In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered, and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
_________________________________
"God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves..."
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
_______________________________
I often hear "why are we here?" "Why does this so-called "God" allow so much pain, grief, and suffering?"
It's not an easy question to dwell on, or answer. Some will find my answer completely ridiculous and almost fantasy land...
That's ok with me...
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he [that's you and I] that comes to God must believe that HE IS ["I AM THAT I AM..." - Ex 3:14], and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen [faith is the evidence of things not seen?!]
How can one supply any kind of evidence from something that is not seen? That seems crazy doesn't it?.
In other words...
The reason I "hope" for something beyond this life, even though it is "NOT SEEN", is because of my faith in what the greatest book seller of all time says...
I have other reasons, but they are possibly the same reasons that some of you may not believe...
I didn't live at the time Jesus walked this earth, and didn't personally witness what was recorded in Scripture... but, we know from other historians that He did walk this earth. Whether Messiah, or not, can be questioned by some... but we know that He was a figure in our history.
So no - I have no absolute evidence, or proof, of what the entirety of Scripture tells me... but, I find consistency throughout prophecy (prophecy from Daniel is coming alive today!), historical evidence, and the consistency of the individual writers over many hundreds of years, that cause me to pause enough to question my own existence and what the meaning of life may be.
_____________________________
It's taken me years (now decades) of digging for answers beyond what someone behind a pulpit has tried to explain to me.
The more you dig, the deeper and wider the hole.
For me, it's been a very personal journey with many "ups" and "downs" along the way (and I still have those up and downs... I'm still learning!). Usually, trying to disprove what they were telling me from behind the pulpit!
If you know me... you know that! I've had ups and downs, and have usually rebelled.
But... through it all - I believe in the authenticity of the Scriptures. Personally, I have no choice after coming up dirty from my digging...
Through all of my digging, even through all of the atheist arguments, the only answer that makes any kind of sense to me is one that requires faith in something bigger than this physical, very short life... that is the reason for my hope.
_________________________
I believe our English translated Bible has a few problems with consistency in authentic translation, which have, in turn created some doctrinal misunderstandings and differences.
That's not to say that I don't believe in the totality of His Word. I do. I believe it to be one big parable for us to discern. This life is our test!
Mat 13:44 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
It's a treasure to me... you must dig for that treasure, and once you find it? You can't possibly let go of it!
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
That's also not to say that I have it all figured out... I don't. I never will have it all figured out. The Living Word of God will always be teaching me something new.
I (personally) believe that some tares (lies) have worked their way into the wheat (Truth) along the way (Matt 13:24-30) and possibly spoiled the faith of some.
Coincidentally (maybe not), those tares have found their way into several doctrinal statements (in the words of SNL's Church lady... could it beeee... Satan?!).
However, that is not the purpose of this blog...
________________________
Why are we here?
There are answers (whether you accept them, or not, is up to you), however... here's what I believe:
[1] A Great and Wise Creator, GOD (Jehovah) PUT US HERE intentionally. He started the human family for His purpose.
Why would He do that?
He wanted a family... the same as most of us want - to love, to be loved, and to care for a family.
First - straight from the KJV:
Rom 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Now, my emphasis....
Rom 8:28-29 And we know that ALL things work together for good [GOOD - because of His flawless plan] to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose [not your purpose, not mine... HIS purpose]. For whom He did foreknow [He knew from before you were created], He also did predestinate [PRE-determined] to be conformed [PRE-designed / fashioned after] to the image of His Son, that He [Jesus] might be the firstborn [Jesus was the FIRST of our kind through Whom ALL was created] among many brethren [that's US!... Jesus is the firstborn of all of mankind (you and I)].
His family of children are to be patterned after, to resemble, to become - like Jesus!
I love my direct family and my extended family! I've yearned for a family of my own... grand-parents, parents, sons, daughters... grandchildren... etc.,... it's something that has been instilled in us from the beginning (Gen 1:28). A yearning for a loving fellowship together, as one unit...
That is HIS PLAN - from the beginning!
