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 | Where do I go from here? | 2 Pet 3:4 | Hank | 51920 | ||
Treadway, one brief observation -- that's all the time I have at my discretion right now -- on the question you raise about our Lord's Second Coming and about the word 'soon.' As to His return, He said He would return. This constitutes a promise from the Son of God. Therefore, not to believe Him, not to take Him at His word, really does play havoc with our own personal trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, doesn't it? It militates against our personal relationship with our Creator and our Redeemer. And as for 'soon,' what it may mean to us in our hurry-up society in which we measure time in nano-seconds and what it may mean to the eternal, sovereign and transcendent God are likely not the same things. But this we know: that 'soon' each of us is going to cross the unavoidable bar that separates temporal life on earth from eternity. It will be too late then to speculate about our Lord's return; thus, to my mind, while it is important to watch and wait in expectation of His return, it is of more vital importance to place our total faith and total trust in Him here and now, while we yet can. Treadway, I pray to God that His Spirit will guide and comfort you in your quest for His truth; that you will come to know more about Him; that you will indeed come to know Him and trust Him for all your days. There is a hymn with the words, 'leaning on Jesus, leaning on the everlasting arms.' There can be no nobler calling in all of heaven and earth than 'just in simple faith to trust Him, just to take Him at His word.' --Hank | ||||||
2 | Where do I go from here? | 2 Pet 3:4 | Treadway | 51949 | ||
Hello Hank: Just saw your post. And thanks again for the kind words and even kinder guidance. Personally, I've always liked the "...seek and ye shall find..." admonition. Another one, I heard or read somewhere is: "My heart cannot accept what my mind cannot believe." So, this search is quite ultimate. I don't know where it will wind up. In the middle right now, the doldrums, in limbo. I've haven't given up on pure faith, but I want to be sure there isn't anything that I've missed. In a way, faith is a kind of gamble and I guess I'm trying to "hedge" the bet. ...Treadway.... :) |
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3 | Where do I go from here? | 2 Pet 3:4 | Hank | 51956 | ||
Treadway, re faith being a gamble: As for me, I'd rather have faith in the Lord and lose the 'gamble' than have no faith in Him and lose THAT gamble! But I've really never thought of my Christian faith as a gamble. I'd rather go with the apostle Paul, who was more spiritually discerned than I am, and was brighter than I will ever be. Said Paul: "I KNOW whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." Those who truly know Christ, who are regenerated by the Spirit, have a hope that is both sure and steadfast. Treadway, you need not answer publicly if you'd rather not -- I pose the question for your personal consideration -- Do you truly know the Lord? --Hank | ||||||
4 | Where do I go from here? | 2 Pet 3:4 | Treadway | 51973 | ||
Hello Hank: You asked if I "truly know the Lord?" ------------------------- At this particular stage of my life, I don't have the foggiest notion of how to answer. "In limbo" hasn't provided the luxury of decision or commitment. In legalistic terms, my jury is out, mulling over the arguments. A verdict could come, eventually, but then it could also be a "hung" jury, and that would probably mean a retrial. Once, when I did reside on the side of faith, I had no worries or doubts. I was completely confident in my belief, in my destiny. Unlike what I see a lot of on this forum, the discussions concerning "baptize or not", "hair-splitting salvation theories", all the "dueling verses", I had no such thoughts or concerns. I was going to Heaven, no doubt about it. But as I said, once the Bible reading began, it has been a whole new ball game. I'm not sure of the inning, maybe top of the 3rd, so there's a lot of game left. The cold water in the face was this: after reading a good deal of the Bible, I began to realize that my God had been, for all intents and purposes, one of my imagination. My God did not fit the Bible God. But through all this, I have come to know others in the same sinking boat, that the God of their worship is seldom aligned with the Bible. It makes you take a step back. Is that good or bad? Does it matter? Can it be adjusted? Is that where the concept of a "personal" God comes from? So, it's all been eye-opening. I knew next to nothing. Didn't even know about Dec. 25th, Easter, how Christianity actually came into being, what it consists of. It's a whole different world. :) always good thoughts Treadway ---------------------------- PS: as for the "..nothing to lose.." idea, I think that's is the Pascal doctrine, right? You know, when JEOPARDY has biblical questions, I've been doing quite well.... :) |
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