God is waiting; Salvation and gaining heaven is not as difficult for people as you may think
What weak mortals we are! What would I be without my Maker? Dust? Dead? Non-existent? It is the breath of life that began our race.
God created us in His image out of love, not need. He wanted to share Heaven with us. Some don't want Heaven, or for hell to exist because for one thing they feel they would go to hell so they imagine it away, and it gets cloudy and hidden amoungst pleasure and material things.
But if we believed all would go to Heaven, well them most people would believe, wouldn't they? Maybe a few would continue to not believe or wish there was no life after death...but the idea of Heaven--of everlasting joy and no boredom, no pain, and endless things to do...WHY wouldn't everyone want that idea? Especially since life on earth can so painful at times...wouldn't we want to " rest in peace" for once, eternally in the bossom of God?
As a child I often wondered about the concept of living forever. It's hard for the human mind to wrap itself around that idea. I thought to myself " Living forever and ever and ever.....and ever...never ending, year after year, a thousand years, a million years, a trillion years, and more. Well, it really is hard to comprehend. But it is said there is no TIME outside our world so maybe it wouldn't seem like it goes on forever but it's just like a joyous moment that goes on and happiness abounds in a place where there's love and our eternal reward. After all, isn't it said that God created us with free will to test us~ after one of the angels in heaven caused a war? So God decided that if we chose Him that he would let us live in heaven forever?
Heaven may be hard to comprehend for some, or maybe not. If it's about joy and peace and love, to give an earthly example which is minute in comparison, wouldn't it be smilar to, (but better, to:)
- seeing your baby for the first time
- being in love
- appreciating the glorious beauty of nature- Niagra falls, the Grand Canyon, the mountains and scenic views of fall trees so ablaze in colors of red, gold, orange.....I'm sure if you've watched nature shows about our National parks and geysers, etc you could revel in its beauty.
As a nature lover, doesn't it make you feel God's " kiss" --the feeling you get , the joy you receive, at nature's wonderous beauty--God's creations- not just an "accident", how the whole world and planets are kept in allignment....there is supposed to be some kind of accident or big bang? There are many scientists who also believe in God, and maybe see the big bang as part of God's creation. But what some agnostics misinterpet I think, is that God is not keeping it all in balance, that he's just letting it go~but that's not really the case is it? He is involved in our lives in ways that nonbelievers do not recognize because they refuse to or are more concerned with being miserable or worldly gain... God breathed life into us....and we should realize our tremendous worhth, "If he takes care of the sparrows, and makes sure they are fed, how much more would he then watch over and care for us?" "For every hair on our head is counted, that is how careful and caring He feels towards us, his greatest and most important creation!
Have you ever heard of "Footprints" ?
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
written by Carolyn Joyce Carty
Why do people think attaining Heaven is so difficult?
God is forgiving. He in an infinite being and therefore is infinitely JUST, MERCIFUL, GOOD, MAJESTIC, etc. He knows we are human and we fail. He told us to forgive " 7 times 70" , so do you think He does any less?
All through our lives, God invites us to him by sending us signs, he never gives up on us until our death, when our descision becomes final. I heard once that it is harder to go to hell. That one has to be very stubborn and reject God's call so many times and want, actually want the ways of the devil, satan, to be vile and deceitful. There are some people on this earth, who for some reason or other, actually know they are evil but choose it--they think " I'd rather be a ruler in Hell than a servant in Heaven" Think of that, what a profound statement. Is it true? Do you think the father of all lies- satan- Lucifer etc, is telling them the truth that they will be rulers in hell? No, he is lying, he can't wait to torture them eternally--in fire and brimstone, for them to receive God's wrath like he did, so misery loves company.
Serving God actually makes me happy.