______________________________________
(I'm not sure why some Christians don't accept this? They usually accept that God created the Tree of the knowledge of both good and evil and placed it in the middle of the Garden BEFORE Eve ate thereof... God planned on her eating thereof!)
He also created Satan, as His Spiritual Adversary to TEACH US the importance of His qualities (Satan was not a perfect archangel who decided to turn against God... see this blog)!
I've tried... I can't think of any better way to explain this crazy life... that's IT (above)!
_________________________________
This is why... Jesus (Yeshua).
THE Perfect Atonement, through Whom ALL things were created, God in the flesh, the Image of the Invisible God, accomplished it for us, knowing full well - BEFORE He created us - that He, Himself, would satisfy the vast chasm between perfect and imperfect... allowing US to come together in the end [in immortality] as one unit - His family! - after this learning period, this imperfect mortal life.
Why?!
So we could dwell together as a family unit in perfect immortality with Him - Our Creator - our Father.
We, in this lifetime, will never achieve God's perfection, no matter how hard we try. The burden began with, and returns to God...
"And by His stripes we are healed (we are "cured" and "made whole")".
He already had a plan in place, before He brought us into this life! He already knew before the foundation (creation) of this world!
Eph 1:4-5 According as He has chosen US in Him before the foundation of the world, that WE should be Holy and without blame before Him IN LOVE: Having predestined US unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
____________________________
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
_________________________________
"God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves..."
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
_______________________________
I often hear "why are we here?" "Why does this so-called "God" allow so much pain, grief, and suffering?"
It's not an easy question to dwell on, or answer. Some will find my answer completely ridiculous and almost fantasy land...
That's ok with me...
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he [that's you and I] that comes to God must believe that HE IS ["I AM THAT I AM..." - Ex 3:14], and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen [faith is the evidence of things not seen?!]
How can one supply any kind of evidence from something that is not seen? That seems crazy doesn't it?.
In other words...
The reason I "hope" for something beyond this life, even though it is "NOT SEEN", is because of my faith in what the greatest book seller of all time says...
I have other reasons, but they are possibly the same reasons that some of you may not believe...
I didn't live at the time Jesus walked this earth, and didn't personally witness what was recorded in Scripture... but, we know from other historians that He did walk this earth. Whether Messiah, or not, can be questioned by some... but we know that He was a figure in our history.
So no - I have no absolute evidence, or proof, of what the entirety of Scripture tells me... but, I find consistency throughout prophecy (prophecy from Daniel is coming alive today!), historical evidence, and the consistency of the individual writers over many hundreds of years, that cause me to pause enough to question my own existence and what the meaning of life may be.
_____________________________
It's taken me years (now decades) of digging for answers beyond what someone behind a pulpit has tried to explain to me.
The more you dig, the deeper and wider the hole.
For me, it's been a very personal journey with many "ups" and "downs" along the way (and I still have those up and downs... I'm still learning!). Usually, trying to disprove what they were telling me from behind the pulpit!
If you know me... you know that! I've had ups and downs, and have usually rebelled.
But... through it all - I believe in the authenticity of the Scriptures. Personally, I have no choice after coming up dirty from my digging...
Through all of my digging, even through all of the atheist arguments, the only answer that makes any kind of sense to me is one that requires faith in something bigger than this physical, very short life... that is the reason for my hope.
_________________________
I believe our English translated Bible has a few problems with consistency in authentic translation, which have, in turn created some doctrinal misunderstandings and differences.
That's not to say that I don't believe in the totality of His Word. I do. I believe it to be one big parable for us to discern. This life is our test!
Mat 13:44 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
It's a treasure to me... you must dig for that treasure, and once you find it? You can't possibly let go of it!
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
That's also not to say that I have it all figured out... I don't. I never will have it all figured out. The Living Word of God will always be teaching me something new.
I (personally) believe that some tares (lies) have worked their way into the wheat (Truth) along the way (Matt 13:24-30) and possibly spoiled the faith of some.
Coincidentally (maybe not), those tares have found their way into several doctrinal statements (in the words of SNL's Church lady... could it beeee... Satan?!).
However, that is not the purpose of this blog...
