Defending the Faith

 I found a park on the Catawba with a parking lot close enough that I could launch my kayak there. It was further upriver than my now (sadly!) closed marina launch site, so I was able to explore new sections of the river I couldn't reach before. Funny how often closed doors lead to new hallways.

So much lies heavy on my heart lately, but it usually recedes while I kayak. I become caught up in the exertion, and in the beauty of God's creation. On this excursion, I passed under an old railroad bridge, and then turned into a side tributary, that meandered by a lovely little park, and secluded homes. It was very quiet, and shaded from the hot sun by trees overlapping the narrow creek. For two hours, my mind was devoid of any real thoughts except what a beautiful world God created, and how calming the sound of the kayak was, skimming through the water.

When I returned home, I read a Facebook post by someone in a group where I had posted my blog. He was aching to argue about the truth of the Bible. I tend to avoid those discussions. They rarely lead anywhere good.

CS Lewis said "A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell."  Yet over and over again, I encounter people scribbling 'darkness' on the walls of their cells.

This time, I engaged. I researched, and wrote my defense of what I believe to be true till bedtime. One day, truth will be revealed, faith will be sight, and we will be called to account for how many opportunities we squandered to change darkness to light. Lord, help us to be faithful and bold.
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1 Peter 3:15 

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

2 Corinthians 10:5 

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2 Timothy 4:1-22 

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ...

Titus 1:9 

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.