. Scrutinize science reports and historical documents, and learn to recognize the underlying errors in popular teachings that contradict Scripture. When we search the Bible for truth and examine science in light of God’s Word, the creation account makes sense—it’s no longer confusing. The foreign has become familiar.
Through an understanding of Scripture, we can come to know our Creator and what He has done for us. As Dr. Randy Guliuzza reminds us in his article, the blood of Jesus is “particularly special” (page 17). We pray this Easter that you will understand the true significance of our Lord’s precious blood and experience redemption through Jesus Christ. Christ is risen—He is risen indeed!
* Jayme Durant is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
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