________________________
Why are we here?
There are answers (whether you accept them, or not, is up to you), however... here's what I believe:
[1] A Great and Wise Creator, GOD (Jehovah) PUT US HERE intentionally. He started the human family for His purpose.
Why would He do that?
He wanted a family... the same as most of us want - to love, to be loved, and to care for a family.
First - straight from the KJV:
Rom 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Now, my emphasis....
Rom 8:28-29 And we know that ALL things work together for good [GOOD - because of His flawless plan] to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose [not your purpose, not mine... HIS purpose]. For whom He did foreknow [He knew from before you were created], He also did predestinate [PRE-determined] to be conformed [PRE-designed / fashioned after] to the image of His Son, that He [Jesus] might be the firstborn [Jesus was the FIRST of our kind through Whom ALL was created] among many brethren [that's US!... Jesus is the firstborn of all of mankind (you and I)].
His family of children are to be patterned after, to resemble, to become - like Jesus!
I love my direct family and my extended family! I've yearned for a family of my own... grand-parents, parents, sons, daughters... grandchildren... etc.,... it's something that has been instilled in us from the beginning (Gen 1:28). A yearning for a loving fellowship together, as one unit...
That is HIS PLAN - from the beginning!
______________________________________
[2] God is not stupid - He had a grand purpose in mind before creating mankind (His offspring!).
Act 17:26-28 And hath made of one blood ALL nations of men [made of one blood - ALL or only some?] for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being [I'm not going to get into this now, but each one of us exist because of Him... believers AND unbelievers! it's the Scriptural explanation of body, Spirit, and soul... another blog!]; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His OFFSPRING.
"We belong to His race..." (Moffatt translation)
"We are His kindred..." (Lamsa, Eastern texts)
"For indeed we are His children..." (Knox translation)
Act 17:26-28 And hath made of one blood ALL nations of men [made of one blood - ALL or only some?] for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being [I'm not going to get into this now, but each one of us exist because of Him... believers AND unbelievers! it's the Scriptural explanation of body, Spirit, and soul... another blog!]; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His OFFSPRING.
"We belong to His race..." (Moffatt translation)
"We are His kindred..." (Lamsa, Eastern texts)
"For indeed we are His children..." (Knox translation)
____________________________
Scripture teaches us that God has many perfect attributes, powers, knowledge, etc., that obviously mankind is still considering because it's mostly outside of our realm of perfect understanding as His created, carnal children (not pre-programmed hardware).
God wants us, as His children, to have those same perfect attributes, especially LOVE!
Qualities of character, such as Love, were not instantaneously created (ask any parent of a terrible two-year-old) and they can't truly be realized outside of His plan.
Per His foresight, and design, they must be developed over time, within us imperfect (unlike our Creator) carnal, human beings.
God did not create little robot "mini-me's"... He created a family of children who are capable of learning.
That development takes a creation, circumstances, and time.
Some of those circumstances, over time, are not necessarily always pleasant. God created ALL these things necessary for the development of pure character within His children.
Although God is absolute GOOD, He nonetheless has a knowledge and understanding of both good AND evil.
This may come as a shock to some of my Christian friends, but GOD CREATED EVIL!
God wants us, as His children, to have those same perfect attributes, especially LOVE!
Qualities of character, such as Love, were not instantaneously created (ask any parent of a terrible two-year-old) and they can't truly be realized outside of His plan.
Per His foresight, and design, they must be developed over time, within us imperfect (unlike our Creator) carnal, human beings.
God did not create little robot "mini-me's"... He created a family of children who are capable of learning.
That development takes a creation, circumstances, and time.
Some of those circumstances, over time, are not necessarily always pleasant. God created ALL these things necessary for the development of pure character within His children.
Although God is absolute GOOD, He nonetheless has a knowledge and understanding of both good AND evil.
This may come as a shock to some of my Christian friends, but GOD CREATED EVIL!
Isa 45:5-7 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded you, though you have not known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the LORD do ALL these things.