Strange? Not really. Of course, obeying God and trying to live a good life, being patient with enemies and mean loved ones, is not easy, but with God's grace, his help, it becomes easier, "My yoke is easy and my burden light?. Do you know that many people who are not in God's grace have much suffering as well and feel helpless and defeated~ with no comfort~ does satan give comfort? They may enjoy pleasures, but do they have inner peace? Does not their mind occassionally fear and wonder life after death?
With God, he does not expect perfection. In the Baptist (Christian) religion, we get saved by God's crucifixion by saying we accept God' gift of salvation and recognize why he died on the cross for us....this little bit of faith grows and becomes our life.
In the Catholic religion (Christian) we go to confession and receive absolution. And there are So may saints, so numerous, There are thousands, to draw inspirtation from. If they did it why can't I? God forgives us in confesion, every time, as long as we are sincere, confess all our sins, and try to be better. We don't have to promise we'll be better, because we sure don't know, we are likely to mess up again! But to try.
We all have bad days, and on these days calling on God, Jesus for help , really helps! We know we should praise God and thank Him daily for our gifts and blessings, but though we may give up on God--He never gives up on us. It's His divine personality -if you will- and our weak human -poor nature- that's the difference. We owe Him our love, but as he is a good God, he treats us good.
Why is there suffering? Why droughts, famines, etc?
So far as my knowledge as a Christian allows me to share and explain, The devil creates much of the evil in the world, by stirring up people to commit crime, to be jealous, full of greed, proud, gluttony, anger, laziness, and lust. These are called the 7 Deadly Sins of which pride is the worst--because this one is which cause the devil ~who once was favored and loved by God in Heaven to try and make war on God- thinking he would win- which was impossible! So pride is the worst and the one which leads to all other sins- the belief that we are better than God or can overtake him which is pure folly, for the Creator and God cannot ever be beaten. Sure you can hurt him by not loving Him in return, but in the end, YOU are the one who loses because by going to Heaven God is glorified and His love returned, but by going to hell, His Justice is satisfied. YOU will be the loser if you choose the latter. Perhaps this is why many people want to be and think they can be a "ruler in hell". For more info about Hell, read the book to the right. Hell and How to Avoid Hell . It's a real eye-opener. It speaks about manifestations of hell- dead people speaking of it, of apparitions of ghosts revealing it, and how hell is described by some of the saints who had enlightenment. Even if it sounds like folly- it sure makes an intertesting read!
As far as droughts, disasters, etc
I've seen in the Bible that God does cause or allows these to happen. His reason is for people to "wake up" and stop sinning.
In our personal lives- when we suffer- sometimes God is allowing it He says, to make us more patient or humble. Because as you notice, the rich and " lucky" people in this world that we often envy, like Celebrities or such, they often lives lives of grandeur, but us "poor little souls" suffer. Why? God allowed his saints to suffer greatly--they say the touch of suffering is the touch of God's love---for there is no way we could ever become able to practice these virtues:
- prudence-Good judgment or wisdom gained from experience and knowledge, expressed in a realistic and frugal attitude.
- justice-is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality
- fortitude -Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage.
- temperance-self-restraint in the face of temptation or desire
- faith-belief in, and loyalty to someone/something
- hope- To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. To have confidence + trust
- charity- Christian Theol. the love of God for humanity, or a love of one's fellow human beings; an act of goodwill or affection; the feeling of goodwill
~~These are the 7 virtues that oppose the 7 Deadly Sins. the first four are the 4 Cardinal virtues, the last three are the three theological virtues.~~
God does answer prayer~ how does this relate to our suffering?
Have you ever noticed that people never pray unless they need something?
I do, I've noticed and done it myself many times. God allows sufferings or disasters to happen to "waken us up" and "say to us....Pray to me....talk to me....I am your father..."
Whenever I help the poor or do an act of charity, Very soon after I am given a gift or rewarded in some way. God speaks to those who aren't listening by allowing something to go wrong. Even agnostics or atheists, I've seen pray or ask me to pray for them when they feel "helpless" or homeless. They in desperation have to pray.....
