In school we studied axioms. In math and logic an axiom is "a statement that needs no proof because its truth is obvious" (Websters New World Dictionary. 98). Euclids famous axiom was "things equal to the same thing are equal to each other" (Webster, 98). An axiom is a self-evident truth. We observed other axioms such as: "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line." Who hasnt paraphrased this obvious truth by saying, "as the crow flies? Then there was the one, the sum is equal to the total of its parts." We need this obvious truth to check our answers.

But there are some more truths which men, both secular humanists and halfhearted believers, need reminding of today. They would be obvious even without a revelation from God, though many of them are alluded to in Scripture.

1. Something Cannot Come From Nothing. In all of human experience no one has observed otherwise. A thing is universally accepted as true when no one can demonstrate that the opposite occasionally happens. It is on this basis that we conclude that the universe could not be self-existent, for it would have created itself from nothing. If there was ever a time when totally nothing existed then that situation would be locked in forever. There would just be a constant eternity of nothingness, for something cannot come from nothing. But this leads to another axiom.

2. Mind Is Superior To Matter. Left to itself, matter cannot choose to act on its own. Matter can be acted upon by mind (intelligence), but not the other way around. An enormous amount of planning and action (mind, intelligence and power) would have been necessary in order to bring this orderly universe and all life systems into being. We are forced to conclude that the First Cause was not lifeless matter but a highly intelligent mind. "Mind over matter" is an axiom. "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why didst thou make me thus?" (Rom. 9:20)

3, Creation Demands A Creator, For every house was builded by someone" (Heb. 3:4). We can all agree about the house. Shouldnt it be even more obvious that something which requires even more power and intelligence than a house was brought into existence by a more powerful and more intelligent being? The "logic" of unbelievers is woefully lacking at this point. The word create" is a verb, an action word. But a verb cannot show action unless there is a noun to do the acting.

4. Lift Demands A Life-giver. Something cannot give that which it does not have. No one has ever demonstrated the opposite. Scientists agree that "all life comes from existing lift (the law of biogenesis)." This is one reason the "Big Bang Theory" is not a sufficient explanation for a universe that is filled with numberless forms of life. Whoever" gave the abundance of life we see everywhere around us, had it to give and knows the secret to life that remains a mystery to man (Acts 17:25).

5. Law Demands A Law-giver. Many laws of nature exist motion, gravity, etc. They attest to the fact that there is a Lawgiver somewhere, Every effect must have an adequate cause. There has to he a Moving Force that brings the elements together in such a way as to make these laws dependable and useful. It would he terrible if each day was different and these laws went in and out of effect at random (Job 28:25; Eccl. 1:6,7)

6. That Which Is Being Sustained Demand A Sustainer. An enormous amount of energy is needed to keep the earth rotating on its axis and revolving around the sun, to say nothing about the energy needed that keeps all other heavenly bodies moving in their galaxies. For anything to continue functioning it must have sustenance. And what about the energy needed that keeps the earth providing fuel for man and machine? Jam the sustainer and maintainer of my automobile. It needs both sustenance and maintenance regularly. Concerning the universe, he upholdeth all things by the word of his power (Heb. 1:3; Acts 17:25). It is continuous action and not at all like the deist who believes in a one-time creation in which the creator has no further interest in his creation or its functioning.

7. Design Demands A Designer. Everything in the universe has design, even snowflakes. The fact that the earth tilts at the right angle to give us dependable seasons every year (Gen. 8:22), that it completes a rotation on its axis every day and a revolution around the sun every year so that we can set our clocks and make our calendars, that all living organisms have dependable systems (respiratory, circulation, nervous, etc.) these are but the hem of the garment of evidence of design in the universe (Psa. 139:14-18).

8. The Fact That Man Has A Conscience implies An intelligent Creator, Designer, Sustainer, Life-giver And Law-giver Who Has A Set Of Standards Of Right And Wrong. We have already shown the logic of an intelligent Creator. Everything that any being with intelligence does, has a point to it (or a reason for it). What other reason could there be for mans being given a conscience (a sense of "ought" and ought not") if there is no standard by which to order and measure it? This implies a revelation of the will of the Law-giver.

There are other selfevident truths, hut there is a final one we want to observe in a moment. First, we need to consider the consequences of saying, as the humanist does. that there is no Creator, Designer, Sustainer, Life-giver. Law-giver or Moral Being. It is to say that each man is merely an animal and a law unto himself, that there is no meaning to life or the universe, you better put self first, get all you can and do all you want to do because here and now" is all you have. It is to invite a "free-forall" in morality. Do you wonder at the rapid increase in crime.- the drive-by shootings, car-jackings. that rape has increased by 70% since 1933. etc.? Brother Connie Adams recently observed that no nation has survived her own moral decline. That leads us to our final axiom.

8. You Will Reap What You Sow. No one has demonstrated the opposite. Experience tells us this truth in the plant world: sow cornreap corn. How terrible it would be if we couldnt depend on this. But it is also true in life. We need not fearthis self-evident truth if we are sowing the proper seed. However, he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; hut he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:7, 8).

Evidence is all around us- These truths are obvious. Those who ignore them or are half-hearted are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). Are you ready for the Lord to take vengeance on "those who know not God and obey not the gospel?" (2 Thess. 1:7-9). Are you prepared to reap what you have sown? All humanists and indifferent believers who have not made preparation for the inevitable need to take warning. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27).

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 2, p. 18-19
January 20, 1994