Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Did God elect me? Or did I elect Him? | John 6:37 | chynna | 36108 | ||
As a new Christian I was reading with interest the discussion below about whether or not God elects certain people to be saved. I’m curious what others think about my salvation and how it fits in with the different thoughts on the subject. I don’t know enough to classify my thinking on the subject. My personal experience with salvation has been a long drawn out affair in which God has been very persistent in getting me saved. I only went to church when I was little and the only memory I have of church was when I was around 14. During one church service I had an overwhelming desire to be baptized. I promptly stopped going to church because 1) I didn’t understand it and 2) I had some serious issues with God. But strangely enough, God and I had a weird sort of relationship. I always knew He was there with me and talked to Him all the time. Mostly to chew Him out for things in life I thought unfair. When I hit my high school years I got involved with a bad crowd, did the party scene, did drugs, etc. There was moments during this time that I made huge decisions that could alter my whole life. With each of these decisions I made, which were very wrong, God would literally stop me. He did it through car wrecks. I knew He was trying to knock some sense into me. I walked away from numerous wrecks that should have killed me. This is terrible to say, but I felt very sure that God was keeping me alive. I actually felt invincible. But I did finally pull myself together and started back on the right track. By this time I was in college. Keep in mind, I never went to church. Then God came to me again and I had an overwhelming urge to be baptized. By this time I understood what it meant. I told Him that I wanted a compromise. I would lead my life the way He wanted, but that I wasn’t going to be baptized. I rationalized this by telling Him that I didn’t want Him to forgive me my sins. I was going to be held accountable for everything. I even told Him that by doing this, I was showing my love for Him because this would ensure I would stay on the right path because I would never forget the things I had done. He seemed okay with this and the urge to be baptized left me. Life went merrily along. But looking back on this, I realize God was gearing me up for a huge lesson. Much like the lesson he taught Jonah. Except instead of giving him something to love for one day and taking it away, He was giving me something to love for 15 years. It’s the kind of love I think few people understand. With this loss, my sorrow and pain consumed me, yet I hid it well, even from my husband and children. They never saw the tears I shed everyday for a good year. At this time I was in my mid thirties. Oh I knew God was very much with me at this time and He had even done an extraordinary thing to show me He still loved me, despite the pain he brought to me. I won’t share this part of the story. But I was angry now with him. And to make matters worse He was really putting on the pressure to be baptized. It was always in my thoughts. I started back to church, but I was having too much an internal struggle to get any use out of it. Then one day I found myself in a traffic jam. I wasn’t going anywhere. And as I was sitting there stewing a car pulled in front of me. There was a bumper sticker that simply had a bible chapter and verse. I carried my bible with me at this point. Curiosity got the better of me and I opened to the bible passage and sure enough it was about getting baptized. I remember sitting there in awe and I blurted out, “Why? Why do you want me baptized?” And I heard it as clear as day in my heart. He essentially said, “You now understand what it’s like to lose something you love with all your heart and soul. I feel this sorrow many times over with each soul I lose. And I’m losing you.” Suffice to say, I was baptized shortly after this. So what do you all think? Did I ever really have a choice? Did God elect me? Or the does the fact He told me that He was losing me, mean He really didn’t have any say with my salvation? I’d appreciate your thoughts. |
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2 | Did God elect me? Or did I elect Him? | John 6:37 | Reformer Joe | 36109 | ||
Lots of answers to this question are in the archives. Go to the "quick search" box to your right and type in the word "elect" to find a world of opinion! --Joe! |
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3 | Did God elect me? Or did I elect Him? | John 6:37 | chynna | 36123 | ||
Thanks. I wish I had known this instead of pouring out my life story. Can someone please erase my post? | ||||||
4 | Did God elect me? Or did I elect Him? | John 6:37 | Hank | 36124 | ||
Chynna, if you really want your post erased, please contact Lockman@Lockman.org and request it. Be sure to cite the specific post you wish to have erased. --Hank | ||||||