Shade Tree Wisdom 6/21/11

Fires are raging in East Texas and people are being evacuated. Today there is some talk of possible rain, and we surely need rain. A soaking will be helpful, and it is in the Hands of Him who created the world and is in it always. Pray.

History shows there are tipping points, times when events go either one way or another. Athanasius stood at such a point, and because he stood firmly in the faith, we have the expression of what he fought for all his life in the Athanasian Creed. He did not write it, but it is His work that was the impetus for this writing.

Who is this man? And what did he have to fight about?. Athanasius was the bishop of Alexandria for 45 years, about June 326 to May 373. Of these years, he spent 17 years in five exiles ordered by four different Roman Emperors. The fight was doctrine. Arius from Libya said Jesus was born of God, so does not exist from eternity, and his heresy caught on. To Athanasius this was a matter of life and death, salvation was at stake, and he fought for the fact that Jesus is the son of God from eternity. The creed says it, “In majesty coeternal.” “Co-equal_ with God the Father. The Trinity in substance and in unity." And because Athanasius prevailed, we have the Bible teaching truly and clearly given. So we today benefit from battles fought long ago, but fought steadily and firmly in spite of great odds.

Athanasius stood at a tipping point for doctrine, and we recite the creed with thanksgiving for the salvation expressed there. Jesus, the very Son of God, died for the sins of the world.

GPD 6/21/11