Flat Earth, Crescent Moon, Falling Stars & Light From Above

Why are some things believed while other things denied?

Does something true cease being true because others deny it, or disbelieve it?

For a long time man believed the sun would 'rise' over the earth, believing the earth not to be rotating, but the sun moving around the earth.

Standing on the earth and observing things, yes the sun does seem to 'rise' in the east and 'set' in the west.

As time and contemplation has allowed for more accurate understandings to develop, man can now conceptualize that the earth is in a solar system moving around the sun, the solar system moving about in a particular galaxy, among a plethora of other galaxies... all within a universe with yet undiscovered borders.

Has the sun's movement (the perceived / observed movement) changed because of a better understanding between the relation between the sun and earth?

No.

Believing exactly 'how' the earth and sun relate to one another may be important to some people.

But in reality, has anything changed from the truth / reality that the sun shines light upon the earth, light which life and existence depends on and wouldn't exist without?

People still say the sun rises and it sets, although this could be argued by some scientific snobs as ignorant and incorrect.

To the man standing on the earth, the sun still looks like it moves 'across' the sky, although the sky / atmosphere is only a few miles thick (800 miles) compared to the sun's distance from earth (about 93 million miles).

It seems mankind has matured over time regarding his understanding of the world around him, but the world around him hasn't ceased 'moving' as it always has moved despite gaining deeper understandings.

This has also been the case regarding the spiritual path that God has revealed to mankind under heaven.

When looking at names, titles or descriptions of God, historically, the 'revealing' of God's attributes have been shown over time, a little bit at a time.

Much how man has been discovery more things about the world around them, so also God has been bringing mankind closer to Himself with every passing generation.

But sadly, just as still today some people refuse to believe that the earth actually moves around the sun (or that the earth is actually spherical and not flat), some men are bound to deny facts already long established.

No amount of observation, or contemplation, grants insight or understanding into 'who' God is unless God intends that person to know Him.

How can this be?

Let us consider; if God is Sovereign, knows all things past, present and future, and is the sole Author of Life, then it is God who decides to whom He will reveal His Self to.

When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” 

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 

Yeshua replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 

- Matthew 16: 13-17

The world and its religions are full of opinions, theories, ideas about “who” Yeshua is... but as one can read for themselves, to understand “who” Yeshua is... that understanding is not according to mere observation or human effort... but by God's choice.

The term “Messiah” goes hand-in-hand with “Son of the living God”.

Many have claimed to be gods, or son(s) of the gods, or manifestation of any certain 'god', or something special or unique, like a prophet of God... yet they disagree with what has already been established.

The sun will continue to shine and 'look' like it is revolving around the earth regardless if people know how things actually move, same as the Light of God in the Son will continue to shine where darkness has people believing myths and contrived legends, but not accepting what has been made evident.

Peter responded with certainty in confessing that Yeshua is actually the long-awaited Christ (Messiah), the factual “Son of God” as prophecy had anticipated – Immanuel (God with us).

Christ's response to Peter affirms the reality that those who believe such a confession, only do so by God's allowance... not according to human effort, logic, deductive reasoning or a well conceived debate.

This “faith” is truly a gift from Above; a blessing upon those who are given understanding of “who” Yeshua is.

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Yeshua answered. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me. No one has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.” 

- John 6: 43-46