Do you have a relationship with the creator of the universe?

Originally posted by AceWombat04
So ultimately my answer now is, as ever: "I don't know."

Thank you for being honest. I am fine with saying that I don't know, because it is the truth.

The question of human death is not easy to understand without a basic understanding of why God created people in the first place. The Bible says that people were created with the capacity to love - both each other and God Himself. Jesus said that the most important commandment was to "love the Lord your God" and that the second most important commandment was to "love your neighbor." In doing these things, we fulfill our purpose for our lives and glorify God.The capacity for love comes directly from God, whom the Bible says is the embodiment of love.Although the ability to love and be loved is a source of great joy, when the object of that love, your brother, died, it was a great sorrow to you.

1.Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" (Matthew 22:37) See also Deuteronomy 6:5.

2."The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'" (Matthew 22:39)

3."Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

4.But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. (Psalm 13:5)


God's love is virtually limitless. Because of this fact, God's first commandment to humanity was to "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth."God wanted a large number of people whom He could love. Jesus explained the ultimate goal of God in the parable of the banquet:

5.And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth... (Genesis 1:27-28)

Jesus replied: "A certain man [representing God] was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.'" (Luke 14:16-23)


Therefore, God wants not only a relationship with humans in this universe, but a relationship with billions of these creatures in His future, perfect creation, heaven. Death is the only means by which the spirit of people can enter into the presence of God. In fact, God rejoices in the death of those who love Him, since they can enter directly into His presence at that time.

6.After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)

7.Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:50)

8.Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. (Psalm 116:15)

The early, untimely death of loved ones is difficult to understand emotionally, since we have come to expect that everybody lives at least 70 years. The answer is likely to be different for different individuals. The Bible does give some reasons for early death. The Bible says that the early death of the righteous is often done to save them from evil that would have been inflicted on them by the unrighteous.Of course, the early death of the unrighteous spares the world from further evil and spares the unrighteous one from even more punishment that he would have to suffer as a result of his actions.

9."The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. (Isaiah 57:1-2)

The Bible promises that those who love God and accept His provision for entering into His presence will spend eternity together with Him. Since all the people present in heaven will be perfected to holiness, it will be a joyous time, without the problems of having to deal with the nastiness of people that we experience in this life. My hope is that you will take comfort in the promises of God and that He will comfort and console you during this time.


Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)


This information is given from a Favorite website of mine , it is so respectable with its Scripture its not even funny. I could in NO WAY possible type this to you any better than this man has. www.godandscience.org...

If you are unsure, maybe you should ask?

reply to post by semaphore


If you are talking to me, I have.....in tears, from my heart. But here's the dealio, I'm not going to pretend that thoughts in my head are coming from a god. My mind/brain is perfectly capable of tricking me. I want the real deal. If it kills me when he speaks, so be it.

Do you have a relationship with the creator of the universe? Well yes I do everyday. Isnt that what faith is all about? If you have ever wondered about God answering back, here is a little video (not me) to show you how he does it. BTW this is my first post, go easy on me non believers.

www.youtube.com...

Hydro bro you have had a lot of fine folks attend to your thread and answer your questions

People who have only good in mind, and wish to help, not just you, but others

you have shown courage, you have given, you have helped others, and why? - because you wanted to

because you wanted to make a difference, to be part of the heavenly plan, to follow, to obey even

but mate you cant blame the Father, and you cant blame christians, even though we can argue on and on about how religious folks may or may not be.

many of us have given and been hurt, many of us have thrown their pearls before swine and been trampled. I have given heaps and been used and abused but so what?

this is life mate, we make a choice and live - but live we do and live we must, and like your brother we must all depart this world and change the mortal for the immortal, and I am ready for that and frankly never thought I would live this long to begin with

so you fell over, but the good thing is you have learned to think, to challenge the status quo and the religous reasoning, which is part of the growth of a true disciple anyway, and I applaud that

welcome to life on earth as a disciple, there's plenty of folk on here who support you - so get up, dust yourself off, and go at it again, older and wiser and determined to make it work

lay aside your demands and think of the attitude we require "we are just servants who did our duty" - end of story given to disciples when they asked for an increase of faith

one thing mate, you dont wanna hear, and I encourage you to take steps to ensure you dont hear, one thing I fear, is the words, "depart from me, I never knew you"

you know what I mean, so, lets go mate!

