January 24, 2020 Brethren Letter
Dear Brethren,
“I have seen this twentieth century develop into a state of awesome advancement and achievement industrially and technologically. Paradoxically, I have seen alarming escalation of appalling evils, crime and violence and the crucible of nuclear war develop to threaten the very extinction of the human race within the present living generation” (Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong – Mystery of the Ages).
Man’s technological know-how has developed at such a fast-paced, almost mind-boggling rate. It seems new hi-tech equipment arrives on the scene every few months. Just think, it wasn’t that many years ago that words like “Smart-phone” “Bluetooth” or “terabyte” weren’t found anywhere in our vocabulary. Now even desktop computers (once thought of as the latest electronic marvel), are expected to become obsolete in a few years. That’s how rapidly technology is changing.
God gave the human mind such marvelous ability to think, reason, and understand material things. Even with all that mankind has learned scientifically and technologically, the ability to live peacefully on this earth without any threat of war still eludes the nations.
The Bible clearly shows us that “man” does not know the way to peace. “The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace” (Isaiah 59:8).
It will take God’s intervention to bring about lasting peace on this earth. If it wasn’t for God’s involvement, man would eventually destroy ALL life. “Had not those days been cut short, not a soul would be saved alive; however, for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short” (Matthew 24:22 – Moffatt Translation). The good news is that mankind will survive! That’s a promise from God!
I’ll end tonight’s letter with part of what Mr. Armstrong wrote in the booklet What Science Can’t Discover About the HUMAN MIND (p. 1-2). Brethren, remember, it is given to God’s people to understand just what the MISSING DIMENSION in human knowledge is and how peace will finally be achieved.
WHY cannot the greatest minds solve world problems? Scientists have said, “Given sufficient knowledge, and we shall solve all human problems and cure all our evils.” Since 1960 the world’s fund of knowledge has doubled. But humanity’s evils also have doubled.
WHY? Is something wrong with the human MIND? Is something MISSING? There most certainly is a MISSING DIMENSION in human knowledge. A human manufacturer sends along with the instrument or device he manufactures an INSTRUCTION BOOKLET describing what his product is intended to do with full directions for accomplishing its purpose. The most perfect mechanism ever designed and made is the marvelous mind and body that is MAN. And it is also only natural that our Maker sent along His INSTRUCTION MANUAL — revealing for our good what we ARE, WHY we are, where we are going, and what is the way.
That instruction book is the Holy Bible. Yet man has made this the most MISunderstood, misinterpreted and maligned book that ever came into human hands.
Nevertheless, the MISSING DIMENSION IN KNOWLEDGE is all there revealed. The incredible HUMAN POTENTIAL is there revealed and made plain — if MAN would only read it — and BELIEVE WHAT IT SAYS!
It is our source book. It reveals to us WHY we humans were put here on earth — WHAT we are — WHERE we are going — the unrealized incredible human potential — HOW to operate this human mechanism of mind and body to live happily in peace and to achieve that awesome potential.
Please have a good night’s rest!
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Liebold