(I'm not sure why some Christians don't accept this? They usually accept that God created the Tree of the knowledge of both good and evil and placed it in the middle of the Garden BEFORE Eve ate thereof... God planned on her eating thereof!)
We, ALSO, must come to an understanding of both good and evil as created, imperfect human beings.
It's a learning process.
It's a learning process.
____________________________
Why?!
Because ALL KNOWLEDGE (from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil - parable for God's knowledge) hinges on their proper understanding.
Because ALL KNOWLEDGE (from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil - parable for God's knowledge) hinges on their proper understanding.
How can we understand GOOD if we can't comprehend EVIL?
How can we understand LIGHT without DARKNESS?
How can we understand PROVISION unless we understand hunger, nakedness, and no place to hang our hat? ("Even the birds of the air..." (Matt 6:26))
Etc.,...
Most importantly, how can we understand and fully comprehend LOVE without knowing, and witnessing HATE?
How can we understand LIGHT without DARKNESS?
How can we understand PROVISION unless we understand hunger, nakedness, and no place to hang our hat? ("Even the birds of the air..." (Matt 6:26))
Etc.,...
Most importantly, how can we understand and fully comprehend LOVE without knowing, and witnessing HATE?
_________________________________________
Some Christians suppose that if Adam and Eve had not sinned, then we all would STILL, right now, be enjoying the blissful, beautiful life of happiness, and complete bliss, in the fabulous Garden of Eden... not true!
Adam and Eve did NOT appreciate what they had with God in the Garden before they ate of the fruit (see this blog). God created them, knowing full well, they would fall (sin)! They had NO CONTRAST to compare it with. It was part of His plan...
Adam and Eve did NOT appreciate what they had with God in the Garden before they ate of the fruit (see this blog). God created them, knowing full well, they would fall (sin)! They had NO CONTRAST to compare it with. It was part of His plan...
God created the evil in their fleshly hearts, as imperfect human beings, to teach them the importance of His qualities (as we would teach our own children).
Out of necessity, imperfect humans must learn the perfect qualities of The Creator in this imperfect life in order to come to the fullness of His perfection!
Out of necessity, imperfect humans must learn the perfect qualities of The Creator in this imperfect life in order to come to the fullness of His perfection!
Let me say this again... please consider this!
God created the evil in their fleshly [carnal] hearts, as imperfect human beings [children], to teach them [to demonstrate] the importance of His qualities. Out of necessity, imperfect humans [children] must learn the perfect qualities of The Creator, in this imperfect life, in order to come to the fullness of His perfection so that we [as His children / family / offspring] may live a perfect, immortal life as ONE UNIT [one family] in His LOVE!
He also created Satan, as His Spiritual Adversary to TEACH US the importance of His qualities (Satan was not a perfect archangel who decided to turn against God... see this blog)!
_________________________________
This is why... Jesus (Yeshua).
THE Perfect Atonement, through Whom ALL things were created, God in the flesh, the Image of the Invisible God, accomplished it for us, knowing full well - BEFORE He created us - that He, Himself, would satisfy the vast chasm between perfect and imperfect... allowing US to come together in the end [in immortality] as one unit - His family! - after this learning period, this imperfect mortal life.
Why?!
So we could dwell together as a family unit in perfect immortality with Him - Our Creator - our Father.
We, in this lifetime, will never achieve God's perfection, no matter how hard we try. The burden began with, and returns to God...
"And by His stripes we are healed (we are "cured" and "made whole")".
He already had a plan in place, before He brought us into this life! He already knew before the foundation (creation) of this world!
Isa 53:5 But He [Jesus] was wounded for OUR transgressions [rebellion], He was bruised for OUR [not His] iniquities [guilt]: the chastisement [another blog coming soon on the meaning of chastisement!] of our peace was upon Him [before the foundation of the world]; and with His stripes we are healed [this was written BEFORE Jesus died on the cross].
Eph 1:4-5 According as He has chosen US in Him before the foundation of the world, that WE should be Holy and without blame before Him IN LOVE: Having predestined US unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
____________________________
God wants CHILDREN.
God is building a FAMILY.
Children are to grow up and have the attributes of their parents.
These things must be learned by experience!
