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Take the truth and run with it!.Millions are looking for the answers──the same as you and I. A whole world waits──on the verge of chaos. * * * OTHER BOOKLETS A special packet of 20 similar booklets, each one different, each with a fascinating story, a challenging and heart-searching message, plus 10 copies of this booklet, will be mailed you for $2.00. Ask for Special Packet No. DFG when ordering.

Destined for Greatness

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I read this from an old lady who gave it to me on leaving the Greyhound Bus on arriving at Vancouver from Seattle. I didn't understand the meaning of it all, but something really excited me and stayed with me until today (42 years ago) Now I understand the whole booklet !!!!!! Hope you enjoy it too.

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Page 1: Destined for Greatness

Take the truth and run with it!.Millions are looking for the answers──the same as you and I. A whole world waits──on the verge of chaos.

* * *OTHER BOOKLETSA special packet of 20 similar booklets, each one different, each with a fascinating story, a challenging and heart-searching message, plus 10 copies of this booklet, will be mailed you for $2.00. Ask for Special Packet No. DFG when ordering.

Mail your order toLIFE MESSENGERS, Box 1967, Seattle, Wash. 98111

an evangelical non-profit organisation

copies of this booklet available at1000 for $40.00 500 for $20.00 100 for $5.00

45 for $3.00 Or, 7c each

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Destined for

It happened right in the middle of the third lecture of the visiting speaker at the University. The famed physicist, Dr. I. J. Fronkby was lecturing on Nucleosynthesis In Stellar Processes. He had surprised his audi-ence by stating that he believed in special creation, and his arguments were impressive and convincing.

Evidently stirred by such statements a young man jumped to his feet and called out, “Dr. Fronkby, who am I?”

The students were amused, but the speaker knew what was behind the question. The young man was not a victim of amnesia. Nor was he asking that Dr. Fronkby display powers of extrasensory perception, demonstrating his skill by divulging names and addresses at will. He was giving the first in a series of questions asked by so many these days──Who am I? Where did I come from? What’s the purpose of me being here? Where

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am I going? And how do I get there?No doubt, this young man knew who his

father and mother were. He knew where his home was. He wasn’t lost. At least he wasn’t lost in regard to his whereabouts on earth or as to where and to whom he belonged. But still he was lost.

Dr. Fronkby answered, “If you will come to my room in the Mayfair Hotel this evening after dinner I’ll be glad to speak with you on your question.”

At 7:37 there were four students at his door.

“Good evening, Dr. Fronkby, I’m Steve Wilson. I guess you know,” Steve hesitated, “I’m the one who interrupted your lecture. My friends are here Betty Lidman, Susan Lindenberg and John McFadden. I hope you don’t mind us ganging up on you in this way. Several others wanted to come too, but we promised them a report.”

Of course I don’t mind, “Dr. Fronkby answered. “Come right on in, I’m glad you’re here──all of you. There is safety in numbers, they say. And we can have a much better discussion this way.”

After they had briefly exchanged gen-eralities and were seated, Steve spoke up again. We appreciate the valuable time you’re giv-ing to us Doctor, and we’d like you to go right ahead and give us what you have in answer to my question.”

“Well you posed a mighty important ques-

tion. If man evolved from a blob of proto-plasm, which evolved from lifeless matter, I cannot give you any further light as to who you are. But──if the Bible account is correct ── that all life came by special creation of Almighty God1──that same Bible has some astounding statements as to who you really are.

“I’ll not go into any discussion here against Darwinism nor in favor of the creation doc-trine. I believe the Bible account of creation is true. I’m going to speak to you from that premise.

“But I don’t believe the Bible any longer,” Steve spoke up. “I was raised in a religious home, and had the Bible preached to me and read to me constantly. But if what some scientists say is true, I can’t any longer be-lieve it as the Word of God.”

“I’m not asking you to believe it, I’m simply stating that I believe it. And I’d like to show you what I’ve found there concerning who you really are. If you are merely a prod-uct of chance and evolution, you are no-body of any importance whatsoever──but the Bible tells another story.”

“Dr. Fronkby,” it was John McFadden speaking this time, “I’ve only been inside a church about three times. But sir, I’m an honest atheist. I don’t believe the Bible and I can’t believe there is a God.” How can a per-son of your stature hold the position that the Bible records are dependable? I mean, from

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the scholastic point of view without any proof──”

Quietly but firmly, Dr. Fronkby broke into the stream of words. “Do you have any proof that there is no God? Do you know that He does not exist?”

