Cornerstone

Romans 1:18-2:16

In the comic strip, “Wizard of Id,” everyone knows that the king is very sensitive about the fact that he is short. It is important for the subjects of the kingdom to carefully avoid the subject of his stature. If the king can interpret any remark about his shortness as an insult dire consequences are sure to follow. Sir Rodney, the cowardly knight with the huge nose is not known for his quick wit. On this occasion he greets the king by asking, “How’s the shrimp?” He immediately realizes the folly of his ways. He breaks out in a sweat as he stammers and stutters, “I mean, how are the crustaceans?” It is too late.

Rodney is next seen suspended in irons from the wall of the dungeon. There is one in the kingdom, however, who does not fear the short temper of the King of Id. The Lone Haranguer gallops through the nighttimes streets of Id to cry out, The king is a fink!” This infuriates the short tempered king even more than his “shortcomings.”

The Lone Haranguer makes the king angry on purpose.

An angry sovereign who cannot punish those who defy him cannot command the respect of his subjects. The citizens of Id, who despise their runty ruler, view the impudent Lone Haranguer as a knight in shining armor who has championed their cause.

The King of Id is a sham sovereign of a worthless realm. But God, the sovereign King of the universe, is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. To make Him angry accidentally would be dreadful. To make Him angry on purpose would be sheer folly. And yet people do it every day by sinning against His righteous, holy character and law.

How do you make God mad? It´s easy

1. Degrade God. To consider Him as one who is less than majestic, holy and terrible.

2. Disapprove of morality. God is infuriated when people call the good, evil and the evil, good. To God all things are NOT relative.

3. Denigrate His expectations. God is holy and expects His people to be holy. To make excuse or give vain justification for a lesser standard doesn’t alter the Divine expectation.

4. Disregard judgment. God´s standard of judgment is based on truth, our behavior and His own absolute impartiality. When we make light of current or coming judgment we sneer in the face of the Almighty.

When God gets mad the mountains shudder, the wind holds its breath and demons fall to their knees in terror. It is only sinful humanity that doesn´t seem to notice.

Dr. Gayle Woods

1 Cor 1:1-20

Luke stated Acts 1:3 that the risen Lord “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” KJV

A student at the University of Uruguay one day asked Josh McDowell, author of “Evidence for the Resurrection”, “Professor McDowell, why can’t you refute Christianity?” “For a very simple reason,” I answered. “I am not able to explain away an event in history–the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” He states, “After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of human beings–or it is the most remarkable fact of history.” There are many infallible proofs that will convince any person of faith but probably the final evidence that we all must embrace is discussed in the following poem:

He Is Risen!
How do I know that Christ is risen?

What proof have I to give?

He touched my life one blessed day

And I began to live.

How do I know He left the tomb

That morning long ago?

I met Him just this morning

And my heart is still aglow.

How do I know that endless life

He gained for me that day?

His life within is proof enough

Of immortality.

How do I know that Christ still lives

Rich blessings to impart?

He walks with me along the way

And lives within my heart.

–Author Unknown

Dr. Gayle Woods