Thursday, December 31, 2009

Something More?

Have you ever wondered if there was anything more to life in this world? It is the time of year for such. Well, even if you haven’t, be assured that many have.

A typical Christian will tell you that they exist to glorify God, and that they have a very good reason to do so. For He sent His only begotten Son to pay the price in full for their sins so that they could spend all of eternity with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven as an heir to all that is His glory (or at least something like that).

Be assured that I am not here to dispute any of that, but a fairly interesting question does come to mind. For after a person comes to accept Christ Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior, they are supposed to be saved from having to pay for their own sins, which is eternal Spiritual death. Therefore, why do they have to continue to suffer the indignities of life in this world afterward?

No, I am not talking about continuing to be poor in either health or wealth, even though that may be a part of it. For what I am talking about is having to remain in this world after they have been saved from having to spend all of eternity in Hell. After all, if that is what life in this world is all about, what is there to be accomplished afterward?

Alas, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of different Christian denominations, and many of them have a different answer for that question. Some will proclaim that the reason why a saved person is required to continue to live in this world after their salvation has been secured is in order to save others while others proclaim that accepting Christ Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior is just the beginning of the process, which may continue even after a person’s time as a part of this world comes to an end.

No, there is nothing about this that is meant to unfairly demean, embarrass, nor insult anyone in any way for what they want to believe is the truth, but it should be fairly easy to see where both of those doctrines really came from. For both (in effect) are proclaiming our Heavenly Father to be a liar. After all, does He not make it clear that it is the work of His Holy Spirit to seek and to save souls [John 16:8-11], and to claim that there is more to securing our salvation than just having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to deny that we are saved by grace—does is it not [Ephesians 2:8-10]?

So, does this mean that there is no answer to why most are required to continue to live in this world after they have accepted Christ Jesus as being their own personal Lord and Savior? No, it most certainly does not. For it is during what time we may have left in this world that our Heavenly Father can gain the most satisfaction from us.

In reality, it actually starts way before then. For everything that we are required to endure in this world is meant to give us opportunities to give our Heavenly Father the full benefit of our considerable doubts after our eyes have been opened to the truth.

Please allow me to give you an example of what I am talking about. Let’s say that you feel a great deal of gratitude (and maybe a lot more) towards the person who helped you pick up the pieces and start to live again after your spouse and child died in what you thought was a horrible accident of some kind. Now, would you feel the same way about them after it became clear that it was really no accident, and that this person was actually fully responsible for the deaths of your loved ones?

If it can be accepted that our Heavenly Father is in full control of all that happens, how could He not be fully responsible for every horrible thing that has ever happened in this world? Yes, there is a difference between making something happen and allowing it to, but He still allowed it to when He could have easily prevented whatever it was from ever happening. Subsequently, how can He not be ultimately responsible?

Back when we were first married, my wife told me that ignorance is bliss, and that infuriated me at the time. Since then, I have softened somewhat. For our Heavenly Father has made me acutely aware of the fact that most simply do not want to know what He wants them to, and I would not wish the anguish that this causes me upon anyone. Yet, it causes me even more anguish when I try to remain silent about it. Hence, opportunities to give Him the full benefit of my considerable doubts [Jeremiah 20:7-9].

No, just coming to terms with the truth of our circumstances in this world is not all there is to it. For what our Heavenly Father really wants is to have a very close and personal relationship with as many as will while they are still a part of this world.

Yes, many talk about such, but if you listen closely to what they are saying, is that what they really have? For the absolute truth of the matter truly is that the vast majority of those who claim to be walking with Jesus on a daily basis have nothing more than merely the kind of relationship that they could now have with Thomas Jefferson by faithfully studying every book that they could obtain about him and visiting the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC at least once a week.

Of course, followers of other faiths would claim that nothing more than that can be had with Christ Jesus, as well. How can anyone know for sure without being able to truly hear His voice?

Tragically, most can hear His voice, but they recognize it as being nothing more than just random thoughts bouncing around in their brain. For they have had it pounded into their heads that He only speaks through His Holy Scriptures now, but can anyone tell me which verse makes that clear?

Yes, it can be argued that if it really was that important to Him, our Heavenly Father would do something to get our attention, like speak through a burning bush [Exodus 3:1-4] or knock us down with a blinding light [Acts 9:1-19], but when He does something like that, it costs Him. For it is much more glorifying to Him when we want to believe when there are plenty of reasons why we should not.