“No.”“Then you cannot be an atheist, my friend.

The word, atheism, implies simply, no God── as if you were a kind of god yourself, to know so much. Let’s say rather, that you are an agnostic. You simply do not know that He exists.

“What study and research have you made? Do you read Hebrew?”

“No sir.”“Do you read Greek?”“A little.”“Have you read the original records of the

New Testament in the Greek?”“No sir.”“Have you studied archeology at all?”“Not really.”“Then, by your confession, I believe it’s

safe to assume that you have not interested yourself in a study of theology of any kind or to any degree. Am I correct?”

“Yes, I guess so.”“I’m sorry, but I really do not understand.

Upon the basis of what kind of scholarship do you make your criticism of the Bible? You doubt these records, you say, but have you actually checked carefully into their authen-

ticity?“I, myself, read both Hebrew and Greek.

Besides this I speak French, German and Persian. I also know Sanskrit. I’ve studied astronomy, and I know something of most of the sciences. Archeology I have studied with keen interest. And on that very basis──on the basis of scholarship ── I affirm that these records throughout the Bible are dependable and accurate.

“After years of scholarly research I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to assail the truthfulness of the Old Testament. Where there is sufficient documentary and archeological evidence to make an investigating, the original statements of the Bible in the original text have stood the test every time!

“As a physicist, I have made painstaking and exhaustive research in many fields. But the greatest and most intense research I have ever made has been in the field of theology. I have diligently studied the evidences, not only from archeology but from the support-ing evidence of the various sciences as well. Based upon this research and my thorough study of the Bible, of its claims, its origin, historical records, prophecies and fulfill-ments, and based upon my recognition and the careful consideration of every challenge and charge of the critics against it, I have come to the absolute conclusion that the

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Bible has to be the Word of the real and living God.”

John looked rather dazed. “All right, Doctor. Go ahead. If you’ve made that kind of research, I’d like to know what you’ve found in answer to Steve’s question.”

“Gladly, but before presenting the posi-tive, maybe I should first make this observa-tion. We have been taught that life on earth arose in ages past by natural chemical and physical processes according to known laws of science. You know, such casual statements sound good on the surface. They really do.

“Years ago, when I was in high school, we were taught that the single celled creatures were very simple in structure. It was there-fore considered a fairly simple thing for nature to spontaneously produce the first cell. Today we are discovering how very wrong we were. Now we know that a single cell is very complex──extremely so, in fact. And the ingredient of life in them is the most baffling of all.

“How could such a complex structure just happen? Can you create a living thing? Can the most brilliant man or team of men now living create a living thing? And if they are one day able to do so it will simply prove the fact that it took great brilliance and knowledge to perform the feat. It wouldn’t be by accident, without intelligent direction. And yet, we must believe, because a few men have

said we must, that a multiplicity of dead things can by chance assemble and organise themselves in precisely the right manner── and, again by chance, manufacture an intricate cell wall and surround themselves with it, and, finally and most unlikely of all, can create within itself and within the cell wall the miraculous ingredient of life. Why, the whole idea is preposterous!

“In addition, remember, we are asked to believe──all without proof, mind you──that of itself this one-celled creature received the ability to take in oxygen and food, and give off wastes and carbon dioxide──and also to reproduce itself in duplicate, dividing or budding to become two cells, each with unbroken cell walls.

“Here’s proof which shows the utter impossibility of the first living cell coming about in this way. The protein molecules which go to make up a cell each contain thousands of atoms of half dozen different elements. Think how impossible it would be for the right number of atoms of the right 6 elements to come together accidentally. In the supposed churning of the prehistoric seas the right number of atoms of each of the 6 right elements would have had to accidentally come together at the same time, at the same place, omitting from their number all atoms from all the other 86 elements in nature. Also, these thousands of atoms of 6 different elements would have had to come to-

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gether in the right sequence and order if they were to form a protein molecule!

“Let’s restate that: To believe in chance or spontaneous creation one must believe that the right number of atoms of the right 6 elements came together accidentally (thousands of them) at the right time, at the right place, in exactly the right sequence, omitting from their number all atoms from all the other 86 elements in nature, to form one protein molecule.

“The eminent scientist, Charles-Eugéne Guye once calculated the probability of the accidental or spontaneous creation of a single protein molecule on earth. He said that it might happen once in 10243 years. That’s the figure 10 followed by 243 zeros! That’s millions of billions of years for the possible forming of one molecule! But you’d still have a dead molecule.

