By Dennis Petersen

As I’ve studied Scripture for many years, I keep discovering truths that become very apparent the Devil hopes you don’t discover… and this especially applies to the book of Genesis.

Psalm 78 gives us a divine prescription for a lasting legacy of Godly descendants. It says: “We will not conceal from our children… (God’s instructions that our fathers have told us) …but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.” Ps 78:4.

And what’s the result? It goes on…

“That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments…” Ps 78:6, 7.

What is the Legacy you’ll leave to your next generation?  Is it a legacy built on the foundation of truth?

• A legacy of Godly Character?
• A legacy of truthful learning?
• A legacy of divine health?
• A legacy of providential prosperity?
• A legacy of Wisdom’s influence?

This is truly the mission of Reclaiming Your Legacy – Equipping overcomers for a legacy built on the foundation of Truth.

Does your Legacy include an insistence to “prove all things” and hold fast to what is true?

Are you willing to challenge others to resist the temptation to be offended by the truth? 

Psalm 119 tells us that… “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them – or cause them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Exodus 20:11 “…For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

John’s Gospel starts out…  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”  John 1:1-3

Does it matter what you believe about origins?  The devil hopes you don’t think so.  Maybe you’ve heard people say…  “It doesn’t matter what you believe about Genesis.” “Beliefs about origins are not really important to my life.”

What do you suppose is the Number One Thing that causes God’s own children to suffer unnecessary losses, frustrations and destructions in their lives?

Remember What Jesus said about why He came?

The enemy disturbs people’s lives for a reason, why? 

It’s … “to steal, kill and destroy.”

Jesus came to give his children what?

“…that you may have life and life more abundantly.”  John 10:10

Abundant Life? Would you say that deception and destruction should be a part of that?

Notice what the prophet Hosea says about the one thing that affects God’s people destructively. 

“My people are destroyed for a lack of… what? … Knowledge!  Hosea 4:6

So, who do you think is the one who wants you to stay dense (stupid)? … in other words, do you think you should just remain ignorant about what God and true open investigation have to say about any fundamental knowledge like the topic of origins, creation and evolution?

How high of a Priority do you put on Truth? Where do you find the truth?

Remember what Jesus said? “…for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37

And what was the sarcastic comment of the one man to whom Jesus spoke these words?

Remember what the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate said?

“What is truth?”  John 18:38

So why are so many people so mixed up about the truth?

Paul’s letter to believers in Rome said: “They did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” Romans 1:28

Do you think that’s why many people say… we don’t talk about religion and politics around here? They don’t want to think about God and what He has to say about the vital issues of society that everybody’s talking about.

Paul also wrote “Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Think how that explains why so many people are so confused and living in fear.

It starts with the Naturalistic Theories of Origins  … you know… the concept that nature just produced itself by natural processes that nobody has ever seen… that’s the belief called Evolutionism

Evolutionism …Is the most destructive deception that the devil has used to con men into thinking that there is no Creator God who could possibly create the entire universe by His spoken word.

Listen to what an honest biologist, Michael Denton, candidly admitted in his book, Evolution: Theory in Crisis. “It was because Darwinian theory broke man’s link with God and set him adrift in a cosmos without purpose or end that its impact was so fundamental. No other intellectual revolution in modern times… so profoundly affected the way men viewed themselves and their place in the universe.” Michael Denton, Biologist, ‘Evolution: Theory in Crisis‘

And you can absolutely know that the Devil definitely does NOT want you to discover that!

Chuck Colson, in his book, How Now Shall We Live? Wrote: “Christians need to learn to argue persuasively against naturalism… (because) …it is pressed on our children’s imaginations long before they can think rationally and critically.  It is presented everywhere as the only worldview supported by science.  And it is diametrically opposed to Christianity.” 

So… do you think it’s important what Jesus had to say about the words of Moses and the Prophets who wrote the Old Testament books beginning with Genesis?

Gospel writer, Luke, wrote that Jesus said, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead.”  Luke 16:31

What’s the first book Moses wrote? Genesis!  What’s the biggest prophecy book from an Old Testament prophet?  Isaiah!  Both proclaimed the reality of divine miraculous creation, loud and clear.

Why have so many students today been programmed to think that informed “real” modern scientists must believe in evolution?

