A gorgeously illustrated and wholly comprehensive timeline of the earth's entire history that explains how everything is interconnected.

As comprehensive as the subtitle suggests, What on Earth Happened is a primer for Planet Earth, a giant narrative leap across time and space, one seismic change at a time. Combining the history of earth science and the history of human civilization, What on Earth Happened covers how the earth was formed, how life began, the way the ecosystem works, how species evolved, the rise of man, migration, the development of tools, language, agriculture, art, transportation, architecture, cities, religion, government, global conflicts, and medicine. In short, it shows how everything—from the mountains and flowers and the birds and the bees to the Iraq war and the oil under the Arctic—is all wonderfully, complexly interconnected.

Have you ever known true joy? Do you have this joy in your life right now? If you are longing for fulfillment, for true joy, please read on--this tract may assist you in your quest.

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, ... whom I created for my glory" (Isaiah 43:6-7).

God made us to magnify His greatness--the way telescopes magnify stars. He created us to put His goodness and truth and beauty and wisdom and justice on display. The greatest display of God's glory comes from deep delight in all that He is. This means that God gets the praise and we get the pleasure. God created us so that He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

If God made us for His glory, clearly we should live for His glory. Our duty comes from His design. So our first obligation is to show God's value by being satisfied with all that He is for us. This is the essence of loving God (Matthew 22:37) and trusting Him (1 John 5:3-4) and being thankful to Him (Psalm 100:2-4). It is the root of all true obedience, especially loving others (Colossians 1:4-5).

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

What does it mean to "fall short of the glory of God?" It means that none of us has trusted and treasured God the way we should. We have not been satisfied with His greatness and walked in His ways. We have sought our satisfaction in other things and have treated them as more valuable than God, which is the essence of idolatry (Romans 1:21-23). Since sin came into the world, we have all been deeply resistant to having God as our all-satisfying treasure (Ephesians 2:3). This is an appalling offense to the greatness of God (Jeremiah 2:12-13).

"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23).

We have all belittled the glory of God. How? By preferring other things above Him. By our ingratitude, distrust, and disobedience. So God is just in shutting us out from the enjoyment of His glory forever. "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

The word "hell" is used in the New Testament twelve times--eleven times by Jesus Himself. It is not a myth created by dismal and angry preachers. It is a solemn warning from the Son of God who died to deliver sinners from its curse. We ignore it at great risk.

If the Bible stopped here in its analysis of the human condition, we would be doomed to a hopeless future. However, this is not where it stops...

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15).

The good news is that Christ died for sinners like us. And He rose physically from the dead to validate the saving power of His death and to open the gates of eternal life and joy (1 Corinthians 15:20). This means God can acquit guilty sinners and still be just (Romans 3:25-26). "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Coming home to God is where all deep and lasting satisfaction is found.

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out" (Acts 3:19). "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

"Repent" means to turn from all the deceitful promises of sin. "Faith" means being satisfied with all that God promised to be for us in Jesus. "He who believes in me," Jesus says, "shall never thirst" (John 6:35). We do not earn our salvation. We cannot merit it (Romans 4:4-5). It is by grace through faith that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is a free gift (Romans 3:24).

We will have it if we cherish it enough to receive it and treasure it above all things (Matthew 13:44). When we do that, God's aim in creation is accomplished: He is glorified in us and we are satisfied in Him--forever.

Do you desire the kind of gladness that comes from being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus? If so, then God is at work in your life.

Turn from the deceitful promises of sin. Call upon Jesus to save you from the guilt and punishment and bondage. "All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). Start banking your hope on all that God is for you in Jesus. You can break the power of sin's promises by putting your faith in the superior satisfaction of God's promises. Begin reading the Bible to find His precious and very great promises, which can set you free (2 Peter 1:3-4). Find a Bible-believing church, and begin to worship and grow together with other people who treasure Christ above all things (Philippians 3:7).

The Apostle John's first epistle has brought conviction, understanding and confidence to followers of Christ for the past 20 centuries. This dynamic book of the Bible covers the practical issues that affect our everyday lives--salvation, a godly defense against loving the world, prayer, discerning false spirits, and so much more.

Christians seeking both an in-depth study of this important epistle and a careful application of the Scriptures will be drawn to this complete work. Noted Bible expositor Martyn Lloyd-Jones eloquently discusses 1 John a chapter at a time and gives the straight truth about salvation, freedom from sin and developing a deeper relationship with God. It is a strategic work for all who are seeking to live out their beliefs and faithfully follow their Savior.