“Then consider the fact that there are millions of protein molecules in the most single cell. These millions of molecules and other particles of the cell would also need to be formed at the same place and the same time. The odds against that happening accidentally would be a number I doubt the entire world could contain! But then you’d still have dead proteins in a dead cell.

How can people devise fantastic stories from odds like that, and then ridicule those of us who believe in an unseen Being far

greater than man──a Being who is our Creator? It takes infinitely more faith to believe, as the Darwinists do, in a miracle of spontaneous creation by chance. In that case dead matter is the actual creator of living things. So even the Darwinists believe in a creator. But their supposed creator is dead, the same as the idols of the pagans. Maybe that’s why they say their god is dead. Perhaps they are really teaching or preach-ing a neo paganism.

“And who created matter in the first place? It didn’t just happen either. Even the most agnostic of all scientists knows that ‘For every effect there must be a cause’ And the building blocks of matter, the atoms, who is the cause behind each of them? You’ve studied the structure of the atom, and know that each atom has a dense center, the nucleus, which has a positive electrical charge. And around the nucleus whirl the particles called electrons, which have negative charges of electricity. One amazing thing about the electrons of the atom is that they whirl around the nucleus billions of times every millionth of a second! The only known reason why these electrons do not fly off into space is that opposite charges of electricity attract each other. Therefore, the positive charges in the protons in the nucleus attract the negative charges in the electrons. Thus the protons and electrons pull at each other, thereby keeping the

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electrons from dispersing.“Did you ever ask yourself where the

electrical charge came from to hold the atoms together in this precise way? And did you ever ask yourself what force causes these electrons to orbit the nucleus of the atom at such unthinkable speed?

“Also consider this phenomena in the atom: The nucleus of the atom consists of particles of neutrons and protons. The neutrons have no electrical charge and are therefore neutral. But the protons have posi-tive charges. Another law of electricity is that like charges repel each other. Being that all of the protons in the nucleus are posi-tively charged they should repel each other and scatter into space. But there is a force, not yet understood, which holds them in the center. The electrons whirling about the circumference of the atom also pull on the protons to break the nucleus apart. But an unseen binding force keeps the pro-tons in the nucleus of the atom. Now, we have discovered this binding force, and its properties have been worked out mathe-matically, but we still don’t know what it is. Have you ever asked yourself what the unseen force is? And if science some day should discover what it is, would you know who or what put that binding force there?

“The Bible has the answer. It says that Christ, the Son of God, our Creator, ‘was before all things, and by Him all things

are held together’2 By His wisdom and power He created all things, and by that same power He put all things together and keeps them together.

“And the Bible has something further to say about what we know as matter. Consider this fact about matter. The electrons and protons of the atom are not really solids as we understand a solid. They are positive and negative charges of electricity. And when the neutrons in the nucleus of the atom are smashed their scattered parts also become electrons and protons (besides a multitude of other kinds of particles, the number of which utterly baffles the scientists.) So really, the atom is an electrical phenomenon!

“It’s no wonder that the Apostle Paul was able to say through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that “Through faith we under-stand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”3

“And just as we found that it would be impossible for dead matter to form itself into a living cell, it would also be impossible for the atom to form itself. And to do this billions of times over and come up with the same approximate ingredients each time for a given element would be further impossible without intelligent supervision. Man may boast of what he has made or can make, but can he begin from absolute nothingness and form the various atoms

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needed for his creations?“Self-willed man, you see, is in a dilem-

ma. To believe in a God who has created us is to acknowledge Someone to whom we are accountable. The Bible speaks clearly── all too clearly──of a day of reckoning, of judgment.4 So man (civilized and unciviliz-ed) has created his own gods, to give his conscience freedom to allow him to live as he pleases. But to wish and to rationalize our Creator God out of existence does not put Him out of existence.

“The last half of the first chapter of Romans, in the New Testament part of the Bible, tells what happens when men ‘do not like to retain God in their knowledge.’ You should read that.

“So much more could be said in elabora-tion, but let’s find out what the Bible has to say about who we really are.”

“Dr. Fronkby,” it was John again who spoke, “I have a question I’d like to ask. What you’ve told us here has really got me thinking. But, if there is a God, and He created everything, who made God?”

