Generally speaking, scientists are smart folk ... generally...
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"Not So Smart"
July 18, 2017
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
~ Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV)
Generally speaking, scientists are smart folk ... generally speaking. Of course, scientists are also human and that means they are sinners and they make the occasional mistake.
As proof of that, I place before you the 100 scientists who gathered in Nevada in 2014. The job placed before them was a safe nuclear pulse experiment, using a machine called Godiva.
Wait. Change the second line of that text and make it read "a supposedly safe nuclear pulse experiment." The change is necessary because, when the Godiva machine was rebuilt in 2012, someone forgot to install a protective cover. Without that cover, bad things began to happen.
Bad thing 1: Without the protective cover, every time the Godiva machine went on radiation alarms began to sound.
Bad thing 2: Finding the radiation alarms to be a nuisance, the scientists shut them off.
Bad thing 3: Shutting off the radiation alarms shut down the ventilation systems and the air filters, which meant ...
Bad thing 4: those scientists breathed in radioactive air, and they didn't know anything was wrong.
Indeed, they didn't find out until months later.
Now here's the point of all this: the scientists would have been all right if they had just listened to those alarms -- if they had only remembered those alarms had been put there to save lives.
But they didn't listen and they didn't remember and no one knows how that will affect their futures.
My friends, anyone who reads Scripture for any length of time will quickly realize the Lord has given humanity some warnings and alarms. This He has done because -- as our Creator -- He knows what is best for us. His alarms, all given by a caring and gracious Lord, tell us what to do and what to avoid if we are to live lives that are pleasing to Him, beneficial to us, and an encouragement to those whom we meet.
The great difficulty with all of the above is that many people decide they don't want to hear the Lord's alarms; they don't want to have their plans subordinate to His. As a result, they turn off those alarms. They set up their own parameters where there is no church, no Bible, no discussion on religion, no room to hear of the Savior. There is only their will and their way and neither of those will take them to heaven.
Far better for them to repent, be turned, and see how the Lord loves us in His Laws, and how He loves us in His Son, whose sacrifice has won our forgiveness.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, how foolish is mankind when we feel we are smarter, wiser, and able to control our destinies. Grant us a dose of humility that acknowledges Your care, compassion, and our Savior, in whom there is forgiveness. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
No comments:
Post a Comment