To hedge a bet means to wager on different outco
mes of the same event so that, no matter what, some sort of return will be guaranteed. An example of this is when individuals or groups contribute to candidates in both political parties during an election. A close cousin of this in the investing world is called diversification. Common wisdom is to spread investments into a wide variety of options so that, if one gives a poor return, others will do better. The opposite of this, in country jargon, is called putting all our eggs in one basket. Drop that one basket and all is lost.
When it comes to the kingdom of God, however, diversification and hedging bets is a dishonest strategy.
Jesus advised us to go “all in” for him, putting all our eggs in his basket, so to speak. He gave us an example of a man who sold everything he had to acquire one pearl of great price, meaning we should trade everything for him. The apostle Paul relinquished all that previously had been important to pursue Christ.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7–11 (NKJV)
Our devotion to Christ is tested in all sorts of ways during our lifetimes. A big test is connected to our desire for recognition and approval.
Almost everyone desires to be held in esteem by others and to be shown respect.
Paul’s decision to follow Christ without reservation devastated his worldly ambitions and desire for esteem among his countrymen. He had to count what he previously treasured as so much trash. He lost his reputation, wealth, and place among the rising stars of Judaism. In exchange, however, he gained the approbation of God. To be sure, he came out ahead in the long run, but at great short term personal cost.
Jesus warned us that, if we value the praise of men more than God’s approval, it will hinder our pursuit of God’s kingdom.
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? John 5:44 (NKJV)
The desire to gain or maintain approval from others can be a great hindrance even for those who have been born again.
The desire to be thought well of by others can motivate us to keep silent regarding our allegiance to Christ.
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42–43 (NKJV)
During the COVID scare, Mattias Desmet wrote some insightful articles on the importance of speaking out against tyranny. I did my best to share what I thought to be the truth about the mRNA jab, etc. from a biblical perspective, which brought some criticism my way. After my retirement from pastoring about three years ago, the Holy Spirit had some surprises for me. As a result of what I believe God has shown me about two very controversial topics – biblical cosmology vs heliocentrism and Dispensationalism vs. the New Covenant, I have learned even more about the necessity of and challenges connected with making a stand for the truth of God’s Word.
Jesus and the truth always spark controversy because people generally love lies and the comfort they bring more than we love God’s challenging truth.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:19–20 (NKJV)
When I grasped that heliocentrism and the globe earth are satanic lies and made known my belief that Genesis Chapter One is the literal truth regarding the heavens and earth and not mere poetic disinformation, I ran into a buzz saw of human disapproval. For the first time in my “career” as a teacher of God’s Word, I was told that I do not know how to properly interpret the Bible. Other Christians, who profess to believe the Bible is 100% true, claimed that I am “crazy,” “deceived,” “ignorant,” and foolishly throwing away my ministry. After all, who would be stupid enough to invite me to teach in their church now? To be fair, a minority believed what I wrote, and I have discovered a entirely new set of friends who have also seen the truth. Hallelujah! For the most part, however, I sadly report that I heard the voice of the serpent coming through some of my family, friends, and acquaintances, when they said that God did not mean what he said in Genesis.
Almost unbelievably, other Christians attempted to make me feel foolish for upholding God’s Word!
At first I was taken aback. I imagined that my years of teaching the Bible would count for something, but not in this case.
I crossed the line by agreeing with the Reformers and daring to say that God’s Word trumps much of the accumulated scientific “truth” of the past 500 years. How dare I?
I have to admit, it was a little unnerving to make this stand at first. I could not and cannot answer every question put to me, but neither can heliocentrists. It is not easy to break lose from a lifetime of brainwashing.
There are plenty of good empirical arguments for the biblical version of the earth and heavens, but I soon realized that, for the Christian, it boils down to one simple issue: do we believe God and his Word or not?
It has become apparent to me that most Christians I know choose to hedge their bets when it comes to Genesis.
We choose to be in the “God camp” when it comes to biological creation, but we remain in the “world’s camp” when in comes to cosmology. The world winks at us when we claim that Adam and Eve were real people while maintaining that the six days of creation are poetry not meant to be taken literally. The devil knows that those two beliefs are incompatible. They both cannot be true.
Either we take the six days of creation literally, or we lose Adam and Eve. Once we say it is okay to dismiss one portion of the Bible, it will not be long before all is called into question.
However, if we dare to take those six days literally, we will pay the price of being mocked and scorned. If we declare that we live on a circular plane enclosed by the dome of the firmament, just as the Bible says, we will be ridiculed. Why?
Satan knows that a right understanding of the heavens testifies to God’s existence and glory.
The heavens set out in detail the glory of God. And the firmament reports the creation of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (Septuagint)
It should not surprise us that leading astrophysicists are atheists. It is also no accident that many who come to believe that the earth is what the Bible says also become believers in Christ.
The existence of a solid firmament testifies to God’s existence. Everyone understands that such a structure did not get there by itself.
It is impossible to save heliocentrism without the Big Bang, and one cannot hold to the literal truth of Genesis Chapter One and believe in heliocentrism.
Therefore, Christian heliocentrists are stuck between a rock, God’s Word, and a hard place, evolution. We need to make a decision. What do we value most highly – God’s approval or man’s?
Let us all take courage and stop waffling when it comes to biblical truth. Go all in for Jesus. Do not be ashamed of him or his words.
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:25–26 (NKJV)
God always tells the truth, even though the whole world believes a lie. It is time for us Christians to unashamedly admit that we believe God’s cosmology over Satan’s, no matter the personal cost. The world may mock us, but God will smile.