Doctor Fronkby smiled as he answered, “John, I can remember asking my mother that very same question. I don’t remem-ber getting a satisfactory answer. But here is the answer:

“For some good reason, known only to God, He has chosen to reveal nothing about Himself previous to His acts of creation.

And nowhere in the Bible does God endeavour to prove His existence. He seeming-ly feels there is no need for further proof. His great creative works testify to the fact of His existence. The more you study the universe, in its every aspect, the more over-whelming is its testimony to its Creator.5

“Besides creation the Bible gives proof upon proof of God’s existence, in numerous ways.”

“But why didn’t God reveal something about how He came to be?” John persisted. “If He does exist why hasn’t he explained His existence?” Maybe I could believe if He would explain his own beginning.”

In answer Dr. Fronkby questioned, “Is there any need for an artist to prove to any-one that he lives, or has lived? No, his work is proof enough. Christ told of one man who thought his brothers would believe about God, about heaven and hell; if someone were sent to them from the dead. The answer was that these brothers had ample proof already. If they wouldn’t accept the proof they already had they wouldn’t believe a man raised from the dead.”

“But why is God so secretive about His beginnings?” It was Steve who now ques-tioned.

“Steve, if God had a beginning, and if He had explained to us the cause of His beginning, that wouldn’t satisfy us. We’d then be bothered about finding out what

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caused the cause that caused God. To our present finite minds God is unknowable in regard to an infinite number of matters, and this includes the matter of His existence. We can’t even understand the tiny atom── do we then think we could understand the God of the atom?”

“Christ was giving final words of information to the apostle Peter, as to what he would be doing in the future, when Peter asked Him, “Well, what about John, what will he be doing?” Jesus answered him, ‘What John will do is none of your business, I want you concerned only about what you are to do.’6 I believe that’s God’s attitude towards our insistence that He make a full disclosure about Himself. He’s given us plenty of proof that He is, and He wants us concerned now mainly with our relationship with Him and with our fellowmen. What He has chosen not to reveal is none of our business.

“The important thing for us to be con-cerned about now is not how or when God came to be; the important thing is that He is, and that He is our God!” The fact that true science refutes the theory that living matter and live have evolved from dead inanimate matter leaves us with only one acceptable alternative. This alternative is special creation by God. And with Him we are eternally involved.

“Let’s leave this question there, shall we?”

“I guess we’ll have to.” Steve laughed. “How about telling us now who we really are.”

“Very well, let’s look then at this most fascinating subject.

“Now, the Bible clearly teaches the fact of a Creator──God. But it also teaches that there were things of great importance which took place before creation. God had a need. Can you imagine God having a need? “What do you suppose that need was?”

And he looked straight at Betty Lidman.“I’m sure I don’t know,” Betty laughed.“Well, the Bible states outright and also

reveals the fact in many other ways that ‘God is Love.’7 If God’s very nature is love, His need would be to have an outlet for that love. His very nature would cry out for fellowship with one of many whom He could love.

“And the first object of that love was a Son, whom He begat. The greatest happen-ing before creation was when God begat his only begotten Son.”

“But isn’t the Son of God supposed to be eternal, the same as the Father?” Betty questioned. “At least that’s what we as Catholics have been taught to believe.”

“Yes, the Son is from eternity the same as the Father. But it’s just as difficult for us creatures of time to fully understand eternity as it is for us to really understand God. Even though the Son is begotten of

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the Father He is just as eternal as the Father. Maybe this truth has best been stated by the Westminster Confession of Faith which very simply says, ‘The Son of God was begotten of the Father from eternity.’

“Do you mean you believe the Father created the Son?” Steve broke in.

“No, the Bible does not teach that. One of the other confessions of faith states that He was, ‘begotten, not made.’ We have been created, but the One I speak of here was begotten (born) of the Father. He is of the same essence as the Father. Don’t ask me how the Father did this. The Bible doesn’t reveal how. But it does reveal that God has a begotten Son.

“But doesn’t that mean that He was Begotten of the Father through the virgin Mary?” Steve again questioned.

“No, notice what the apostle Paul says of Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He says that He is, ‘the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature.’8 The Inspired Letters translation quotes this verse in this way──’Christ is exactly like God, whom we cannot see. Christ was born be-fore anything was created.’ The ancient Athanasian Creed states that He was ‘of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds.’