It also costs us. For it is written: And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that His is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. [Hebrews 11:6 NAS]

Besides, none of it is necessary. For He is well able to get our attention without having to resort to miraculous spectacles [Isaiah 65:1-2], and no one will be able to honestly say that they did not understand everything that He wanted them to, come Judgment Day [Romans 1:18-20].

No, I cannot promise you that everything will be all right (in a natural sense) after you start truly having a very close and personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. For it may be for you, as it has been for me [Ecclesiastes 1:18].

Nonetheless, I can promise you that nothing will be the same anymore [2 Corinthians 5:11-21], and that you will be able to at least have confidence in the fact that your sufferings have not been in vain. Furthermore, you will know for sure that great will be His joy when the time comes for our Heavenly Father to gather all of His children by faith unto Himself to spend all of eternity with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His glory [Romans 8:17-21].

Woe be it unto all who do not care about such things. For it is also written: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” [Revelation 3:15-22 NAS]


Please Also Visit: [FishHawk Droppings]

26 comments:

  1. Amen!! Having just gone through my wife of 30 years leaving me I have made a life changing decision of turning my life over to Christ.

    How awesome it would be if the Lord took me home now instead of having to go through the various stages of grief, having said that I have become a stronger person because of it, my witness to friends and family especially my youngest daughter has helped them through tough times, once broke, now put together to help others, share how Christ has helped me through a difficult time, and how he can do the same for them.

    When I visited China I learned about Buddhism, how their ultimate goal was to end suffering and attain Nirvana, how do you help the person on the street or a friend in immediate need with something like this, with Christianity we grow through suffering so we can pass along how we have dealt with it and become stronger and a better person because of it, after all the world is totally full of way too much suffering, we are left here after God has saved us to help others in need, to share Christ with others so they receive the gift of eternal life and the Holy Spirit to help them through their individual problems.

    We live in a world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished, it's nice to know that someone has got your back as my daughter now says about Christ.

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  2. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Bob!!! Actually, Buddhism appears to be great for those who still want to believe in their own strength to overcome obstacles, but for someone like myself, who has it proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that there is nothing about "ourselves" to believe in, Christ Jesus is the only hope we have.

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  3. I am encouraged by this post and your comments Bob & FishHawk. So much truth reveled in your words and experiences.

    God is all about changing our pain and suffering into joy: redemption.

    Too often we selfishly expect that the joy must be for me and right now. God often works turning our pain into joy way down the road and in other people. Jesus is a perfect example. His life His death, His resurrection - our joy today.

    Because of this fallen world, because of sin and our own limitations as humans we may never even see it clearly in this life but one day it will all be gloriously clear. God give us glimpses, by His mercy and grace, we can see how our pain and suffering is changing us and others around us, if our eyes are wide open.

    "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13 )

    "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us..." (Romans 8:18-21)

    The coming glory will easily overshadow our pain today, as heartbreaking and painful as it may be. God has promised that!

    peace & grace in Christ,
    brad

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  4. I came here to wish you a very happy new year.
    I hope some of your dreams come true.
    :)

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  5. All the best for 2010 to you and yours, my good man.

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  6. Happy New Year, Fish. I wish you a blessed, happy, and joyful 2010!

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  7. Jerry opps Fish ;-), for this coming New Year 2010: Take a deep breathe, try and take a half hour a day just for you. Close your eyes and just meditate. Lite a candle, keep all noises at bay and don't think of anything, clear your mind.

    But before you do that, have a rock and roll time tonight as it's New Years Eve, have a wonderful New Years, Glenn

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  8. This is not really an angle that I've considered much before. I believe that we all have a purpose here that we are meant to fulfill and that if we understand that path and follow it that we will accomplish what God meant for us to do. I believe that it is that purpose that keeps us here even after we accept Jesus as our Savior.

    Wishing you a happy New Year and looking forward to more thought provoking posts like this one.

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  9. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Brad!!! You are exactly right about our pain and suffering not being in vain, and that does give me some comfort at this time.

    To be quite honest about it, I haven't been allowed to experience all that much joy. Yes, as in regards to my own destiny, I have been given much to be most joyful about, but being made so acutely aware of the fact that the vast majority of those who claim to know our Heavenly Father well really have nothing more than merely a semblance of knowledge about Him tempers my joy to almost nonexistence.

