Biblical Contradiction part 3 the greatest demonstration
March 30th 2011 22:07
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters: "Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks around upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
That is the greatest demonstration of faith a human can offer to God. To sacrifice our will for His even when we cannot see, feel, find or even desire Him. Our willingness to stake it all, to gamble with our very lives, to go 'all in' is what brings us the greatest fulfillment and Him the greatest Joy.
It is necessary to make note of the fact that this change in behavior will NOT be dependent on God's actions, but our faithfulness. While God will not ever reject us when we are truly repentant, many of us repent only because we expect something of God . When we come to God saying 'I believe in You as long as you are who I want you to be' we do not have real faith. Faith is living toward God's plan even when it makes no sense whatsoever from our point of view. It is at that point that many walk away, just as Judas did. Judas' faith was toward the Messiah he wanted. He was waiting for the King who would redeem them by freeing them from Roman tyranny and establishing His own new Kingdom here on earth. When it became evident that this was not THAT Christ, Judas chose to put his faith toward those who believed the same way he did. Just as the demons did so many ceturies before. He knew Christ, but this was not the savior he wanted, not the life he expected, he did not have faith IN Christ, he merely knew Christ. He may have even believed God sent Him, but he didn't believe in Him as THE messiah.
Those with true faith that is being exemplified in their lives out of love and a desire to bring honor to God cannot be shaken. Their actions are a result of what God has already done. Their faith and dedication are born out of thankfulness for His plan since the beginning of time to sacrifice His Son on their behalf. They can have doubt, fear, anxiety and experience deep pain; but they will not lose faith. They will work hard to maintain what they know, regardless of how they feel. They will turn to prayer and the Word for consolation and to God's people for support and accountability. They will see hardships as an opportunity to show their love and bring honor to God, not to earn His favor. They can be secure in the fact that nothing they do will make God love them less, just as nothing they do can make God love them any more than He has from the beginning of time. That was made evident in Christ.
That is the greatest demonstration of faith a human can offer to God. To sacrifice our will for His even when we cannot see, feel, find or even desire Him. Our willingness to stake it all, to gamble with our very lives, to go 'all in' is what brings us the greatest fulfillment and Him the greatest Joy.
It is necessary to make note of the fact that this change in behavior will NOT be dependent on God's actions, but our faithfulness. While God will not ever reject us when we are truly repentant, many of us repent only because we expect something of God . When we come to God saying 'I believe in You as long as you are who I want you to be' we do not have real faith. Faith is living toward God's plan even when it makes no sense whatsoever from our point of view. It is at that point that many walk away, just as Judas did. Judas' faith was toward the Messiah he wanted. He was waiting for the King who would redeem them by freeing them from Roman tyranny and establishing His own new Kingdom here on earth. When it became evident that this was not THAT Christ, Judas chose to put his faith toward those who believed the same way he did. Just as the demons did so many ceturies before. He knew Christ, but this was not the savior he wanted, not the life he expected, he did not have faith IN Christ, he merely knew Christ. He may have even believed God sent Him, but he didn't believe in Him as THE messiah.
Those with true faith that is being exemplified in their lives out of love and a desire to bring honor to God cannot be shaken. Their actions are a result of what God has already done. Their faith and dedication are born out of thankfulness for His plan since the beginning of time to sacrifice His Son on their behalf. They can have doubt, fear, anxiety and experience deep pain; but they will not lose faith. They will work hard to maintain what they know, regardless of how they feel. They will turn to prayer and the Word for consolation and to God's people for support and accountability. They will see hardships as an opportunity to show their love and bring honor to God, not to earn His favor. They can be secure in the fact that nothing they do will make God love them less, just as nothing they do can make God love them any more than He has from the beginning of time. That was made evident in Christ.
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