“Being that He was begotten, or born, of the Father, He is of the same essence as

the Father. Therefore the Son is also God. This is plainly taught in the Bible.”9

“Not in our Bible.” Susan challenged.“I’m Jewish, and our Bible teaches that there is only one God.”

“True, our God is one God. But also God is three persons──the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the first book of your Bible, the Old Testament, you will find these words in Genesis 1:26 ‘And God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”’ Surely there is more than one person involved in that conversation. God was talking to someone on His own level, who also had power to create.”

“How can they be three persons, and still be one?” Betty again questioned. “Didn’t Christ, who was the only begotten Son of God, state, ‘I and the Father are one?”

“Miss Lidman,” Dr. Fronkby answered, “when Christ in the 10th chapter of John, said, ‘I and the Father are one? He was simply stating that He and the Father were in oneness in agreement in the matter about which He was speaking. The same is true concerning all matters between the Father and the Son. And in the 17 th chapter of John He prays that the same relationship may be true between us and Him and the Father.

“The Son of God speaks of the Father loving Him.10 For love to operate there must be at least two persons involved. Surely the

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Father would receive no satisfaction loving Himself, or being loved by Himself.

“The Son of God also spoke about another person sending Him to the earth with a message.11 No, God is not one person. God is three persons, working together in perfect harmony and love, as one.

“Now it was after the Son was begotten that creation took place. We know this to be true because the Bible teaches that the Father had the Son do all the creating. The writer to the Hebrews says, ‘God has spoken in many different ways. In old times He spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son (Jesus Christ). He appointed His Son as the heir of everything God made. Indeed it was through His Son that God created the worlds.’12

“And to show the position of the Son as Creator the apostle John stated, ‘In the beginning was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.’13

“God’s last work of creation through His Son was to create mankind. Everything else had been created previous to this──the worlds, principalities and powers in the heavenlies, including the angels──vegetation

and animal life on earth──everything. Now last of all God creates man. God now caps His creation by saying to the Son and the Holy Spirit, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’14

“Notice the importance of that statement! God is here deciding to make beings like Himself. We find further in our study that He calls these beings ‘sons of God.’15

“This was God’s plan and desire from the beginning──to have a family, to have sons He could love and have fellowship with. All of His previous creation was in prepara-tion for His sons. Even the angels were created mainly to minister and care for those who shall be God’s heirs.”16

“Brother!” John burst in, “this is getting to be way out. Is this actually what the Bible is all about?”

“That’s right.” Dr. Fronkby answered. “You can see why we Christians are quite excited about what we’ve discovered. But you haven’t heard the half of it yet.”

“O.K. we’re all ears.”“Well, the very first sons God created

rebelled against him.17 Adam and Eve disobeyed Him. But God knew this would happen. And He knew that every one of us would act the same way. He knew that in our immaturity and weakness we would all choose to satisfy ourselves instead of obey-ing Him. Being that He is our Creator and is so far above us in love and wisdom it is only

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right that we should obey Him. But we’ve all chosen to go our own way.18

“Romans 3:23 states, ‘All have sinned and COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.’ God’s plan is that His sons shall be like Him and share in His glory, but we’ve all missed it by our rebellion.

“Romans 6:23 states, ‘The wages of sin is death…’ But the last part of the verse gives hope, because it says, ‘…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’”

“I have a question.” Steve spoke up. “If God created us, why didn’t He make us perfect, why didn’t He Make us so we wouldn’t sin?”

Dr. Fronkby smiled, “Do you have a car?”“Yes.”“Do you love that car?”“Well,” Steve laughed, “I wouldn’t

exactly call it love. It’s a good car.”“Does your car love you?”“What are you getting at?”“Well,” Dr Fronkby returned, “in order

to make beings who couldn’t sin, it would have been necessary for God to have made us like machines. But God’s great need and desire was love. Therefore He made us with a free will. For love to be of any value it was necessary that those made in His image would have the capacity to hate Him if they chose.

“When we turn from our rebellion, hatred,aloofness and indifference to a genuine love for God──God receives honor, glory, joy and pleasure, which he could never receive from a robot which had no will or self determination.”

“Do you mean we can actually add to God’s joy?” Betty questioned.

“Surely.”“That’s terrific,” Steve broke in. “That

question about the existence of sin has bug-ged me for years. I can see now why God had to allow it. Without the ability to hate, our love for God or anyone else would be meaningless.”

“That’s right, but now let’s consider what God has done about it.