Dr. Wernher Von Braun was the leading founder of the modern space exploration program called NASA. He was certainly a highly respected scientist of our modern technological age, wasn’t he? He wrote in an article about beliefs on origins…

“One cannot be exposed to the law and order of the universe without concluding that there must be design and purpose behind it all… The better we understand the intricacies of the universe and all it harbors, the more reason we have found to marvel at the inherent design upon which it is based…

He went on to say… “To be forced to believe only one conclusion–that everything in the universe happened by chance–would violate the very objectivity of science itself… What random process could produce the brains of a man or the system of the human eye? …They (evolutionists) challenge science to prove the existence of God. But must we really light a candle to see the sun? They say they cannot visualize a Designer. Well, can a physicist visualize an electron? What strange rationale makes some physicists accept the inconceivable electron as real while refusing to accept the reality of a Designer on the ground that they cannot conceive Him?

Now watch this…

Astrophysicist, VonBraun, openly stated “…It is in scientific honesty that I endorse the presentation of alternative theories for the origin of the universe, life and man in the science classroom. It would be an error to overlook the possibility that the universe was planned rather than happening by chance.”  Dr. Werner vonBraun

If there’s anything that the Devil does NOT want students in public classrooms to discover… it’s that!

Hearing those words reminds us of Paul’s words in Ephesians: “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the pagan gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.  Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. Eph 4:17-18

It’s wise to remember that evidence does not convince the heart of one’s need to repent and receive God’s gift of eternal life.  I discovered a number of scripture passages that importantly show us that evidence is more for affirming one’s faith than for proving the existence of God or the truth of His word.

The work of persuasion by the Holy Spirit is the unique power that advances the Gospel in the world.

Paul says: “my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” 1 Corinthians 2:4–5.

Remember that it’s “The Spirit Himself who bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”  Romans 8:16

The Holy Spirit gives us the witness of our faith.  It is the gift of God as expressed in Ephesians 2:8 and the seal of our assurance as written in Ephesians 1:13–14.

Many high-minded intellectuals in today’s world agree with one science writer who declared…

“We take the side of science (he meant evolutionism) in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs… because we have a prior commitment… to materialism. 

Did you hear that?  They’d rather believe the absurd because of their dogmatic commitment to the god of the religion of ‘materialism.’ He went on to say…

“It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world…”

Why then do they accept such irrationality?  Here’s what he said…

“…we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes… no matter how counterintuitive, how mystifying to the uninitiated.  Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine foot in the door.”  Richard Lewontin, “Billions and Billions of Demons”, The New York Review 1997.

Now there’s a bombshell admission that the Devil definitely does NOT want you to discover!

When we get down to it, evolutionism’s Primary Pipe Dream is all about What Time and Chance Can Not Produce

Evolutionism insists on a lot of Time.  Does 4½ billion years sound sufficient?  Without the inconceivable “eons” of deep time, evolutionism, in any form, hasn’t got a chance!

Ideas that are ridiculous become acceptable… and that’s the CORE BELIEF in the GREATEST LIE EVER TOLD…

“Given enough time, just about anything can happen!” Here’s how evolutionist professors say it…

“Time is in fact the hero of the plot. …Given so much time, the ‘impossible’ becomes possible, the possible probable, and the probable virtually certain.   One has only to wait: time itself performs the miracles.”  That’s what the late George Wald, professor of biology at Harvard University, emphatically insisted to his gullible students.

“…time itself performs the miracles” – Seriously? Did we just hear what amounts to a complete disqualification of their ability to use common sense?

Does Evidence Demand Evolutionary Time Existed? 

When a series of ‘improbable’ events must occur in sequence at very specific times, the ‘improbable’ becomes impossible. Think of a biological sequence that must be complete to function right from the start (e.g. digestion, immune response, visual system, photosynthesis, sexual reproduction system, birth). Everything you can think of in living systems have extraordinary specific sequences that must occur from the very beginning of their existence.

A solar astronomer at the High-Altitude observatory at Boulder, Colorado, John A. Eddy, said:

“There is no evidence based solely on solar observation, that the Sun is 4.5 billion years old. … I suspect that we could live with Bishop Ussher’s value for the age of the earth and Sun.  I don’t think we have much in the way of observational evidence in astronomy to conflict with that.”

Think of what really happens as time marches on.

Orderly things become disordered.

• New things get old and break down.
• Living things age and wear out.

That’s called entropy. Everything in our universe is running down!

Have you heard about the 21^st century discovery of Genetic Entropy? Geneticist, Dr John Sanford, inventor of the ‘gene gun’ discovered the fact that genes suffer micro mutations over generations, leading to eventual infertility of a specie. John Sanford is a follower of Christ and a believer of biblical scientific creation.

But evolutionists believe that Random Chance Produces Complexity 

Because of the rejection of a supernatural intelligent designer, the implication of thinking randomness rules reality… is that there really isn’t any order in anything because everything is just the result of random (accidental) CHANCE!

Think about it!   Is it possible for the precise organization of physical parts in living systems to come into existence by mere chance?

