I recently met a 19-year-old college student during a meet and greet after I spoke at the Ark Encounter. This young lady was homeschooled, had visited the Ark and Creation Museum attractions before, and had been taught by her parents with AiG resources. This bright young lady had been very well equipped to not compromise God’s Word and stand boldly for the truth.
As is the case with the majority of such colleges, the compromise on God’s Word is rampant.
She attends a “Christian” college and was shocked when she went to her biology class: It was the first time in her education that she had been taught evolution as fact. She had chosen this Christian college because they had portrayed themselves in such a Christian way in their marketing materials. I looked up their website, and yes, one would certainly think it would be a fantastic Christian college. And yet, as is the case with the majority of such colleges, the compromise on God’s Word is rampant.
This young lady shared that she carefully asked specific questions of her professor, and as a result, other students started talking to her and asking more questions concerning her challenges. Sadly, most students from church homes aren’t equipped as this young lady was, and it’s really only exceptional students who survive in such an environment. I was able to help her further by providing other resources and putting her in contact with one of our scientists who she could call when she needed answers to refute what was being taught.
This reminded me once again of how God has used our attractions and resources. This month, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Ark Encounter. Praise God that our extensive guest surveys continue to reflect that 70,000 people a year become Christians as a result of visiting the Ark attraction (30,000 a year at the Creation Museum). That should encourage you, as our supporters, concerning your investment in this ministry that sees phenomenal returns for eternity—and that’s the best return you could have on your investment.
As well as reaching out to non-Christians (research indicates 30% of those who attend our attractions are non-Christians), our attractions, resources, and all the other aspects of the AiG ministry equip Christians and help parents pass on a spiritual legacy to coming generations.
I was thinking about this as I gave a presentation to those attending the graduation of our senior class at our Answers Academy Christian school (this is now our third graduating class). I thought you would like to know what I shared with the students and their families.
I based my presentation on the words “come out” and explained that Babylon is used as a metaphor for the evil world system that opposes God, a system replete with corruption, sexual immorality, and idolatry to name just some of the wickedness.
As I’ve done in some of my talks, I explained how America (in fact, the whole Western world) has become like Babylon and used this as my theme verse.
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)
This is the outline of my challenge to the students:
- I reminded them that at our parent partnership, discipleship school, we helped their parents to pass on a spiritual legacy to them. As part of this training, we equipped them to think foundationally and to argue foundationally using apologetics so they could defend the Christian faith and be an effective witness to the world. What we were doing was pouring salt into them so they would mature to be able to equip Christians and challenge non-Christians. I used these illustrations:
- I told them that, sadly, the majority of students from church homes do not get the training they had, and so many end up being contaminated by the world. I used these slides as I discussed this:
- Then I reminded them of the broad way (Babylon) and the narrow way. We did our best, along with their parents, to ensure they were on the narrow way. I also helped them understand that the broad way is the world and the narrow way is within the broad way but going in the opposite direction.
- My next point used Revelation 18:4 to remind them that they needed to ensure they were out of Babylon:
- But then to understand that the world uses “come out” to mean publicly flaunting the perverse sexual sins of Babylon:
- Now for the Christian, “come out” means to come out of Babylon and be conformed to the image of Christ:
- I also didn’t want them to get confused by Scripture where Jesus states, “I do not ask you to take them out of the world.” The point is, we are in the world, and thus we are to be a witness to the world but not to partake in the world’s sins but “come out” from that. We stay in, so we are involved in impacting the world, but stay out of the world’s sins.
- At the end, I gave them a charge, a warning, and a final admonition. Read the slides to see what I said.
I would encourage you to give the presentation I gave to any students in your family or friends. The charge, warning, and admonition are things all of us need to take to heart. And really, this has been the message of AiG since it began! Oh, how we need to get that message to more people than ever. I personally think America (and the whole West) has become in many ways worse than Babylon.
Oh, how I’m burdened to call as many as possible out of Babylon. How I praise God for the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Ark Encounter. And really, calling people out of “Babylon” is, in essence, the core message of the Ark and Creation Museum attractions.
Will you help us to call even more people out of Babylon and reach as many people as possible with the truth of God’s Word and the saving gospel? Jesus Christ is the only way out of the situation that America finds herself in 250 years after her founding. I urge you to prayerfully consider a generous gift at AnswersDonate.com. Your prayers and financial support are invaluable and have an impact for eternity.
Thank you for helping us celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the opening of the Ark Encounter and the millions of lives impacted in those 10 years. And thank you for your prayers and support so that we can continue to reach millions more in the next 10 years!
In Christ,
Ken