“Before the world was even created God knew what He would do to redeem lost mankind when they fell. He planned way back then to send His only begotten Son to earth, in the form of man, to suffer and die for man as a sin offering. And that’s exactly what He did. His Son came to this earth, being miraculously born of a virgin.19 He was Jesus Christ, the greatest man who ever lived.

“Christ never sinned. He was therefore able to die for the sins of others. We were justly condemned to death, but He took our place. God so loved us, His fallen sons, that He gave His only begotten Son that He might redeem us and save us for Himself.”20

“Well, if the Father wanted to do the

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biggest thing possible for us.” Susan now questioned, “why didn’t He show His great love for us by coming Himself instead of sending His Son too suffer? Why didn’t He suffer for us instead?”

“I used to wonder about that,” Dr. Fronkby answered, “until I became father. Now it hurts me infinitely more to see my son suffer than to go through the same suffering myself. I would rather take all the hurt and disappointment for him than to see him go through it. I believe this is why the Father sent the Son instead of coming Himself. The greatest way God could show His love for His sons on earth was to send His beloved only begotten Son.

“In fact, the Father is so close to the Son, and so much a part of him, that the Bible says, ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.’21 Our Father God has far greater capacity for love than we have, and you can be sure that he suffered immeasurably for us when His Son was rejected by man and died as our Savior.

“By sin we rebelled, and thus we gave our allegiance to ‘the god of this world’ (Satan) and became related to him──but through Christ we can be redeemed and be restored as sons of God.

“Now, how can you be restored to sonship in the family of God? How can you be forgiven and take your rightful place in THE ROYAL FAMILY? The answer is──

by accepting your Father’s offer of forgive-ness because of what Christ did for you──by accepting Christ as your Savior, and sur-rendering to Him as your Lord. The Bible says, ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.’22

“Then further on the Bible says, speaking to those who have received Christ as Savior and Lord, ‘Dear ones, we are now the sons of God. Still it has not yet been revealed what we will be like. But when we see Christ we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is.’23

“Notice that the scripture says that we are now the sons of God. As mentioned, this is speaking to persons who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and who have been restored to the position of sons of God. But it says here also that ‘It has not yet been revealed to us what it really means to be His sons.’

“But then this verse goes on and says, ‘But when we see Christ we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is.” This says that we shall be like Jesus Christ! That will happen when we leave this life to be with our God. I used to think this meant that we would be like Jesus Christ in righteousness. In other words, this would mean that we wouldn’t sin any more. But the more I consider all the written evidence concerning our being the sons of God I realize that to be like Christ will mean much

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more than simply to be without sin. The Bible commentator Matthew Henry states, ‘We shall be like Him in honor, and power, and glory.’ I believe he’s absolutely right. I have made a thorough study of the Bible in connection with the relationship between God the Father and God the Son, and in connection with our relationship to them. I find that we are going to be like Jesus Christ the Son of God in almost every way. We shall be one with Him and with the Father. This oneness, as I mentioned before, speaks of unity and sameness.

“One argument John uses here for the fact that we will be like Him is because ‘We will see Him as He really is.’ To understand what this means just ask yourself who it is that can see a human being as he really is. The obvious answer is that it takes another human being or someone higher and greater than a human being to see that being as he actually is. And this promise is that we shall see Jesus Christ as He is. This is not speaking of seeing with the eye. This is seeing with the understanding. Various life on earth can see man with the physical eye, but they cannot understand us because they are not like us. It appears that in God’s kingdom there are many beings who see God, but only His sons, those who are like Him, will really see and understand and know Him as He is. Then John, God will no doubt even reveal to us some of

the things about Himself which at present He has seen fit to withhold.”

“I’d really appreciate that.” John laughed.“Does the Bible have anything to say

about what our responsibilities and occupa-tions will be as sons of God in His king-dom?” Betty questioned. “I never could get too interested in the prospect of sitting on a cloud, playing a harp forever.”

“The Bible says nothing about our sitting on clouds playing harps.” Dr. Fronkby answered. “That’s an image of Heaven created by the sceptics. The Bible does tell about tremendous music and singing in Heaven. But besides sharing in the ecstasies there we’ll have some fascinating responsibilities. The Bible has plenty to say about that.

“Several scriptures state that Christ is right now seated at the right hand of the Father.24 Other scriptures state that He is seated with the Father in His throne. This means that God the Father and God the Son are together in governing the universe. They share the throne, the governing responsibilities.

