Devolution

Articles

Philip C. Strong
02/06/24 - God

I had never heard of the word “devolution,” and was somewhat proud of myself for inventing it until spellchecker didn’t flag it (OK, that’s one for her, but I knew how to spell “Ecclesiastes” long before she did!). So “devolution” is already a real word and, at least generally, it means pretty much what you think it means: the opposite of “evolution” and progressive changes, so digressive changes. Examples of “devolution”? Sure…

We’ve had two well-defined are easily-recognized genders in the human species since its creation, but lately seem to be “devolving” into hundreds of them at an alarming rate, Matt.19:4; cf. Gen.1:27 (which is completely contradictory to the “evolutionary” model by the way!).
We once at least generally accepted that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” Gen.1:1. But with years of evolutionary theory being pushed and propagated as “fact,” we have devolved into atheism, naturalism, and every other kind of “ism” complete with all their related effects and consequences, cf. Rom.1:18-23.
We once learned from and agreed with Dr. King (despite previous epic failures) that people should be judged by the content of their character instead of by the color of their skin, but have more recently devolved back into less noble standards, cf. Gal.3:26-29.
We once understood the value of history- even negative history, knowing that we could learn from our mistakes, but have more recently devolved into a “cancel culture” which wishes to purge/expunge the record, thus dooming us to repeat past atrocities. Acts 7 and Heb.3:7 – 4:2.
We once worshiped and served our Creator simply but purely “in spirit and truth,” John 4:23-24. Saints could gather anywhere to sing, pray, commune, and study His word with nothing more than the Word of God to guide them. Now we have devolved “worship” into a pageantry of paganism that would rival the ancient Canaanite kingdoms. It’s no longer pure, simple, or even “worship.”

And why has all of this “devolution” occurred? There are likely several reasons, but one seems paramount: Man decided that he created “God” instead of acknowledging and accepting that God created man. Such made man his own “god” (cf. Phil.3:19), and relegated God to either “an image in the form of corruptible man” (Rom.1:23a), or only a imaginary figment of the so-called “weak-minded.” While other factors surely contributed to this conclusion, this was the “Big Bang” of devolution, and surely the beginning of man’s devolution to destruction. But “let God be found true, though every man be found a liar…” Rom.3:4. God is true. Men who claim otherwise are liars.

The sobering truth that must be understood and accepted was revealed through the prophet Jeremiah long ago, “a man’s way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his own steps,” Jer.10:23. It still isn’t, and until we admit as much, “devolution” will continue to its disastrous end. But it’s not too late- at least not for individuals. We can still reject the evolutionary lies of men that are devolving us to present and eternal destruction, and accept the eloquent truth so precisely stated in Heb.3:4, “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” This succinct statement of “Cause and Effect Logic” is irrefutable. No one sees a simple “house” and assumes it built itself. Why would we then assume the World and the Universe, as complex as they are, did so? “God” is the only adequate “Cause” sufficient to have produced such an extraordinary “Effect”! When we admit and accept this simple truth, the gates swing wide open to the road of recovery and everything changes.