Sometimes I have so many questions. And a lot of them lead to God. Now do not think for a minute that I am a pure, churchgoing being. I'm not. But sometimes I wish I could chat to God on msn, or maybe email Him, or at the very least sms Him.
Let's give a "word picture" ... I use them a lot because it is a very effective way to communicate with kids at school. It always has positive results and the message goes across smoothly even to the less gifted. Let's say we tell a 7 year old child not to play with matches because they could get burnt. And they tune us out. They think they can handle it and they have no need to listen to us. The excitement of fire is in itself too much not to give in to. Then they get burnt playing with the matches. Is that in some way their fault for tuning out the voice of wisdom that the adult gave them? Yes, it sure is. But I was once a 7 year old myself and can vividly remember the enchantment of looking into fire.
So now, translating it into God terms, perhaps we're too fast to blame God for things when it's actually our bad choices that gets us in the places that are so painful or difficult. Even when we really do it with the best of intentions. Well, the way to hell is paved with good intentions. When we tune in and listen to God, He leads us in a better way, just as He promised in the Bible. He never goes back on His word, although it sometimes gets rocky. But we don't spend enough time praying and listening to His voice, so we find ourself in those difficult places.
One last thing I want to add ... If you read about Paul on the road to Damascus... his prayer of salvation was one word... "HELP!" And we all know that Saul became Paul. He went from killing Christians to writing a large portion of the Bible, albeit his chauvinistic streaks. Now I have never killed anyone, Christian or not, so maybe if I give God the HELP sign He'll gladly come to the rescue.
So many things qualify as sins. Sometimes tragedy looks like the unpardonable sin. Sometimes sheer bliss, happiness and fulfillment also look like unpardonable sins. Big paradox. But maybe the only sin which is hell is the one of rejecting God. Just my impression.
Let's give a "word picture" ... I use them a lot because it is a very effective way to communicate with kids at school. It always has positive results and the message goes across smoothly even to the less gifted. Let's say we tell a 7 year old child not to play with matches because they could get burnt. And they tune us out. They think they can handle it and they have no need to listen to us. The excitement of fire is in itself too much not to give in to. Then they get burnt playing with the matches. Is that in some way their fault for tuning out the voice of wisdom that the adult gave them? Yes, it sure is. But I was once a 7 year old myself and can vividly remember the enchantment of looking into fire.
So now, translating it into God terms, perhaps we're too fast to blame God for things when it's actually our bad choices that gets us in the places that are so painful or difficult. Even when we really do it with the best of intentions. Well, the way to hell is paved with good intentions. When we tune in and listen to God, He leads us in a better way, just as He promised in the Bible. He never goes back on His word, although it sometimes gets rocky. But we don't spend enough time praying and listening to His voice, so we find ourself in those difficult places.
One last thing I want to add ... If you read about Paul on the road to Damascus... his prayer of salvation was one word... "HELP!" And we all know that Saul became Paul. He went from killing Christians to writing a large portion of the Bible, albeit his chauvinistic streaks. Now I have never killed anyone, Christian or not, so maybe if I give God the HELP sign He'll gladly come to the rescue.
So many things qualify as sins. Sometimes tragedy looks like the unpardonable sin. Sometimes sheer bliss, happiness and fulfillment also look like unpardonable sins. Big paradox. But maybe the only sin which is hell is the one of rejecting God. Just my impression.