“Christ tells us in the New Testament that He has gone to prepare a place for us. It may be that this speaks of dwelling places. But He no doubt is also speaking of places of activity and responsibility in our Father’s kingdom. It also means that He has

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gone to prepare for us to rule together with Him when He reigns for a thousand years

on the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.25

“The Bible states that we who have become redeemed sons of God26 through Jesus Christ are ‘heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.’27 We are His heirs because we are His sons.

“In the first place it is clearly shown in the Bible that we are heirs to this earth. As recorded in Matthew 25:34 Christ said, ‘Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’28 So even before the world was created God had planned that His begotten Son together with His created sons would rule and reign over it. Christ is to be King of kings and Lord of lords, but we are to ‘sit in His thrown with Him’ ruling over the earth.29

“The scriptures state that Christ must reign until all is subdued to Him.30 We know that He will reign at least a thousand years, according to prophecy.31 After that it is not fully revealed what God’s plans are for Christ and for the rest of His sons.30

“However, we can be sure that if God brings us to this place of responsibility and opportunity as His sons, ruling over the earth with Christ a thousand years, He has planned for even better things ahead. Could

it possibly be that our reigning with Christ on earth will be simply a testing and train-

ing ground for each of us for further responsibility in God’s kingdom in other spheres?

“I used to wonder what God could ever do with so many sons. I wondered how He could give us all places of authority and responsibility in His kingdom. But consider the heavens. With the most powerful telescopes on earth we still cannot see to the end of God’s great universe. Even our new electronic telescopes have been unable to plumb the depths and heights of God’s creation. It’s possible a very small section of His universe which is visible to us even through these telescopes. God has a mighty universe in which He can give great places of responsibility to every one of His sons.

“In the year 128 B.C. a scientist by the name of Hipparchus claimed there were 1,026 stars in the universe. Then as the telescope was invented and our knowledge of the heavens increased it was found there were millions of stars in the heavens. Later on when the galaxies were discovered it was believed there were over 100 million stars in our galaxy alone, which is the Milky Way. It is now believed by astronomers that our galaxy alone claims over 100 billion stars! Then consider the fact that there are billions of galaxies. “Well, even if God’s ultimate for

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each of His sons was to rule over one galaxy would be quite a responsibility and oppor-

tunity indeed. Surely that should be enough to challenge even a son of God!”

“I could never assume such responsibili-ties,” Betty broke in.

“Well Betty,” Dr. Fronkby answered, “you must realize that if we are to be like Christ we will have His wisdom, His abilities and powers, so that we will be able to rule and to accomplish all things necessary for our Father God.

“Then consider this question──if we are heirs of God, to what are we heir? As we stated, it’s possible that we shall each be heir to some great portion of God’s creation. But I believe we are heir to much greater than that. If we are heirs of God, and if He has created us in His image, then the greatest inheritance we can have is to be like our Father. Think what that means! When you realize that God could dispose of the entire universe and make something altogether different one realizes that the material things God has are not nearly as great as He Himself. How much greater it will be if we discover that, as has been hinted to us in the Scriptures, ‘We shall be like Him.’

“The glory of God is also something we cannot now comprehend. His glory will undoubtedly be manifest to our eyes, but other parts of His glory include His power. His

wisdom, His great love, and all His other attributes. The Bible tells us that Christ will

return on earth in His Father’s glory and in His own glory.32

“But the astounding thing is that we, the sons of His redemption, shall also be glorified.33 This doesn’t mean that our bodies alone will be changed. Also it doesn’t simply mean that we shall be in a glorious place. We often hear folks talk abut the glory land. The glorious part of our inheritance will not be simply the glorious heavens, and the privilege of living there, but the great wonder of being like our God and Savior. We are the ones who shall be glorified. And Romans 8:19-25 tells us that the entire creation is waiting for the time when God is going to bring forth His sons.

“The apostle Paul tells us that we are to rejoice in the anticipation of such an inheritance. He states in Romans 5:2, ‘By whom also we have access by faith into this grace whereby we stand, AND REJOICE IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.’ Further on in Romans 8:18 Paul speaks about ‘the glory which shall be revealed IN us.’ In Romans 9:23 he speaks about our being ‘prepared unto glory.’

“In Colossians 3:4 the apostle Paul states, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him IN GLORY.’ The glory spoken of here is not a place, it’s a state or condition.

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“Then in 1 Corinthians 15:43 Paul speaks about the body of a Christian in these words,

‘It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.’

