Imperfect Knowledge

I get hung up sometimes on not being able to understand certain things in God's Word.  I mean I see the truth there, but then I go and try to fill in blanks that have not been filled to bring the seeming contrast together for myself.  The one thought that always seems to jump around in my head is how God can be in total control, (and He is) and man be in control of his actions as well.  This is a paradox.  The trouble I get myself into is trying to force the two together into some formula that seems to make sense.  I say 'seems' to make sense, because let me tell you I've tried for 7 years to put the the two concepts together and I always find a flaw in the formula.  You know why, because there is no formula.  The Bible says in Deuteronomy that there are secret things that belong to Him only, but it also says that He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.  ( 2 Peter 1:3)  The Bible takes for granted man's responsibility and says all over the place that God is sovereign.  There is a lot to say about this topic that I have left out.  It is definitely not an easy topic to just brush off.  However, from experience I have found that if I let the two concepts lay side by side the mystery seems more beautiful than dreadful.  When we start filling in blanks that the Bible does not fill in we may be in danger of seeing God as something He is not.  We must take God as He is revealed in His Word, but let us be careful not to add or take what is there to make it fit into what seems to make sense.  Part of worship to our God is found in adoring His mysterious ways.  I'll leave you with a few quotes that hopefully will renew a fresh look at God and His wonderful mystery.

"Shoreless ocean who can sound Thee, Thine own eternity is round Thee,

Majesty Divine."  (Frederick Faber)

"He works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform, His foot is on the sea shore, He's riding on the storm"  (William Cowper)  

My precious great-grandmother always quoted the first part of that line to me any time she talked about God answering prayer.  She went to be with Him last May.  If there was one thing she left me believing is that God works in mystery in the lives of His creation.

Ryan

 

Prenuptial with God

This will hopefully be a short post.  I was thinking about the common thought process of some christians I have talked to.  It goes like this.......even if it turns out that there is in fact is no heaven and hell,  we christians would have lived a good life anyway.  At first this argument sounds decent, but I think it leads to a prenuptial agreement with God in your heart.  You see, people who make prenuptial agreements with their soon to be spouse are afraid that their husband or wife will not keep their promise.  I think this will always keep a mind-set of holding back a little just in case.  That is exactly what the thought process above does with God.  I pray I will have Paul's mind-set instead.........."If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (1Corinthians 15:19)  It is hard to be completely sold out for someone that you think might not really exist. 

Thanks for reading,

Ryan

Feels like coming home

You know sometimes when you hear christian apologist arguments it seems that they are trying to convince people that honestly do not believe there is a God that there is in fact one.  Sorry Emily, I know that was a very wordy sentence.  I love you.  Anyway, one day maybe I will be able to be more concise.  My point is this...Every single human being knows that there is a God.  As I've heard preachers say 'in your heart of hearts you know.'  That is not an oversimplification of a complex matter.  It is just as true as every other line in Scripture that we all as christians hold to.  Every coherent man and woman knows that there is a God.  Forgive me for being brutally honest here,but it has been too long since I have studied my Bible.  Today I opened up and read the first couple of chapters of Romans.  Listen to this........"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them."  (Romans 1: 18-19) 

It goes on to explain how He has shown it to them, but that last statement is enough to see that God has shown all people that He is here.  If I am reading this right, this means everyone.  Chapter 2 explains how gentiles, (that is everyone who were not jews at that time and now) have this knowledge as well even without the law.  Paul through God's inspiration is arguing that even those who have not heard of the God of the Bible know that there is a God.  

In the verses quoted above he says that men suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.  The truth is there but they don't like it, so they press it down deeper and deeper and harden their hearts more and more.  The opposite could be true: that is that they could acknowledge the truth and seek God and He would give them the light they need to come to the gospel.  

I don't want to get away from my main point.  When you tell someone, when hopefully I tell someone here in the next few days about Jesus, we need not worry that they genuinely do not believe there is a God.  They know He exists.  You do not have to worry about that.  As you begin to tell them they will either begin to be drawn to the message and feel like they are coming back home to their wonderful Father that they knew was there all along but didn't want to be with, or they will harden their heart to the God that they know exists but don't want to follow.  Now I do believe christian apologetics have their place.  Sometimes we need to be re-taught the things we already know, and so many lies are flying around us all the time it is good for christian scientists to prove what we already know.  It is true we all know it.  Whether we only know Him as a Being that is out there or as our Heavenly Father, He is here.

I'll leave you with these verses.

Thanks, 

Ryan

"For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their hearts were darkened.  Claming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."  (Romans 1:20-23)