Anyone with a terrible two-year old must wonder where this child's belligerence comes from! We sin from birth... nobody taught that two-year old how to rebel! It's already instilled! It is our carnal nature and it didn't come from "the fall" of Adam and Eve... God created all of us this way.
Anyone with a terrible two-year old must wonder where this child's belligerence comes from! We sin from birth... nobody taught that two-year old how to rebel! It's already instilled! It is our carnal nature and it didn't come from "the fall" of Adam and Eve... God created all of us this way.
Not only didn't Adam and Eve appreciate what they had, they absolutely could not have appreciated what they had, because they experienced ONLY GOOD in the beginning.
Try to come up with one virtue, such as love, patience, honesty, goodness, faithfulness, loyalty, obedience, bravery, etc., that can be truly learned and appreciated without the opposite attribute.
Anything of a virtuous nature, that does not involve the overcoming of some form of evil, is not a true virtue that we need to learn from Him.
There is no GOOD - NO VIRTUE, NO CHARACTER, NO STABILITY of any kind, in any one of us, except one that overcomes some form of EVIL.
In other words - none of those virtues even truly exist - without the presence of the opposite.
There is no GOOD - NO VIRTUE, NO CHARACTER, NO STABILITY of any kind, in any one of us, except one that overcomes some form of EVIL.
In other words - none of those virtues even truly exist - without the presence of the opposite.
__________________________
Now can you see why we are here?
Now can you see why there is not only good, but so much evil in this world?
It is necessary!
In His infinite wisdom and understanding... He KNEW! I AM THAT I AM!
In His infinite wisdom and understanding... He KNEW! I AM THAT I AM!
God did not put EVIL here simply to make us miserable in this temporal life!
He created evil and the Adversary (Satan - spiritual being) to teach us as children in order to learn His pure attributes!
We could not possibly learn those good / pure / Holy attributes without witnessing the evil attributes as created children. The end goal is to become more like Him!
________________________
God is NOT in a battle for supremacy with Satan.
He created evil and the Adversary (Satan - spiritual being) to teach us as children in order to learn His pure attributes!
We could not possibly learn those good / pure / Holy attributes without witnessing the evil attributes as created children. The end goal is to become more like Him!
________________________
God is NOT in a battle for supremacy with Satan.
God CREATED Satan.
God USES Satan to teach us the values, and Holy attributes, of Himself.
Satan did not "fall"... he did not decide to become "evil incarnate" and overtake God's throne... (that's another blog! Lucifer is NOT a name for Satan, and the story in Isaiah and Ezekial is not one of "Lucifer" falling as we've been taught!)
God USES Satan to teach us the values, and Holy attributes, of Himself.
Satan did not "fall"... he did not decide to become "evil incarnate" and overtake God's throne... (that's another blog! Lucifer is NOT a name for Satan, and the story in Isaiah and Ezekial is not one of "Lucifer" falling as we've been taught!)
God is enlarging His family into billions of sons and daughters. This life is part of the training ground to become (it's a necessary process) the very SONS and DAUGHTERS OF GOD.
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
ALL evil, including death itself, will be abolished when God has used those things that we consider abhorrent, to bring His family to a level of LOVE and RIGHTEOUSNESS that HE DESIRES.
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
ALL evil, including death itself, will be abolished when God has used those things that we consider abhorrent, to bring His family to a level of LOVE and RIGHTEOUSNESS that HE DESIRES.
We will then inherit all that God HAS and all that God IS. You must run the race, with endurance, to it's completion!
Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience [endurance] the race THAT IS SET before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher [the Alpha and Omega] of our faith; who for the JOY that was set before Him endured [the same kind of endurance] the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
_____________________________
God is truly OUR FATHER. He cares for us more than we care for our own children.
I find it hard to believe that anyone loves my children (btw, on loan to me - really His children!) more than me... He's teaching us how to love in TRUTH!
Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience [endurance] the race THAT IS SET before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher [the Alpha and Omega] of our faith; who for the JOY that was set before Him endured [the same kind of endurance] the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
_____________________________
God is truly OUR FATHER. He cares for us more than we care for our own children.