“There are many other scriptures which speak of our glory with Christ and with the Father. The future for those in Christ is absolutely astounding!”

“Man alive!” John exclaimed, “if all this is true, that’s worth fighting for.”

“It’s the undisputable, absolute truth,” Dr. Fronkby affirmed, “And it’s not only worth fighting for, it’s worth living for and planning for. What’s greater than being a son of God──with an eternal future that staggers the imagination!

“The Bible is a profound book. In scores of ways it proves itself to be inspired by God. Through the Bible and through His Son Jesus Christ God has revealed Himself to His created sons. The fulfilled prophecies in the Bible are sufficient in themselves to prove that the Bible is God’s Word. And in these last days of this age we are going to actually witness age-old prophecies of the Bible being fulfilled.

“But even being convinced of all these wonderful truths I’ve touched upon will not bring you into God’s family. As I mentioned before, we have all rebelled against our Father. And until we repent of that rebellion and ask God’s forgiveness, recognizing that we can be forgiven only because of what God’s only

begotten Son suffered for us, we are still under God’s judgment──utterly

condemned and under sentence of death.34

“Your future can be beyond words to de-scribe. On the other hand, if you have greater desire to satisfy the lusts of your mind and flesh than to sincerely face the truth recorded in the bible you can be certain of a punishment too terrible to de-scribe. The Bible points the way to life, but it also warns of terrible living death.”35

“Dr. Fronkby,” it was Steve who now spoke, “I don’t know how to thank you for the things you have shown us. You certainly have put me to thinking. I’m going to get out that Bible and read it again. I’m especially going to read the New Testament. I’m going to do some real research of my own on this matter.”

“I can say the same for myself,” John spoke up.

The girls also expressed thanks and in-dicated they were beginning to see that life had terrific meaning far beyond anything they had ever even imagined before.

* * *

Well, some of us have been pretty well mixed up in our thinking. But the foregoing account puts a new light on everything. Better get hold of a Bible and do some researching yourself. With the background knowledge from this booklet the Bible will become a new book to you.

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In the Old Testament records of the Bible there will be lists of names etc., that you

will wish to skip over. Don’t burden your-self down with reading extensive records── at least not to begin with. The Old Testa-ment is very interesting, but we would suggest that you read parts of the New Testa-ment even while you are reading the Old.

Be sure you don’t wait too long before you commit your life and your entire future to your God──asking His forgiveness because of His love in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be your Savior.

If this old world could be presented the truths given here by Dr. Fronkby there would be many changed lives, changed am-bitions and changed conditions. And it’s the responsibility of those of us who know these truths to see that we share them with others. In fact, that was Christ’s last command to His followers──that they tell the good news to the whole world! We can look forward to great opportunities and respon-sibilities in God’s Kingdom in the future, but we’d better prove our loyalty now by getting with the great opportunities that are ours for this day and time.

And by the way──better read this booklet again. It will do something more for you the second and third times through. This time look up and read the Bible references given for various points. That will

multiply for you the amazing presentation of this booklet.

References

1. Genesis 1 & 2, Hebrews 1:1, 2, Colossians1:12-17

2. Colossians, 1:12-17 (chapter 1: verses 12 to 17) 3. Hebrews 11:3 4. Hebrews 9:27 5. Psalm 19 6. John 21:20-22 7. I John 4:8 8. Colossians 1:15 9. I John, chapter 110. John 3:3511. John7:27,28; 8:26,29,4212. Hebrews 1:1, 213. John 1:1-414. Genesis 1:26, 2715. Luke 3:38, Galatians 4:5, 6, Hebrews 2:10 &

12:l7, John 1:12,Romans 8:14, I John 3:1-316. Hebrews 1:13, 14 and 2:5-7, I Corinthians 6:317. Genesis 318. Romans 3:10-18, 5:1219. Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-3520. John 3:1621. II Corinthians 5:1922. John 1:1223. I John 3:224. Mark 16:29, Colossians 3:125. Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 19:11-1626. Luke 1:67, 68, I Peter 1:18, 19, Revelation 5:9, 1027. Romans 8:16, 1728. Matthew 25:3429. Revelation 3:2130. I Corinthians 15:24-2831. Revelation 20:2-632. Matthew 16:27, Luke 9:26

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33. II Thessalonians 2:14, Romans 5:2 & 8:1834. Read chapter 3 in John35. Revelation 20:10-15

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