cheers

reply to post by randyvs


Dear randyvs,

I will try and remember what I was thinking. Oh yeah, it says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, we have to look at the statement as it relates to how God acts. Clearly what is said is not literal, Pharaoh's heart did not become physically hardened. I hope we can agree on that. God gave us free will, the Pharaoh was not being forced to do anything by God. Often in the bible it discusses how someone makes up a decision that is clearly evil in intent (unlike Jonah who made a promise and sought to go back on it), God will attempt to show people things so that they will change their mind; but, after a certain amount of time he lets people go their own path, he no longer restrains them and allows them to be consumed by their ill intent. In other words, God stopped working to restrain Pharaoh and allowed his heart to harden as the Pharaoh convinced himself that what he was doing was right.

The reference to Sodom was in regards to why it was destroyed, it was not destroyed because there were bad people in Sodom, heck every place has bad people in it, it was because there were not enough good people there to act as a restraining force on the bad.

Originally posted by aero56
reply to post by AQuestion

 

Behind ever action and reaction in the Bible, is God. He sets up the circumstances, and he chooses the reactions and actions. You don't have a free will.

Dear aero56,

I disagree. There is no rebellion unless there is free will.

reply to post by Hydroman

We can't. We can only try to put it into relative terms and discuss it.

reply to post by Hydroman


Dear Hydroman,

I will explain it as I did to another.

"Oh yeah, it says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, we have to look at the statement as it relates to how God acts. Clearly what is said is not literal, Pharaoh's heart did not become physically hardened. I hope we can agree on that. God gave us free will, the Pharaoh was not being forced to do anything by God. Often in the bible it discusses how someone makes up a decision that is clearly evil in intent (unlike Jonah who made a promise and sought to go back on it), God will attempt to show people things so that they will change their mind; but, after a certain amount of time he lets people go their own path, he no longer restrains them and allows them to be consumed by their ill intent. In other words, God stopped working to restrain Pharaoh and allowed his heart to harden as the Pharaoh convinced himself that what he was doing was right."

reply to post by AQuestion


We're in agreement.

reply to post by Hydroman

As a teenager i just stopped praying for a while. . After years with my mom who had great pain from a car accident that to some degree is still there 18 years later. But then ithings got difficult in a new relationship in a city a long distance from my family.

I had no friends. But some how i never looked at this entity a a christian God but a figure of my imagination i create in order to talk with someone else since there was no other.


When you know your relationship to a holy presens with common sense, its a great strength when anxiety, panic dissorders and tension, not to forget pain.

Ive had pain for over 20 yars and i'm 27. When you go around with this pain almost all the time because pain medication can only do so much in the long term.
Today its pain when i wake up and pain trough the day, and now as i'm going to bed the tension in my neck is still there. Its been getting more stiff on both sides the last three days.

Its psykosomatic. Actually i had to disconnect from my family because i was the guy that kept things together at home while my father traveled alot with his job. And drunk when he was home, and me in the closet. Well you see my pint, It had to go wrong.

But i pray to my god several times trough the day because this idea gives me a purpouse and makes me think in critical ways.

You have to remember that youre talking to yourself with no other humans around, Its God and there are nothing he or shee or it or that knows everything, so you can talk about anything. There are no voices in the head, but the body who tries to give me the answer. And they come. It ends in a quick debate and i get over it.

It doesnt always help. Cuz sometimes you have needs to be down that you just don't know about.

So for me , who have experienced a hell too much tragedy and #, GOD is very essential.

He makes me thank for the food and also pray for the people in need in Somalia.

I don't feel so alone.

And it makes me step one foot longer ahead to be more relaxted with our reality. With depression and anxuety this is very difficult. But i can talk in my head and it helps.

Thats the thing. It helps.

But again, believe with the complete knowlege of why you do it and what you feel is the reality with this case. Because it does not matter what other people believe. Nobody knows the right answer.

Originally posted by MartyMcFlyJr
reply to post by Hydroman

 

I used to be a christian, but am now an Athiest. It also took me many years to come to this, but it was mainly related to me being gay.

I just don't see how my love for another person will send me to hell.

