A Good-Sounding Falsehood is Still False
-Introduction
-When we come to the book of Joshua, we find that there as been a “changing of the
guard.” Moses has died and Joshua has the tremendous responsibility of leading God’s
people.
-It was now time to enter the Promised Land and begin the process of conquering it.
-Jericho (Josh. 6); Ai (Josh. 7-8)
-the deception of the Gibeonites (Josh. 9), a peace agreement
-The peace arrangement between the Gibeonites and the Israelites got the Gibeonites
“into hot water” with other leaders in the area - Josh. 10:1-5.
-The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua and requested help.
-While going up against Amorite kings, the Israelites were helped by God (Josh.
10:8-11).
-While pursuing the retreating armies, Joshua asked God for more time.
-Josh. 10:12-14
-NASA Scientists and The Missing Day
-VERY IMPORTANT - read or listen to this section of the lesson in its ENTIRETY.
-NASA scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center located in Greenbelt, MD were
utilizing elaborate computer programs to map out orbital patterns and positions of
various planets. They were doing so in order to make calculations necessary for
determining the proper path and positioning of satellites which they planned to launch.
-After all, they didn’t want to spend millions of dollars on a project only to have it
crash in space.
-However, while attempting to compute proper trajectories the specialized computer
system crashed. NASA technicians eventually discovered that the complex data and the
planetary positions failed to match exactly. The computers had determined that things
were off by approximately one day. Somewhere, a day was missing.
-NASA technicians and scientists were puzzled. That is, most of them were. One
scientist in particular had a theory though. One that came about due to the fact that
he had attended Bible classes as a youngster. What about Joshua’s day?
-He explained his theory to the others and showed them the account from Joshua.
-The NASA technicians plugged this information into the system and it ran...for a
while. Then, another crash occurred.
-Apparently, the data still didn’t measure up completely. Evidently, the computers had
found a discrepancy of about 23 hours and 40 minutes. The adjustments for Joshua’s
day had been too much. (However, note Joshua 10:13 - “about a whole day”)
-Yet, the NASA scientists and technicians went back to work on the problem.
Eventually, the same individual who had attended Bible classes as a youngster -
after searching in the scriptures some more - discovered the account involving
King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20).
-As a sign to King Hezekiah, God caused the sun to move back “ten steps” (ESV),
“ten degrees” (KJV) - an equivalent of 40 minutes.
-The NASA technicians plugged in this new information and the programs ran perfectly -
the numbers computed perfectly.
-Isn’t that interesting/amazing? The only problem: IT IS FALSE. It’s a HOAX.
-Just because something sounds good and attractive doesn’t mean it is true. Please,
exercise caution.
-In the end, we do a disservice to the word of God when we attempt to defend it
with something that turns out to be false.
-Falsehoods Often Sound Really Good
1. “Attend the church of your choice.” (It doesn’t matter which church you choose to
be a part of as long as you are apart of a church.)
-The scriptures speak of the church as singular - Matt. 16:18, Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4
-The scriptures reveal a specific pattern for the Lord’s church regarding worship,
doctrine, organization, authority, etc.
-We must compare the things taught and practiced to the scriptures - Col. 3:17.
2. Once saved always saved - This may sound convenient and attractive but it is false.
-The scriptures clearly teach that one can fall from grace - Gal. 5:4, Heb. 6:4-6,
Heb. 10:38, 2 Pet. 2:20, Gal. 6:1, Jas. 5:19
3. To be saved, all one has to do is believe, ask Jesus into their hearts and say the
sinner’s prayer.
-The sinner’s prayer simply isn’t found in the scriptures.
-This ignores plain teaching regarding baptism: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 22:16;
Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-29, 1 Pet. 3:21
4. God accepts all kinds of lifestyles. So, therefore, regardless of one’s lifestyle choices,
he/she can remain in those and be acceptable to God.
-Such teaching clearly ignores the requirements of repentance - Acts 17:30, 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
5. Marriage should be redefined so that all people can enjoy a relationship founded upon
love.
-The scriptures clearly define marriage as a union between man and woman - Gen.
2:24, Eph. 5:31. And, homosexuality is clearly condemned in the scriptures - Sodom &
Gomorrah, Rom. 1:26-27, 1 Cor. 6:9
6. Regarding the family, psychologists and psychiatrists now say that discipline has a
negative effect on children. Rather than discipline, positive reinforcements should be
used.
-This stands in clear contradiction to the scriptures - Prov. 13:24, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15
-I’m certainly not advocating abuse. However, the scriptures are clear on discipline.
-With such lack of discipline in society, is there any wonder why we have a society that
resists restraints, has become more selfish, struggles with self-control and certainly
doesn’t like being told, “That’s wrong”?
7. God loves everybody so much that nobody will be condemned.
-Matt. 7:13, 21-24
-The truth is not always the most pleasant message. It isn’t always convenient. It’s not
always attractive to those who hear it. Yet, the truth is the only avenue by which we can
have our sins forgiven and can live in the hope of everlasting life - John 17:17, John 8:31-32
-Let’s be careful how we handle the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). Let’s respond to it, live
within it and properly defend it.
-What about you? Have you responded to the truth? Are you abiding in it?