God and Your Behavior

My post, "War" began an interesting comment discussion. Reading these always sparks new thoughts for me. Seeing other people's worldviews has been educational. Before, "different" doctrines and ideas seemed very un-important. That changed when a friend brought up a topic that I'd never heard of before.

"God doesn't love everybody," he informed me.

I was shocked! "What about John 3:16?"

Thus began a debate about God. He lent me a book on this idealogy. I decided to read the Bible the whole way through again, and this time keep my eyes open for clues on "what is the real relationship between God and humanity?"

I learned a lot. I still am. But what I've noticed since, is an intriguing connection between our perception of God, and our behavior. Crazy? Not really. It's pretty consistent.

I don't like to step on toes. But here's what I've observed.

There was a nun. As in most denominations, views on God differ. Some believe that we earn our way to heaven by sufferings. These we are to "offer up to god". Behind the fairy tales about this woman, is a different story that most don't know. One that doesn't make sense. Yet does. Those that were in terrible suffering, she left that way, as she believed they then would be saved. She sent all her money to the man she admired most, instead of using it to relieve the suffering she was in contact with. This un-heard story sounds strange. But she was just following her worldview.

Still another view of god. He is a god that planned from the birth of this world, who would be saved - andwho wouldn't. Nothing can happen or has happened, that he did not plan to happen, from the start. Only to these random, special ones who are chosen, does this god love and offer salvation. And nothing they do, from the littlest lie to a murder, can change their guarantee to heaven. It all hinges on whether you feel like you're one of those elect. You can't know for sure. But, hoping is the best way to look at it. The others... well, god does not offer them salvation, but um, they like darkness anyway, so god punishes them for that. These cannot do anything to be saved and everything that they do, god planned that they should. This makes Him the most murderous, tyrannical being in the universe. I mean -- every genocide, and act of a serial killer, he planned. Children from families who believe in this god, often reject him. Those that don't - well, they're another story. And I can understand. If that was really the case, I would be very proud. I mean - special me! I'm saved and I can do whatever I want. Whatever you do however, you cannot escape destruction.

Another god, is an indulgent Santa Claus. He will give you anything you want, whether or not it is good for you. This god takes all to heaven. Even though many would be terribly miserable in that pure world above. With this god, your good outweighs your bad. And once you realise that you want god, you are forever secure. Believers in this god, live a careless, wreckless life, for after all their god is too kind to punish them.

There is another god who inspires his adherents to kill 'un-believers', in his name. And if you do, you will be guaranteed immediate entrance to heaven at death. From this belief stems the cause of many suicide bombers and acts of violence.

The character of the individual is highly shaped by their view of God. As He is the highest standard of everything desirable. Reason dicates that one will not be a better person than their highest conception of Good.

Among the confused crowd of these, stands out some. Different from the rest. One of these was George Muller. He personally was responsible for the well-being of ten thousand orphans. Without any charity. There has only been praise for his genuine un-selfishness and kindness in his life. This was a natural outflow from a man that believed in a God of Supreme Love. A God to whom all are equal and precious. He wasn't the only man who lived out a life consisent with the character of a loving God. There was also the apostle Paul. Abraham Lincoln. David Livingstone. And more recently, Brother Andrew. David Gates. Many others too.

As a child, I imagined God to be Someone intimidating, far away, and critical. Such an idea in turn made me very critical of my siblings in their mistakes. But, I don't think that way anymore. As I've taken the challenge, "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart," (Jeremiah 29:13) I've gotten to know the Father who is the epitome of the world's best daddy. One who truly knows what's best for me, and plans great things for my life. I've gotten to see that He truly "is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psalms 145:7,8

My journey in getting to know God has prompted some personal questions.

Is my behavior Christ-like? If not... am I getting to know the true God?

(Credits: Christella)

Saved!?

I was standing at our stall at Agquip while Mum went to get something. Thousands of people streamed through, some of which stopped to talk. One such lady noticed the free Christian literature on the table.