Dear MartyMcFlyJr,

I am a Christian and in fact am the one that suggested to the OP that he create this thread. Being gay doesn't mean you go to hell and any "Christian" that told you that is ignorant of their bible as you also clearly did not understand it. It says that we are all sinners and says there is only ONE unpardonable sin. Did you really think that the only unpardonable sin was loving another or being gay and then let that be the reason you stopped believing? Don't you know that the only unpardonable sin is rejection of God, rejection of a heart that loves all, that is why it says to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.

Adulterers are saved, murderers are saved and gays are saved. In the same way, not all of any group is saved if there are members of that group who reject a love of all, those members are not saved.

Originally posted by Hydroman

Originally posted by milkyway12
THE BIBLE , warns you about the very thing you are asking for , you will be decieved.

So be it. I only ask for this god to show me things as he did with people in the past. I mean, how did anyone begin to believe in him in the first place? Did he not show them things? Or did they just make it all up?

Dear Hydroman,

Do be careful what you ask for. You ask to be treated as one of the prophets or like Paul perhaps. Do you really wish such a thing with all your heart? Consider that God does not reveal himself to people just to be showy, he does it when they are about to get a chore to do and it is usually quite heavy. You say you wish to meet him, what if the terms were the same as in the past, if you do meet him then you will need to give up everything you own and commit the rest of your life to what he wants done on earth. Do you begin to understand the story of Jonah now? Perhaps someday he will reveal himself to you and send you to pastor to all of the people that you believe the bible says cannot be saved. You might have to just learn your bible all over again.

Originally posted by wingsfan
reply to post by milkyway12

 

can the devil, demons, anti-christ be saved or forgiven?? is there a second chance for such a forsaken and hated entity?

Dear wingsfan,

What is salvation? What is hell? Hell is separation from God and knowing God is salvation, not being apart. God is everywhere and always with us, we choose to block him out. The "demons" rejected being with God, that was the impact of their rebellion and it's result. Can those who choose to ignore God later choose to know him? Of course; but, they can also choose not to, that is free will.

Originally posted by Hydroman

Originally posted by IAMIAM

My friend, I have a very personal relationship with the father who art in heaven. How do I distinguish his voice from my own? I listen to you.

Just as I am within the father and the father within me, so to is he within you. The way I prove God exists to others, I answer their prayers out of love for them.

Are you your Brothers keeper?

With Love,

Your Brother

This makes absolutely no sense to me.

You and me both!

reply to post by AQuestion


yes, that reminds me of saul/paul.

god knocked him off his horse and spoke to him.

converted him from a persecutor of christians to what we know him now.

someone can elaborate more on his life.

if god calls you, it won't be easy but he will be by your side.

sorry, i am not an expert on this subject, just a lowly believer.

Originally posted by Highlander64
Hydro bro you have had a lot of fine folks attend to your thread and answer your questions

People who have only good in mind, and wish to help, not just you, but others

you have shown courage, you have given, you have helped others,

Dear Highlander64,

The post you made that began as above was simply perfect. I was so touched by what and how you said it. It says that all things should be from love and I truly saw your love in your post to Hydroman. Be well.

Originally posted by fooks
reply to post by AQuestion

 

yes, that reminds me of saul/paul.

god knocked him off his horse and spoke to him.

converted him from a persecutor of christians to what we know him now.

someone can elaborate more on his life.

if god calls you, it won't be easy but he will be by your side.

sorry, i am not an expert on this subject, just a lowly believer.

Dear fooks,

You understood what I meant. Let me say there are no experts and the people we treat as experts frequently turn out to have hidden agendas or just be wrong. Don't you think the best person to reach out to firm atheists is and ex-firm atheist. He already knows the questions he needs to answer. That is called conservation of effort. God talking to someone is the biggest knock, knock joke in the world. I really like the skit by Bill Cosby about God talking to him, rather relevant to this thread. I think I will post a link.

You Tube - Bill Cosby, Noah

I'll flat out come in here and say there is no God as man perceives him pure and simple I believe that! Others however must declare this belief , invalid! I MUST entertain or better yet to subscribe to their beliefs or one of us is gonna have to start quoting scripture. I looked up at the sky in 1977 and said "It's over!"...God never replied.