Article appeared Friday, May 4th, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (227)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it important for created beings to research the nature of the Creator? Should we worry about incurring His displeasure? For example, if we adapt the concept of the Creator to dispel our personal fears, suit our convenience and imagination should our Creator react adversely? For those who want to know more about Him, our Creator has Revealed Himself through His Words in our scriptures. In the Old Testament of the Bible we find, This is what the LORD says your Redeemer and Creator: "I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? [Isaiah 44:24, NLT] {1} And, God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? [Numbers 23:19, NIV] {2} The concepts given are clear and absolute our Creator is NOT a man, NOR is He son of man. He alone created everything, i.e. everything other than our Creator is created. He alone is in control of everything nothing else has absolute power. In practical terms, this means that we should therefore approach Him alone with our fears, our problems and for our salvation. This is explained in the following verse: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. [Isaiah 31:1, NIV] {3} In addition, we are told that our Creator does not change His Mind or lie. This means, all subsequent Revelations should carry and confirm the same concepts including the concepts of atonement for sin and salvation. The fact that the Creators Laws cannot change with time is also confirmed by the most recent Revelation, the Quran, as is the role of Jesus (pbuh):

5.46 And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
So, those who fear annoying the Creator will not want to change or apply foreign interpretations to Revelation. Jesus confirmed the role of prophets in the Old Testament, as he did his own role. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [Matthew 5:17-18] {4} Jesus confirmed that not the smallest letter of the Laws as Revealed by the Creator is changeable. This includes the concepts about the person of Jesus himself. For those who thought Jesus was a ghost during rumors of his death, Jesus allayed doubts, He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. [Luke 24:38-39, NIV] {5}

Jesus was annoyed that the disciples thought him a ghost and questioned their judgment. Before he was bodily lifted by our Creator, Jesus made known: Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' [John 20:17, NLT] {6} For his parting message, Jesus confirmed that he would be lifted by his Creator. He was therefore not killed nor crucified. His disciples physically saw him and held on to him to making sure he was not dead. The Quran confirms this: That they said (in boast) "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Apostle of Allah"; but they killed him not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ are full of doubts with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up to Himself... [4.157 4.158] Are we allowing Jesus to speak for himself? Or do we apply man-made doctrines to interpret what Jesus said? Are we aware of the warning given in Romans? the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. [Romans 8:7, NIV] {7}

5.47 Let the people of the Gospel Judge by what Allah has revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed they are (no better than) those who rebel.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [Ephesians 1:17, NIV] {8}

5.48 To you (O Muhammad) We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture that came before it and guarding it in safety; so judge between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires diverging from the truth that has come to you. To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way. If Allah had so willed He would have made you a single people but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute. 5.49 And this (He commands): Judge between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires but beware of them lest they beguile you from any of the (teaching) which Allah has sent down to you. And if they turn away be assured that for some of their crimes it is Allah's purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.
------{Notes}: {1} http://bible.cc/isaiah/44-24.htm {2} http://bible.cc/numbers/23-19.htm {3} http://bible.cc/isaiah/31-1.htm {4} http://bible.cc/matthew/5-17.htm {5} http://bible.cc/luke/24-38.htm {6} http://bible.cc/john/20-17.htm {7} http://bible.cc/romans/8-7.htm {8} http://bible.cc/ephesians/1-17.htm