Logic

“He who built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4)

One of our greatest God-given blessings is the ability to look at things “logically,” but it’s also one of our greatest weaknesses.  “Logic” is the basis of many decisions made by individuals and groups.  If someone has an idea, others will examine it on the basis of “logic.”  If it is logical, it may well be adopted as a business strategy or a new direction for a nation.  If not, it will likely be dropped as an idea.  But the starting point of our logic must be true.  The foundation must be sound in order for the building to stand.

New York’s Miner Institute produced these “Safety Facts”:

• Almost 99.9% of people who die from cancer and heart disease have eaten carrots.
• Nearly all sick people have eaten carrots. Obviously, the effects are cumulative.
• Most people involved in car crashes ate carrots within 60 days of their accidents.
• 93.1% of juvenile delinquents come from homes where carrots have been eaten.
• Among those born in the 19^th century or earlier who ate carrots, there has been essentially a 100% mortality rate.

You can see where this is going.  If all or most of the preceding statements are true, then you will conclude that eating carrots is dangerous to your health!  It’s true that all people who eat carrots will eventually die, but it is not true that eating carrots is a leading cause of death and other world problems.

The idea of “logic” involves a premise, a starting point.  Lewis Carroll, the author of “Alice in Wonderland,” wrote in his unique style: “‘Contrariwise,’ continued Tweedledee, ‘if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t – That’s logic.’”  We would agree that the preceding statement, which pretends to be logical, is actually not.  It’s “circular reasoning” – A statement that pretends to define logic, but actually doesn’t.

A “premise” is an idea about something we have seen.  If the premise isn’t true, it will throw off the logic of our conclusions.  Here’s one I read which leads logically to a TRUE conclusion, but the foundation (premise) for that conclusion is false:

All fish DON’T live in the ocean, but that’s not the point.  Sea otters are NOT fish (they’re mammals), but that’s not the point either.  The point is that NEITHER premise tells us why sea otters live in the ocean.  Much logic is like that – Many words, but no truth.

This is the logic of many philosophers and theologians –

The first premise is false because it assumes sickness is always “bad.”  God sees that our real need is not health or good fortune – We need FAITH in Him, even when things look bad.  If had everything we wanted, we would not need faith.  Jesus prayed that “this cup” would pass from Him and the Father denied His request (Matthew 26:39).  Paul asked for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed and he got a “No,” also, with this interesting addition: “power (strength) is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 7-9).  Our strength, our health will fade.  We need the Lord, for He will give us HIS strength, which will never end.

The word “logic” comes from the Greek “logos,” apparently coined by Heracletus in the 6^th Century, BC, and used by many later philosophers, such as Aristotle.  It can be summed up like this: “Logos” is the Reality behind something that can be perceived or seen.  Plato said, “The whole universe is a reflection of the Invisible” that is behind it.  Paul the Apostle said that Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

That’s why the Holy Spirit so carefully whispered into the heart of John the Apostle to speak of Jesus Christ by the Greek phrase “Logos” – Which in many English Bibles is translated as “the Word” of God (John 1:1 and forward).  The more we look through microscopes and telescopes, the more complex it all becomes.  It seems there is no end to the complexity of this universe, whether in sub-atomic structures or the interstellar vastness of untold galaxies.

All this literally SHOUTS that “A Creator has done this!”  And that Creator is Jesus Christ.  In Hebrews 1:10, the author quotes Psalm 102:25-27, saying of Jesus, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.”  In Psalm 102:24, the Creator is called “God.”  The direct context in Hebrews 1 about the person of Jesus Christ continues for more than a chapter, identifying Him as the Creator of all things and leading to the statement in Hebrews 3:4 – “He who built all things is God.”

John who wrote the Book of John, saw the Risen Christ, heard Him and even touched Him after He was raised from the dead (1^st John 1:1), said of Jesus, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).  There were over 500 witnesses at once that saw Jesus back from the dead (1^st Corinthians 15:6), and Scripture says of Him, “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Here’s something for your consideration:

If you are a person of logic, you will trust in the Lord.

Lord Jesus, I see this in Your Word and in Your creation: You are my Creator, my God, and You came and died – for me!  I receive You, Lord.  I trust in You now.  You are mine, Lord, and I am Yours.  I praise Your Holy Name and thank You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.FridayStudy.org
www.FirstChurchontheNet.org

E-mail: Ron@FridayStudy.org
Tel: (562) 688-5559
PO Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)