coffee with God? Try making God a part of something you enjoy. If we only think of Him when we are sitting in church (if we think of Him then) thinking about what we are having for lunch, no wonder He's not more a part of our everyday lives. Put yourself in His place. How would you like to be excluded from the people you love? Truth is.. He is with you where ever you go and what ever you do. You just may not acknowledge Him. You could be enjoying an ever present companion or you could be allowing His presence to cause you to "clean up" some behavior that needs changing. He is going to do that sooner or later anyway, might as well let Him before that behavior gets us in trouble. This "cleaning up process" is not about God thinking He is too good to associate with us in our present condition, it's about our seeing ourselves in the light of His goodness and wanting to be clean. I wish that some of my pastors, as I was growing up, had told me about a "plan" of God. I guess they didn't know about it either. They must have thought like I did about God, that what He wanted from us was for us to go to church three times a week. I couldn't imagine being a pastor and knowing about the awesome plan that God has for humanity and not telling someone about it...especially a room full of people gathered for the sole purpose of listening to what I had to say. I remember as a child trying to figure out just how it was with God...what was He doing? What was He up to? Was He up there in heaven just watching us like a bunch of little ants? Well, at least I know a little more about His plan for us now. And that is the reason for this website. Hopefully someone will read this and understand that they are a major part of God's plan, no matter how their life looks at the moment. God is not through with us. |
himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." Here is a really good article, or at least i think so, on God's purpose in creating us. :-)
having created the cosmos. What Scripture passages may we resort to for receiving clarity on this topic? A closely associated challenge is to find an answer to the question, "Did sin and evil come into God’s universe against His intention?" It would seem that an intelligent consensus on these all important issues would greatly help us to become more nobly focused in our study and fellowship. At the outset, the Bible does not tell us, in so many words, why God created the universe. However, in 1 Cor.15:24-28, we receive purposeful information concerning our topic. Here we are told that at the end (consummation), when Christ will have completed His task of bringing all into subjection, that then, God, the Father, will become ALL in all (v28). From this, we know WHY God created the universe, don’t we? It is noteworthy to see what it says in Job.38:7. When we check the context of this verse, it is clear that when God created the earth, the sons of God shouted for joy. Creation was an impressive manifestation of God's wisdom (His "Head") and His power (His "Hand"). But the Scriptures tell us that God is LOVE (1 John 4:8, 16). By creating a vast, immeasurable universe, filled with all kinds of great and beautiful things, God was able to clearly reveal His wisdom (His "Head") and His power (His "Hand"), but not His LOVE (His "HEART"). Love is an abstract commodity which can not be created, but must be demonstrated, or acted out. It is axiomatic, that love longs for a love response. Therefore, it is easy to see that it would not be enough for God to reveal his wisdom and power, only. An admiration for His wisdom and power would not satisfy the love ("heart") of God. This necessitated a plan by which God would be able to show that He, indeed, is love. This made a temporary estrangement between God and His creatures a must. To make a long story short, God arranged it for His creatures to be in dire need of His grace (GRACE is LOVE in ACTION). In order for God to convince even the most sceptic of His creatures, it was necessary that the demonstration of His love would be beyond question. Well, we know what happened! God gave His dearest (the Son of His Love (Col.1:13)). No greater love has anyone than he who lays down his life for another. This was demonstrated at Calvary! In brief, this is the basic purpose for the travail of the ages. At the end (consummation) of the ages, all in heaven and earth will be reconciled to God through the blood of the cross (Col.1:20). On Golgotha, God revealed the depth of His "Heart," His LOVE. At the consummation of the ages, all intelligent creatures, in heaven and on earth, will voluntarily, from the depth of their heart, worship God and acclaim Him as 'Abba Father!' God won't force anyone to worship and acclaim Him. Such would not satisfy the hunger of His heart! But He will arrange it through circumstances, judgments and the giving of His Spirit, that everyone will respond to His love with a wholehearted love response. That is the GOOD NEWS we may share and rejoice in!! In response to the question, whether sin came into this universe contrary to God's intentions, let us consider the following: If God is omnipotent (almighty), omniscient (knowing all) and omnipresent (everywhere); and has as His objective to become All in all (1 Cor.15:28), then it is impossible to accept that evil and sin came into this universe without God's intention that it, temporarily, should be present. It must be stressed that if evil and sin (that is, the consequences of it in the form of eternal torment, or everlasting annihilation) are to remain a permanent feature of God's work of creation, then it is impossible for 1 Cor.15:28c to become a glorious reality. God has endowed us with intelligence. Common sense will tell us if God set out to become ALL in all, and succeeds to do so in only a small percentage (the great majority to end up in hell, according to popular theology), then it may be asked if He can become ALL in ANY of His intelligent creatures? Then God can be likened unto the man who set out to build a tower, but failed to finish it, as we can read in Luke 14:28-30. Here is the passage: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish'" (Luke 14:28-30). I cannot accept that God did not "sit down" and do what Scripture, in Luke 14, recommends we do. No, God will not fail in His objective and will not expose Himself to the ridicule of everybody saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." I think it to be obvious that God will succeed most magnificently, to His glory and to the well being of all His creatures. This we also know from the statements in 1 Pet.1:19-20 and Rev.13:8, where it speaks of the Lamb of God, foreordained and slain before sin entered this world. This tells us that God had SOLVED the problem of sin, in advance! God is not like us, human beings, who fail, again and again, in spite of our best efforts. No, God is GOD! and He controls and provides all that is needed for every one to come to a fullness of LIFE which will never end. 1Cor.15:26 tells us that the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. That leaves nothing, but LIFE without end, in full harmony with God, for GOD IS LOVE!! By Peter Feddema
Yes, we have a certain amount of free-will but I believe it's only as "free" as God allows in His sovereignty. I love this passage of Scripture in Acts where Paul is talking to the non-believers: |
Do we have a
purpose?
purpose?
Can we know?
?
?
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 We can know as much as God chooses to reveal to us. Just because it's written down in the Bible does not mean we can understand it. Until our eyes are opened to a truth we just don't know. The guys walking on the road to Emmaus were oblivious to the fact that the son of God was walking side by side with them until He opened their eyes. I believe it will be the same with us. The information we receive is given at God's discretion. I would think a good indication that we are about to receive some of His info would be our getting curious about Him and why we are here. My own experience has been the more I am allowed to know about God and His love for humanity, the more I fall in love with Him. I would like to be able to just disappear into Him and only do the things He would want me to do. But, for now, I know that what He wants for me involves other people that He created. It involves learning to love them even when they are unlovable. Everybody was predestined to be restored, eventually. Not to say that they will have the rewards or glory of the obedient/believers, or, the trials and fiery baptisms of God's elect, but, definitely to be restored by the work of the cross. The first Adam was mankind's problem (by God's design), and the last Adam was our solution. It is obvious from the Old Testament and the New, that God wants to be a part of our lives..... not just in the sweet by and by or just on a church pew but right now, everyday.
they don't go to church or see themselves as "Godly". They may drink, smoke, cuss...all the stuff a whole lot of the world does. But, some who drink, smoke, and cuss, may have a heart that is more compassionate towards people than church members who believe they are "good enough" for God. |
Why are we here?
What is God's Objective?
What is Man's Objective?
sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well: 'We're the God-created. |