Into the Fire

For me it’s always been hard to believe that so many people can so easily believe in the evolution of people from slime. I mean, I think we could all agree we’ve known some real slime bags, but, hey, a funny thing happened on that cross . . . Jesus died for those slime bags. He died for us.

Enough facetiousness.

When reasons are discussed for believing in evolution by pointing to the well-developed and so authentic-feeling convoluted theory which leaves out the basic tenets of science in its posturing, it seems to make no difference what evidence is produced to counter the theory of evolution. Every year more “new” discoveries are made, more astounding “proofs” are given of why there couldn’t possibly be a divine Creator, and how you and I are distant cousins to the horned toad. I love this: millions and millions of years ago—when there were so many scientists available to jot down the removal of scales from fish as it turned into a ? It doesn’t really matter anyway because we’re here now and so in millions of years maybe we’ll have six brains and more appendages and live in another galaxy far, far away.

You probably wonder where this is going. This is a very roundabout way of saying there are real people who do not believe in God. They do not acknowledge Him as the Creator. They do not believe He has sent His Son Jesus Christ to take their sins upon Himself and suffer death on their behalf. They do not believe in hell. They might not believe in any form of eternity after death either. They don’t see the miraculous. They believe that humans are their own gods or that humans are simply a higher species of animal. However, God says they are without excuse.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

So, knowing that God has made it plain who He is by what He’s made, how is it that some people are willing to accept little green men over a holy God? And how is it that some writers of fiction think that these very same people will assume they’re speaking of the one true God when these writers allude to Him or biblical realities in their stories?

I am not referring to fantasy fiction here. Not at all. Christian fantasy writers are allowed to create make-believe stories with any and all forms of worlds, characters, languages, and cultures. That’s why their stories are dubbed fantasies. They use the unusual realms to show whatever they want in symbolism or allegory—it’s a different method from the standard novel which emulates either historical or contemporary “realities”.

This is what I’m saying: if you really think you can write well enough to point an unbeliever to God without really depicting Him or just alluding to Him, I think it’s a tremendous assumption. Namely because without God Himself drawing the unbeliever through the Holy Spirit, that person will remain untouched by allusions to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit. God knows the heart of an unbeliever. He knows just how hard that heart is, what it will take to soften that heart, how long it will take for that heart to be softened enough to take a good look around for the first time with “eyes to see”. How many times will God call an individual? How many times will an individual not allow his heart to be remedied by the truth?

Can God use a vague reference to Himself in a novel with no overt attempt to lead an individual to Him? Yes. God can use anything He chooses to open the eyes of the lost. But it won’t be because of the author’s obscure gesture to the Lord—it will be because of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to reveal His nature through whatever means He chooses.

It isn’t about us as writers. It’s about being obedient to how God asks us to write. Only then can He use our writing for His glory. And for me, only then will that writing have lasting value.

And if God decides to use someone’s writing to point an unbeliever to His Son, if that person refuses the direction . . . he will be without excuse.

Father, use my writing. Somehow, some way, I pray. Use me, Lord Jesus. Help me, Holy Spirit, to write what you want me to write. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.