"Ah, so you're a Christian?" she asked.

I smiled, "I sure am!"

"You know," she told me, "I used to be a drug addict. But then I got saved. It is so wonderful being saved."

I agreed. It really is wonderful to have that constant connection with God.

"But, I tell you," she continued, "I've done all sorts of things. If it weren't that I got saved back then, I would be lost now. I'm so thankful for eternal security with my salvation."

A look of shock crossed my face. "Eternal security? What ever do you mean by that?"

She seemed surprised by my ignorance. I really had never heard of it.

"Oh, well, we are covered with Christ's blood, and don't need to worry about how we live. I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that," she exclaimed.

"But, we have to surrender to God every day, not just once!" I countered, still surprised.

She shook her head. "No, I have eternal security."

"But what about a daily walk with God?" I asked confused.

She repeated it all. Mum came back to the stall.

"Oh, we were just discussing homeschooling," the lady told Mum.

Another surprise! When was that?

"I homeschool my two boys," she added.

The two started a warm discussion on the topic.

I was left to think. Think, I did. What ever did she mean by all that? Can one really do whatever they wish, and still be saved? Is it not possible to turn away and lose salvation?

At the end of the long day, Mum and I looked at it in the Bible together. My questions were answered. I forgot about it.

~~~

That was four years ago. Not long ago, as I was reading through my Bible I came across an explanation. It stared me in the face -- cleared all doubts.

Ezekial 18:24 "But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

That verse was the answer. Yes, God has given us freewill. What does it say in the NT, I wondered? I found more.

"They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8:13

"Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray..." 2 Peter 2:15

I'm convinced. My salvation is still under threat. I do need God's constant power to overcome and abide in Him. I can lose that. But how?

What can seperate us from God's love?

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, orfamine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, norany other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

What do all these elements have in common?

They are all external forces.

So then, what is the one thing that can separate us from God?

“1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1, 2

I see it more clearly now. If we take the beginning and throw out the end of our faith, we are not going to get there. It is not enough to just become a Christian, we must stay a Christian.

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, wherunto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12.

"...he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Mark 13:13

If we resist the sanctification process by turning in the opposite direction, or letting Satan subtly turn our eyes off Jesus until we give away our faith, then we give away our right to Heaven.

Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

(Credits: Christella)

War

I'm sitting on a big rock in the creek bed. I've just finished reciting Acts chapter 1, 2, and 3. The birds chirps and trills, combined with the gurgling of the water, makes calming music.

But I'm alert. Tense. Thinking. Trying desperately to put the matter into words.

I caught a glimpse of a fierce war, the other day. Worse and far more serious than WWI or II. A fight to the death. It electrified my senses. Made me fear for my life, the lives of my family and freinds. Everyone's life.

Though I can't see it with my eyes, it is just as real as the Iraqi war, today. The battle is for my big brother's soul. My little sister's. My father's. The teenager walking down the street. Mine. Yours. Everybody's!

I already know which side will win. That was determined on the cross, when the champion of love died and rose again triumphant.

I know you've heard the story before. But wait! Listen! The defeated enemy continues to fight. Not in a frontal attack, but slyly. He's literally setting a trap for you, right now. Calculated to send you to hell right along with him. It's so well planned, nobody would ever guess. Satan sucks us in, with things we enjoy.

Dress. Food. TV. Movies. Music. Books. All of it.

Thing is, when he succeds in trapping us, he throws a blindfold over our eyes so that we cannot tell that we are lassoed; on the broad way; cruising to hell.

We cannot trust ourselves in this battle.

But there is hope. Jesus too, is fighting for each one. He doesnt use co-ercion or deceit. He wins with love. He offers a bright future.

How can we know a trap and avoid it? Jesus gave us a yardstick to measure things by.

"He that is not with me is against me..." Matthew 12:30

Does that book I want to read, exalt God and draw me nearer? If not -- it is the devil's trap. It's that simple.

There is no middle ground.

(Credits: Christella)