“And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Luke 19:39-40
In this powerful verse passage the Lord uses hyperbole, conscious exaggeration in order to make an important point. In this case, the Lord would have us to know that He is worthy of praise and honor, and if His human image-bearers will not offer it, other things in the created order will. Over the last two centuries academicians in the western world have largely turned their backs on God. The message of the cross is foolishness to them (1 Corinthians 1:18-24). Walking according to their own lusts, these people deny—and teach others to deny—the biblical doctrines of the creation, the flood, and the return of Christ in glory (2 Peter 3:3-7). Interestingly, the more geologists, paleontologists, and archaeologists prod into the earth, the more evidence confirming the biblical record comes to light. In the areas of geology and paleontology we see vast sedimentary layers of rock, once laid down by water, stretching across continents. The layers themselves, most often without the expected chemical or erosional features between them, appear to have been laid down quickly. The fossils they contain also show signs of having been buried quickly in a large-scale aquatic catastrophe. If this weren’t enough, scientists were stunned to discover dinosaur fossils (supposedly 68 million years old or more) to still contain soft tissues, blood vessels, red blood cells and even DNA. Given the secular view of earth history, these substances should have vanished millions of years ago. Their discovery effectively undercuts the evolution story as much as it confirms the biblical account. Archaeologists continue to make astounding discoveries as well. Every year their spades unearth ancient ruins and artifacts that confirm the biblical record. For certain, as man ceases to give our Lord the honor due Him, the very rocks of the earth are crying out. Let us remember that as born-again believers in Christ, we constitute a New Covenant Priesthood and a holy habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). “Ye also, as lively stones,” wrote Peter, “are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). We are also called to “shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). As living stones in God’s service, may we never be intimidated or discouraged into silence. Despite whatever trials and opposition we may encounter, may we never cease to praise the God who loved us first (1 John 4:19).
God bless,
Pastor John
English