“To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” [Jeremiah 6:10 NIV]
We just got through observing a day that was officially set aside for us to be thankful for all that we have in the [United States of America]. Since we have adopted more and more of a politically-correct position, Thanksgiving Day has become less and less of a religious holiday to most.
Thanksgiving Day also marks the beginning of the Christmas season, which is another holiday that has become less and less a religious one. Therefore, I ask you, does our Heavenly Father have a reason to be thankful for us?
Yes, that is a strange way of looking at it, but it is one that we should not turn a blind eye to. For the reason why each and every one of us exist is to give our Heavenly Father an opportunity to truly receive love that is freely given.
Of course, that is a position that hard-core [Calvinist] would vehemently oppose. For they have been led to believe that not all were created to spend all of eternity with our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His in glory, but is it not curious that all who want to believe in such a way are amongst those who want to believe that they are one of the chosen few bound for glory?
No, it would not be fair to just pick on their side of the issue. For hard-core [Arminians] have been led to believe that it is almost all up to us to save ourselves, which places many a road-block in the way to having the kind of relationship with our Heavenly Father that He can truly be thankful for.
You see, the absolute truth of the matter is in the middle of all that. For our Heavenly Father truly is in full control of all that happens, which makes most Arminian points moot. On the other hand, He also gives us the freedom to chose whether or not we want to truly be who we were created to be, which makes the Calvinist argument for limited election flat-out wrong.
Yes, all of that is in regards to where we will spend all of eternity after our time as a part of this world has come to an end, but there is a life to be lived in the meantime. It is during this time that presents our Heavenly Father with the most opportunities to be thankful. For it will be easy to sing His praises when we can truly see Him in all of His most awesome glory in Heaven, but it is another thing entirely when mired in the malaise of this world.
No, I am not talking about belting out the words to a familiar anthem with your hands in the air in the middle of some praise and worship service. For what our Heavenly Father wants the most from us is to have a very close and personal relationship, which requires being able to truly carry on a conversation with Him.
Tragically, far too many do not want to even consider the possibility of that. For they have been taught to be content with the promise of salvation from having to pay the price for their sins. This is enough for them, but what about our Heavenly Father?
Did you notice something curious about the verse that opened this piece? Did you notice that it was our Heavenly Father asking a rhetorical question about who He could speak to during a time we have been so strongly encouraged to believe was before His Holy Spirit moved upon the face of this world? So, how much more must He be upset at this time?
Yes, many have been led to believe that they do have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, but it is by their very own words that prove that they really do not have one. For they talk about the Bible as being the authority that governs their lives instead about its Author, and they talk about the church being more important than the state when it was our Heavenly Father who established both to accomplish His purposes.
No, this is not meant to encourage anyone to throw their Bible in the trash. This is meant to encourage as many as will to want to understand that the true “Word of God” is the Lord Jesus Christ—not the book that He had written about Himself in order to serve as written confirmation of what He wants to personally reveal to us. For when that is better understood, it should not be so hard to accept that He has been talking to us since we were in the womb, and His Holy Scriptures were given to help us to discern between what is truly of Him, the devil and our own imaginations. For without that, it is impossible to truly have a very close and personal relationship with Him.
The same applies to truly having worship service in a church. For of what satisfaction can it truly be to our Heavenly Father to hear people who have no idea who He really is praise His name?
Thanksgiving Day also marks the beginning of the Christmas season, which is another holiday that has become less and less a religious one. Therefore, I ask you, does our Heavenly Father have a reason to be thankful for us?
Yes, that is a strange way of looking at it, but it is one that we should not turn a blind eye to. For the reason why each and every one of us exist is to give our Heavenly Father an opportunity to truly receive love that is freely given.
Of course, that is a position that hard-core [Calvinist] would vehemently oppose. For they have been led to believe that not all were created to spend all of eternity with our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His in glory, but is it not curious that all who want to believe in such a way are amongst those who want to believe that they are one of the chosen few bound for glory?
No, it would not be fair to just pick on their side of the issue. For hard-core [Arminians] have been led to believe that it is almost all up to us to save ourselves, which places many a road-block in the way to having the kind of relationship with our Heavenly Father that He can truly be thankful for.
You see, the absolute truth of the matter is in the middle of all that. For our Heavenly Father truly is in full control of all that happens, which makes most Arminian points moot. On the other hand, He also gives us the freedom to chose whether or not we want to truly be who we were created to be, which makes the Calvinist argument for limited election flat-out wrong.
Yes, all of that is in regards to where we will spend all of eternity after our time as a part of this world has come to an end, but there is a life to be lived in the meantime. It is during this time that presents our Heavenly Father with the most opportunities to be thankful. For it will be easy to sing His praises when we can truly see Him in all of His most awesome glory in Heaven, but it is another thing entirely when mired in the malaise of this world.
No, I am not talking about belting out the words to a familiar anthem with your hands in the air in the middle of some praise and worship service. For what our Heavenly Father wants the most from us is to have a very close and personal relationship, which requires being able to truly carry on a conversation with Him.
Tragically, far too many do not want to even consider the possibility of that. For they have been taught to be content with the promise of salvation from having to pay the price for their sins. This is enough for them, but what about our Heavenly Father?
Did you notice something curious about the verse that opened this piece? Did you notice that it was our Heavenly Father asking a rhetorical question about who He could speak to during a time we have been so strongly encouraged to believe was before His Holy Spirit moved upon the face of this world? So, how much more must He be upset at this time?
Yes, many have been led to believe that they do have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, but it is by their very own words that prove that they really do not have one. For they talk about the Bible as being the authority that governs their lives instead about its Author, and they talk about the church being more important than the state when it was our Heavenly Father who established both to accomplish His purposes.
No, this is not meant to encourage anyone to throw their Bible in the trash. This is meant to encourage as many as will to want to understand that the true “Word of God” is the Lord Jesus Christ—not the book that He had written about Himself in order to serve as written confirmation of what He wants to personally reveal to us. For when that is better understood, it should not be so hard to accept that He has been talking to us since we were in the womb, and His Holy Scriptures were given to help us to discern between what is truly of Him, the devil and our own imaginations. For without that, it is impossible to truly have a very close and personal relationship with Him.
The same applies to truly having worship service in a church. For of what satisfaction can it truly be to our Heavenly Father to hear people who have no idea who He really is praise His name?
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” [Jeremiah 5:30-31 NIV]
Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]
Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]
"the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way" Ain't it the truth?
ReplyDeleteQuite sadly, yes. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Sharkbytes!!!
ReplyDeleteVery well put Fish Hawk. I agree!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and thanks for stopping by again, my dear Alicia!!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting thoughts on Calvinist and Arminian beliefs. I think you hit it right at the center. The balance of these two extremes which is the truth.
ReplyDeleteI am glad He has given you understanding, my dear Jeff. Thanks for stopping by!!!
ReplyDelete