I find it hard to believe that anyone loves my children (btw, on loan to me - really His children!) more than me... He's teaching us how to love in TRUTH!
Life will not always be miserable and painful as it may seem to us now. This too shall pass.
That is my hope! My faith rests in my hope in Him!
Rev 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
That is my hope! My faith rests in my hope in Him!
Rev 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
This earthly life is only the beginning, it is the "first things" which will pass away... it's a training ground for us.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.
Without faith, there is no hope... what are we living for without hope? This short life? No thanks...
I've found the opposite is also true - those without hope - have no, or very little faith.
God did not desire robots, or He would've created us with the same inability to learn... we would've automatically known what He knows and desires, as pre-programmed hardware.
Who wants a pre-programmed robot for a child? He desired to teach us, the same way we desire to teach our children those same virtuous traits.
In the words of Rick Warren (not a "fan" of Rick Warren, and not "not a fan")... this quote just spoke to me:
"One day we're gonna stand before God and He is going to ask two questions.
The first question is, "What did you do with my Son Jesus Christ?"
Not "what religion were you?", not "what denomination", not "what background", not "where did you go to church".
We were created for a relationship, not a religion - not rituals, not rules, not regulations".
Then the second question... pertaining to this blog even!
"What did you do with what you were given?"
I guess I could've just said that to start with, and this blog wouldn't have been this long [?].
________________________________
I'll end with this: The most important lesson in this life is LOVE, which is not always an easy lesson to learn:
1 Cor 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, ABIDE THESE THREE; but the greatest of these is LOVE.
That's all I've tried to discuss... FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.
We're still a work in progress...
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I consider it a very great honor to be considered as one of Jesus' friends... it blows my mind.
How can you come to find even the smallest piece of faith?
It's simple... one must learn to walk before they can run... only one step to become a part of His family:
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if ANY MAN [or woman, (mankind) doesn't matter who you are, or what you've done... ANY of mankind!] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
As my parents used to tell me... the only key to that door belongs to you.
Jesus will not kick the door down, and neither will I - YOU, alone, must unlock the latch from the inside yourself.
If He's knocking... just answer... even through the door (without opening it completely). He is Faithful and True. Just ask Him, in humility, to help you understand and to help you open the door.
Glen
________________________
I've found the opposite is also true - those without hope - have no, or very little faith.
God did not desire robots, or He would've created us with the same inability to learn... we would've automatically known what He knows and desires, as pre-programmed hardware.
Who wants a pre-programmed robot for a child? He desired to teach us, the same way we desire to teach our children those same virtuous traits.
In the words of Rick Warren (not a "fan" of Rick Warren, and not "not a fan")... this quote just spoke to me:
"One day we're gonna stand before God and He is going to ask two questions.
The first question is, "What did you do with my Son Jesus Christ?"
Not "what religion were you?", not "what denomination", not "what background", not "where did you go to church".
We were created for a relationship, not a religion - not rituals, not rules, not regulations".
Then the second question... pertaining to this blog even!
"What did you do with what you were given?"
I guess I could've just said that to start with, and this blog wouldn't have been this long [?].
________________________________
I'll end with this: The most important lesson in this life is LOVE, which is not always an easy lesson to learn:
1 Cor 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, ABIDE THESE THREE; but the greatest of these is LOVE.
That's all I've tried to discuss... FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.
We're still a work in progress...
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I consider it a very great honor to be considered as one of Jesus' friends... it blows my mind.
How can you come to find even the smallest piece of faith?
It's simple... one must learn to walk before they can run... only one step to become a part of His family:
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if ANY MAN [or woman, (mankind) doesn't matter who you are, or what you've done... ANY of mankind!] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
As my parents used to tell me... the only key to that door belongs to you.
Jesus will not kick the door down, and neither will I - YOU, alone, must unlock the latch from the inside yourself.
If He's knocking... just answer... even through the door (without opening it completely). He is Faithful and True. Just ask Him, in humility, to help you understand and to help you open the door.
Glen
________________________
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
No comments:
Post a Comment