Boyce Mouton
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Letters From Grandpa #16

Boyce Mouton · 3 pages · 1,345 words

  • LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
  • 16

Dearest Grandchild,

Just read an article in a scientific magazine on “dark matter”. I had never even heard of it before. Nobody has ever seen this “dark matter”, but scientists “believe” it constitutes 84.5% of the total matter in the universe. The reason for this “hypothesis” involves gravitational effects that “appear” to be the result of an invisible mass. Jan Oort first “postulated dark matter” in 1932 to account for the orbital velocity of stars in the milky way. Since that time, brilliant men have spent multiplied millions of dollars searching for this elusive source of energy. In the 1980s, scientists from the University of Minnesota began to develop the Soudan Mine as a laboratory to search for “dark matter”. By constructing the lab at the bottom of the mine, scientists use the nearly half-mile depth as a shield to filter out cosmic rays. Without these rays, scientists can conduct sensitive experiments they are unable to do above ground. Three potential signatures of exotic “dark matter” particles have been found hidden in the readings from this underground lab in Minnesota . These are merely clues, however, not a discovery. Physicist Rupak Mahapatra cautions that this is just the beginning and nobody should come away thinking we have discovered “dark matter”.

The purpose of this letter is to encourage you to seek for Light more than “dark matter”. God is Light and He is the ultimate source of energy. The main reason man exists is to fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13). By contrast with knowing God, everything else pales into insignificance.

Searching for sources of energy is nothing new. It has been a major concern of man throughout all history. First, we discovered the lever. Then we trained oxen and horses. Then we developed the water wheel and the sail. In 1781 James Watt patented the steam engine, Karl Benz patented a gasoline engine in 1879, and Rudolf Diesel patented the diesel engine in 1898. Today we have even harnessed nuclear energy. The word “science”, as you know, comes from the Latin "scientia," which means “knowledge”. .I salute scientists for their tireless search for knowledge. Their research is commendable. The ultimate source of energy, as we have already said, is God. Discovering “dark matter” is not nearly as great as discovering the Light of God. God not only created the universe but it is His incredible power that holds it together (Col. 1:17). Someday we will all appear before Him in Judgement. Paul had a proper priority when he wrote: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10). The power of God is able to accomplish “Immeasurably more than we can ask of imagine” (Eph. 3:20).

THE ATHENIANS ALSO SEARCHED FOR KNOWLEDGE

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has been continuously inhabited for 7,000 years. It derives it’s name from Athena, the goddess of wisdom. It was an intellectual center where scholars gathered to hear and talk about the latest ideas (Acts 17:21). There was in Athens an altar to an “Unknown god”. The origin of this altar dates back to 600 B.C. It seems there was a plague

in Athens, and none of their many gods were able to stop that plague. Then a prophet named Epimenides reasoned that there must be a more powerful god. At this point they confessed their ignorance and prayed to this “Unknown God” for help. Immediately, the plague stopped! For 600 years the identity of this Unknown God had remained a mystery. Paul, however, boldly identified that all powerful God Whom they did not know, as Jehovah. (As a point of interest, it is believed that the prophet Epimenides is quoted in the Bible in Titus 1:12)

Paul’s message to these philosophers can be summarized in 10 points. (See Acts 17:22 - 34)

  • 1 - Paul would tell them about this all powerful God whom they did not know (v. 23).
  • 2 - This God does not dwell in temples built by hands (v. 24).
  • 3 - He does not need our help to survive but we need Him (v. 25).
  • 4 - He made from one man every nation in the whole earth (v. 26).
  • 5 - He determined when and where each of us would be born and live (v. 26).
  • 6 - He did this so that men would reach out and find Him, though He is near to us all (v. 27).
  • 7 - We could not exist without Him for in Him we live, and move, and have out being (v. 28).
  • 8 - Since God made us, we should not think that we can make Him (v. 29).
  • 9 - God once overlooked our sins, but now commands all men to repent (v. 30).
  • 10 - God will someday summon us to Judgement before Jesus Christ, and has proven His power to do this by raising Jesus Chris from the dead (v. 31).

There were 3 responses to this message:

  • 1 - Some of them sneered (v. 32).
  • 2 - Some wanted to hear more information on this subject (v. 32).
  • 3 - A few became followers of Paul and believed (v. 33).
  • Obviously, Grandpa wants all of you to be in group
  • 3!

ALL TRUTHS ARE EQUALLY TRUE, BUT NOT EQUALLY IMPORTANT!

The Athenians spent their time searching for some new thing. All new things, of course, are not important, that’s why it is important to prioritize truth. Prioritizing truth is a key to success in every area of life. As you search for priorities, please consider these simple examples.

#

  • Fact
  • 1 you discover a new video game. Fact
  • 2 you discover a cure for cancer.
  • Fact
  • 1 you discover a new way to school. Fact
  • 2 you discover the way to heaven.
  • Fact
  • 1 you fell asleep on the couch. Fact
  • 2 you fell asleep while driving a car.

While all truths are equally true, not all truths are equally important.

#

As we have said, prioritizing truth will help you in every area of life!

Over 100 years ago, Charles Schwab was president of Bethlehem Steel. He wanted to increase the efficiency of his company and called in a consultant named Ivy Lee. Mr. Lee asked to

speak to each executive for 15 minutes and promised not to charge anything if his advice didn’t work. He suggested that after 3 months Mr. Schwab review their records and pay him whatever he thought his advice was worth. The efficiency of the company had increased so much in 3 months that Mr. Lee was sent a check for $25,000. In those days, this was a fortune.

The essence of his advice boiled down to only 8 words. “Do things in the order of their importance”. Each executive was to make a list of things that needed to be done, and then do those things in the order of their importance. How simple! How profound!

  • MAKE GOD THE
  • 1 PRIORITY OF YOUR LIFE

One of the most memorable weddings I performed was at the Fairview Church over 40 years ago. The groom was in a wheel chair. He had been a star basketball player in high school, but got drunk on graduation night and broke his neck in a car wreck. Now he is paralyzed, and probably will never walk again.

God tells us not to get drunk, and this is just one reason why. Do you see this principle? God loves you, and only wants what is best for you. When you put God first in your life you will always find joy and fulfillment. That’s why it is more important to seek for God, than for “dark matter”.

Remember this promise from God: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13)

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce