Misunderstanding A Loving God

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Contents

Acknowledgments.............................vPreface.....................................ixBelief vs. Unbelief.........................1The Church..................................11Invitation to Salvation.....................21The Backslider..............................25Misunderstanding God........................31Spiritual Growth............................37Holiness....................................43Conclusion..................................51Questions and Answers.......................55My Favorite Scriptures......................57About the Author............................63

Chapter One

One sunny afternoon while shopping, a homeless man approached me. He asked, "Do you have some change to spare?" I thought to myself, Here is an opportunity for me to witness for Jesus. Quickly I reached into my purse, and gave him five dollars and a witnessing card. First, I told the man that God loves him and that He is concerned about his life. He looked down and started walking backwards and said softly, "God does not love me, look at my life." With compassion in my heart, I gently said, "Sir, God does love you." The man responded, "If He did love me, I would not be living in the streets." I then said, "God gives us free will, and what we do with this freedom is up to us." I told him, "You made some wrong choices or someone made them for you, and this is why you are on the streets." I then mentioned God's love to him a third time and walked away. As I got into my car, I noticed he was staring at me, and looking over the card I had given him. I suppose I may never know what his thoughts were after I left. However, I hope our conversation at least caused him to turn and talk to God at some point.

I love encountering opportunities to share the love of God with people who do not know Him. I take pleasure in listening to their unbelief that I might win them over as I explain His concern for them with simplicity. Our heavenly Father loves everyone no matter what. And yes, there are people in the world who will not embrace His unconditional love, and this is okay, because God will not force Himself on anyone. He respects the decisions we make.

I remember during the course of my life when I did not believe in God. At one point, I was queen of my own castle, doing my own thing, making a mess of my life and on my way to hell. I did not think that God existed. I told myself that, even if He did, I did not want Him in my life telling me what I could or could not do. Wasn't that prideful of me? Bear in mind that I was spiritually blind and did not know any better. I had no idea that God was interested in my life. Sometimes we assume that there is no God when our lives are full of uncertainties. We have some kind of warp belief that God is real when all is well for us. We thank Him, even if we do not know Him, for being there with us on mountaintops, but when we are down in the valley below suffering and our lives are out of order, we rethink His existence.

Do you believe in God and His Son Jesus? If not, why? Is it because no one in your family or circle of friends believes? Believing in God and His Son is an individual decision that you must make on your own. No one can make it for you, and it is dangerous to think that you can put off making that decision. Oftentimes people reject God's salvation offer while they are alive, and when on their deathbeds, they think that they can make the decision to receive Jesus Christ before dying. None of us is promised that we will have this chance, and eternity is too long to be wrong. Why wait?

What about those of us who rush to sacred buildings for spiritual renewal; do you believe in God and His Son Jesus? I ask this because many of us who gather in temples, synagogues, and worship centers do not believe the same. Some of us overlook what God tells us about Himself in His Word and devote our allegiance to traditions, while the life, power, and love of God is laying dormant in our lives. Look around you; where are the examples of those who attend services to prove that there is a God and that He loves us? A greater part of the time, I tell people that there is more to faith than opening up a Bible, wearing a cross, and telling people you go to church. We must implement God's Word in our lives, serve Him, and learn how to love each other.

I hate to say it, but some of us have a lot of knowledge about what is written in the Bible, but nothing is changed in our behavior. Romans 12:2 Scripture reads, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourself) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The purpose of reading the Bible is not to obtain information and not apply it, but to apply it and allow it to change your thinking and your life.

Imagine a farmer toiling in the field. He or she spends endless hours plowing, planting, and watering seeds. What if the seeds decide to act rebellious and not reap a harvest? Do you think the farmer would be disappointed? Do you think God ever gets disappointed with us? He works to reach us and shape our lives, yet we resist Him. We manipulate and control everything for our own benefit, even within the church. For example, we print programs in advance every week; what if the Holy Spirit wants us to do something different? Can you envision the number of lost souls entering the kingdom of God? I believe in this way, we can be too structured. I understand that order is necessary; however, when are we going to let God back into the church? Have we not learned anything from the people in the Bible who thought they knew more than the Creator did?

Personally, I am not deliberately trying to control God in any way. I have enough problems with self- control. On my own in the past, apart from Him, I have demonstrated effectively enough how incapable I was of living life dependent on my own wisdom. I was a mess and on my way to hell with a group of my peers. Many of my friends believed I was in total control because I had a lot of stuff. I looked good and had the ability to get whatever I wanted from men. Truthfully, I was not in control of anything; what I was chasing had control of me. Nevertheless, God, so full of compassion, love, and patience had mercy on my soul and set me free.

He untangled me from my bondage so I could concentrate on serving Him with my whole heart. Do you know that it is hard to love and serve God when you and I are willfully sinning? Willful sin, if you fellowship with God, is heartbreaking and very uncomfortable. This is why I ask you to consider the question: Do you really believe? If we believe, we should experience change. Memorizing, quoting Scriptures, but never embracing the doctrine of God will not change a person.

For instances, you and I say we are children of God and that God is love, yet we are often unkind to each other. You cannot see God, yet see me hungry and let me starve. You drive by and see me at the bus stop, but do not offer me a ride to church. You cannot discern when I am in need, yet you freely give to the non-believer who turned you against me. At church, you grab your purse when I walk by because of the color of my...