    Be assured that the demons who have been assigned to me have a real good time with that, and it is much to my shame that I keep hoping that I will not have to suffer like this much longer. For all I am really doing is experiencing a small taste of what our Heavenly Father feels, and His pain will continue long after mine is over.

    On the other hand, all of this does give me an indication of just how incredibly wonderful eternity with our Heavenly Father will actually be. For why would He subject Himself to all of this unless it was worth it?

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  10. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Laane!!! Be assured that I am actually being greatly blessed--despite how much I do not appreciate it as I should. I hope you and yours are looking forward a Happy New Year!

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  11. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Auld Reekie Mike!!! May your Hearts experience some of the glory of their past again this coming year.

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  12. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Lin!!! I hope you and yours have a very Happy New Year!

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  13. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Glenn!!! I look forward to our friendship growing by leaps and bounds this coming year.

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  14. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Tina!!! You are exactly right about that.

    One of the main points is that it is when we can accept that EVERYTHING (including even all of the bad stuff) is in accordance to our Heavenly Father's will that we can be of the most satisfaction to Him. With you being an expert in very personal relationships, that should not be very hard for you to understand. For as you know, it is relatively easy to love someone who almost always does what you want them to, but it takes a very special kind of love to hang in there with someone who does exactly the opposite much (if not most) of the time. Of course, when it comes to relationships with people, such devotion is rarely rewarded, but be assured that our Heavenly Father will pour out His gratitude for all of eternity upon all who will but want to give Him to full benefit of their considerable doubts.

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  15. Stopping by to wish you a very happy New Year, all the best to you in 2010

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  16. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Ann!!! Your post about the homeless woman was wonderful in a number of ways. I hope you and yours have a very Happy New Year!

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  17. Great article. I think sometimes that as humans we have far too much ego in thinking that we can understand God. Yes, an ongoing personal relationship with Him is to be desired above anything in life.
    Happy New Year :)

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  18. Very encouraging!
    Blessings,
    Lance
    www.lancessoulsearching.blogspot.com

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  19. No, that cannot be done naturally, my dear Rick, but through the work of His Holy Spirit, nothing is impossible. Be assured that it grieves our Heavenly Father deeply to see that we are far too willing to think that we cannot understand Him when that is one of the reasons for our existence in the first-place.

    Be also assured that He has answered you every time you have cried out to Him in the depths of your despair, but since you failed to recognize His voice, you missed the full measure of comfort that He has offered. I hope the following links will prove fruitful for you:

    http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2009/10/chapter-xi-words-of-word-but-what-saith.html

    http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2009/10/bittersweet-refinements-chapter-xii.html

    http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2009/10/bittersweet-refinements-chapter-xiii.html

    http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2009/10/bittersweet-refinements-chapter-xiv.html

    http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2009/10/bittersweet-refinements-chapter-xv.html

    http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2009/10/bittersweet-refinements-chapter-xvi.html

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  20. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Lance!!! I hope this year will mark when you start finding--instead of just seeking.

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  21. Excellent post, and yes, repentance and belief in Christ doesn't necessarily mean that life will be perfect between now and glorification. Pain, suffering and death are all a part of the fallen, sinful world, and none of this will pass away until Christ's return. In fact, once someone is redeemed, a believer knows from Scripture that they can expect persecution and punishment for their belief (with the assurance that blessed are those who endure persecution for the name of Jesus Christ.)

    Between now and glory, we pray for the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, drawing us from the enticements of this world and growth closer to the kingdom of Christ.

    God bless you friend

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  22. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Rob!!! Thank you also for that wonderful comment. It is in The Crackerhead Chronicles, but if you haven't got that far yet, when I asked our Heavenly Father one time about why it had to be so hard, He immediately replied, "After all, why do you think it is called suffering?" Since that made me laugh, I suppose that is some indication of what joy I have been given.

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  23. Very interesting and thought provoking. I don't think one reading of this post is enough to absorb it. I can only tell you without faith I wouldn't be alive any longer and it is that ability to trust in God that pulls me through no matter the obstacle.
    Lots to think about here.

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  24. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Sara!!! Part of my calling is to be as honest about myself as I can possibly be in order to encourage others who are like myself, as in regards to feeling more like Spiritual crash-test dummy than any sort of a conquering hero of the faith. For if our Heavenly Father is willing to stick with me, who would He not?

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  25. This is half entertaining. But then again I'm extremely high right now

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  26. Thanks for stopping by, my dear Anonymous. Well, most (both in and out of the Christian community) consider me as being plumb nuts.

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