Jump Start # 4046
Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment”
Throwback Thursday: an article written a while back
Annie, God and Darwin
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) married a young woman by the name of Emma Wedgwood who was a very strong believer in God. The Darwin’s oldest daughter was a sweet girl by the name of Annie. She and her father were very close. In 1850, Annie became very ill. The doctors gave her all kinds of medicine but she continued to get worse. On April 23, 1851, at the age of 10, Annie Darwin died.
Charles Darwin, who had been studying the theories of evolution for some time and having many doubts about religion, became very angry. He blamed God for her sickness and death. One writer said, “Annie’s death was the end of the road” for any belief in God for Charles Darwin. He could no longer accept the beliefs of his family.
Eight years after Annie’s death, Darwin published The Origin of Species—a book that popularized evolution and was instrumental in creating doubt in the hearts of many people.
When Darwin quit believing in God, he also lost all hope of ever seeing Annie again. The Bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
Darwin made several mistakes in his thinking about Annie’s death.
Darwin Blamed God for Annie’s Death. God is good. God does not delight in the death of children. Death is a consequence of sin. Paul said the last ENEMY that Christ will destroy is death (1 Cor. 15:26).
Darwin Thought God Didn’t Care. How untrue. God cares (1 Pet. 5:7). If God is aware of a small sparrow that dies (Mt. 10:29), He is aware of what is happening in our lives. God cares so much, that He sent Jesus, so we can leave this world of sorrow, pain and death, and dwell with Him forever in Heaven.
Darwin Expected God to Abolish All Pain. God cannot do this and allow us to have our free-will. We cannot make Heaven on earth. Pain is not an indication of God’s anger or that God does not exist.
Darwin Saw No Value in Suffering. Adversity builds character. The same fire that burns wood, purifies metal and hardens clay. It is not the fire, but what the substance is made of that makes the difference. James tells us that trials produce patience (Jas 1:2-4)
Darwin’s house collapsed because it was built upon the sand. Jesus said that winds, rain and floods will come to all people. Those whose lives are built upon faith in Christ will withstand the adversity. Adversity will cause all others to collapse into utter hopelessness and ruin, as did Darwin’s (Mt. 7:24-27).
When David’s little baby died, he said: “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Sam 12:23).
Hardships, heartaches and suffering will happen. Your faith and trust in Christ can get you through those dark days, by prayer and the hope of being forever at home in Heaven. Or, your faith can crash, like Darwin’s did, and you can lose all hope of eternity and live a life denying God.
Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. Sweet Annie is being comforted by the arms of our Lord. Don’t give up on God when life turns sour. God has a place awaiting you!
Roger
January, 2009