Appaloopy!

Mom and Dad were visiting my youngest brother and his family.  That night, Shannon (my sister-in law)  was in the living room with Dad and Mom.  I think the two girls were in their bedroom and John and Will were in another part of the house. 

John sent Will to ask Shannon if he should go ahead and give Will his bath.  (He was just a little tike at the time.)  Shannon said “Absolutely!”  Will goes back to my brother.  The next thing they hear in the living room is John calling “Hey, Shannon - what does appaloopy mean?”    

To say there are no absolutes would be to deny things we know to be true.  Numbers never change.  Our multiplication tables will always be the same.  A goldfish will die when it is taken out of the water.  We cannot deny that either.

Christians believe God is the one True and Living God.  Christ is the Son of God.  The Bible is the absolute authority for  Christians.  The Holy Spirit of God gave us the Bible.  In 1 Peter 1:21 we read  “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 

 There are some absolutes which contain God’s promises.  These give us a deep and abiding hope.  They are what we hold on to.  Other absolutes are scary.  When we read them, we should heed them as warnings.  

 Luke 12:8-9 contains  both types of absolutes.  “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.  But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” 

 “Whoever” confesses Christ before others is the absolute which gives us hope.  They will be confessed before the angels of God.  The verse says “whoever” - which means anyone who does this will receive this blessing.  

 The negative absolute is that “he who” denies Christ will be denied by Christ.  It should serve as a warning.  This absolute is also all inclusive.  It involves anyone who denies the Savior. 

 Here are a few more absolute truths.  Things we can hang our hat on.                                    Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:16

 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8

 One more lovely verse – full of promise:  “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”  John 8:51

 Christ above all things – Robin