What does it take to produce complex biological systems?

Humans have some 100,000 different proteins …  Most proteins are made of hundreds of amino acid molecules.  Every amino acid must have at least one activating enzyme.

It takes intelligence… Yet, this kind of magic trick had to happen trillions of times over to produce all the systems of life on earth by chance.

Let’s face it… If You Believe In Design by Chance …It’s Not Because of the Evidence

Where is that verse about “all we like sheep have gone astray…?” Isa 53:6  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Think about the Living Cell.

From the tiny sperm cell to the giant ovum cell… a diagram can’t begin to show how every cell is extraordinary and complex beyond our grasp.

If you could gather the genetic coding for every human on earth from his father’s side alone, it would only take up the space of less than half the size of an aspirin tablet!  Talk about microchip intricacy.

Diagrams of living cells can only begin to show the extreme complexity they contain.  It’s been freely admitted that… the cell is more complex, more intricate and more connected than a large city.  Think of it… with all the systems and jobs being done constantly in a city… a cell is more complex. It’s not unbelievable… It’s downright awesome… virtually shouting at us of the praiseworthy supernatural works of Almighty God.

What do genes do?  

Genes determine all inherited traits. They direct all growth processes. They program all structural details for every organ and system in the body. The Real Surprise is that every cell in your entire body contains… all the genetic coding for all the other cells of your body!

Dr. Michael Denton, a microbiologist reported that “The complexity of the simplest known type of cell is so great that it is impossible to accept that such an object could have been thrown together suddenly by some kind of freakish, vastly improbable event.  Such an occurrence would be indistinguishable from a miracle.”

And the Devil definitely does NOT want you to discover that!

How did Paul approach pagans with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

In Athens, Greece, the center of intellectual humanism and diverse pagan religions, Paul is reported by Dr Luke in the book of Acts, to have proclaimed in the public forum there… “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things…”  Act 17:25  Going on, Paul said…

“…and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

Let that sink in.

Can an atheist understand the battle better than most Christians? Note what one atheist wrote:

“Christianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary.

“Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god. Take away the meaning of his death.

“If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing.

“Christianity, if it is to survive, must have Adam and the original sin and the fall from grace, or it cannot have Jesus the redeemer who restores to those who believe what Adam’s disobedience took away.

“What all this means is that Christianity cannot lose the Genesis account of creation like it could lose the doctrine of geocentricism and get along.

“The battle must be waged, for Christianity is fighting for it’s very life.” 
Bozarth, G. Richard. “The Meaning of Evolution,” American Atheist, February 1978, Page 30.

What if your local public school allowed you to read that quote in high school science classrooms?  It’s a sure thing that the Devil does NOT want any of those students there to discover that!

No wonder that one of the most well-known Christian reformers of history had such a strong opinion about where the Christian parent should send his children to be educated.

Martin Luther said “I am afraid that the universities and schools will prove to be the gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the hearts of youth.  I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount.” 

Now that you’ve seen a few things that would naturally cause the enemy of your soul to have you avoid… what are you going to do about it?

May I suggest that you really meditate on God’s word when you read Psalm 78:1-8 ?

“We will not conceal them from our children. But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

…that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children… – – – for what reason? – – –

“That they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”  Psalm 78:4, 6 & 7

Do you suppose that we should all take Psalm 145:4 more seriously?

“One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

“The LORD said to his people: You are standing at the crossroads. So, consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

May I recommend something to you today?  If the Holy Spirit has brought a person to your mind while you’ve been hearing me talk about these things that the Devil hopes people don’t discover… why not send them the link to this Reclaiming Your Legacy show on our website? Send them a text note and ask them to listen and read the script from the web page where it’s posted. Ask them to write down any questions about anything you’ve heard me say here.  Then tell them to send those questions to you so you can forward them to me.  You can do that right on the bottom of the webpage for today’s episode. When you do, I’ll do my best to email you a straightforward answer and maybe a link to more information that can help them find solutions to their honest questions. 

The link is www.REclaimYourLegacy.com . Search at the top of the page for the name of the show… Will you leave a legacy… 

And if you’d like to help me get the PowerPoint of this message posted on YouTube, I invite you to pray and ask the Lord to use whomever He chooses to help me with the financial and technical resources needed to get that job done. As we broadcast this kind of information, the Lord is amazing at sovereignly guiding people all over the place to hear it. And just like it was in my own life, and even yours perhaps, the Lord is good at guiding His children step-by-step to discover all the pieces of the puzzle that eventually brings us all to the increasing revelation of His awesome works for His glory.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”  Phil 1:6, 9, 10, 11