If God were small or just part of the universe then you might discover Him
like you would a planet or a nebula. If He were
just another intelligence in the cosmos then perhaps you could
communicate in some way with Him. However if God is really the
God of The Bible - that is Creator of all things and of time itself, it should
be obvious that you could know little about Him, unless He chose
to reveal Himself to us.
For example, imagine that you have a pond in the garden with fish in it -
but what can they understand about you - apart from the fact that they get fed
most days? If you take the fish out of the water to show them yourself -they
wouldn't understand (or survive long). If God were to reveal Himself to
you - would you really understand at all?
If you thought you did understand - would you not be like a fish imagining
that it knew everything about humans?
Yet The Bible states that God has chosen to reveal Himself
to humanity.
Can that be true?
In what way could this be so?
No fish can understand men, but you can understand fish (to some extent any
way!)
You cannot understand God - but God can understand you - and He can reveal
Himself in a way that you can understand.
God has shown in The Bible that He originally created and designed you to
function in a close and meaningful relationship with Himself.
Flying cars?
To illustrate this point - a car is designed as a means of transport. It
usually runs on the highway. If the car comes off the road it usually crashes.
If a car tries to go through water it will breakdown and rust. If it tries to
fly - well, I wouldn't want to be in it!
Not Fitting
If God has made you to be in relationship (fellowship) with
Himself - it is obvious that if you operate in any other way you will be very
disappointed in life and not be fulfilled! In you and me there is a deep longing
for significance and purpose to our lives. Yet if you try and be what you are
not; how can you succeed? Life without God is empty and purposeless
Why did God leave us?
"For all have sinned and fallen short of God's Glory"
( i.e. standards)
Romans 3
verse 23 |
He didn't want to.
There is an old proverb that if you put a spoonful of pure milk into a bucket
of sewage - you have a bucket of sewage. But if you put a spoonful of sewage
into a bucket of pure milk - you still have a bucket of sewage.
If you decide to go your own way, as we all have, you would contaminate
everything. Even though you may see your own faults (sin) as "just a
spoonful" it is just as deadly. |
Why didn't God just destroy evil and start again?
He could have - and perhaps you think He should have. But God Himself has
shown that while you really ought to be severely punished, He doesn't in fact
want that to happen. For despite your arrogance and self-will, He loves you. Let
me be more specific - HE LOVES YOU personally. He doesn't want you to live a
purposeless life. He doesn't want you to live separately and lonely and divorced
from Himself. He doesn't want to punish you -as you deserve - for your part in
contaminating a pure universe. But things don't 'just happen.' Something had to
change - and only God could do that. |
"For God so loved the world that He gave His
only and special Son that who ever believes in Him should not perish..."
John 3 verse 16 par |
How is it possible to Know God?
It is possible, for He has come to you through Jesus who is
God's Son. Jesus is and has always been part of the Trinity of God. Father, Son
and Holy Spirit all love you so very much that they have moved heaven and earth
to reach you - but they will not violate your decision. You can choose
to know or remain ignorant. Jesus came to reveal God. You can't really know God
directly - for He is beyond even the most gifted and advanced thinkers and
philosophers. But you can know the man Jesus Christ who is also God. Being human
- you can relate to Him, being God he can reveal God to you in a meaningful way.
Jesus is now the way to know God. |
Jesus said"I
am The Way, The Truth and The Life. Anyone who comes to God comes through Me."John
14 verse 6 paraphrase |
A Spoonful of Sewage
The bucket of milk was ruined by the spoonful of sewage. Our life has been
ruined by sin - not just guilt feelings, you have polluted God's universe by
your own deliberate and persistent way. Yes there is good in everyone - like the
pure milk, but the contamination of sin has made that worthless. you have become
offensive to God.
Can I be restored?
No - for just restoring you to what you were would be
useless. God has a better plan and this is what it is:- Forgiveness and
a new beginning!
The Judge is a softie!
Imagine someone breaking into your home and ransacking it. They are caught
and hauled up before the judge. The judge is a kindly old man and feels sorry
for the culprit. "I forgive you," he says, "go your way a free
man."
You would be so angry - the man has escaped justice, the judge ought to
be thrown out for being unjust - and you have to foot the bill to repair the
damage done.
Some people see God like that Judge -a soft touch and not really fair. God
is not like that at all. He will not let anyone off with anything. Every wrong
has to be paid for in full. Every wrong thing I have ever done will be accounted
for - not the tiniest sin will escape detection. |
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your
sins..."
John 8
verse 24 part |
Who will pay?
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet
stumbles in one point he has become guilty of all."
James 2 verse10 |
I may think that my sin is not that big or important. Perhaps some sewage
is better than an other - but it still spoils that which is
good. My sin contributes to the pain, suffering and evil of this world. I stand
as guilty as anyone else. I cannot pay - I have nothing to pay with. If I spend
my whole life making amends I still do not make "the milk pure again."
|
For the universe to be wholesome again, all evil and sin must be utterly
destroyed - and if sin is in my life at such a time I would deserve the hell I
will face. However God loves you. He has paid the price you can never pay He has
paid it already even if you chose to continue your own way. Jesus died for you
individually. He has passed through death - the penalty you should bear
yourself.
The Judge gets the punishment
Think again of that old judge again. If the
culprit was truly remorseful and wanted to put it all right - but was unable to
do so: - If the Judge sees that the man is being real and knows
that if he is forgiven, he will spend the rest of his life doing good:- If
then the judge passes judgement that the man has to pay in full for all he has
done or go to prison - the victim will see justice and that the judge has been
fair, and goes home satisfied:- If then the Judge pays out of
his own pocket for all the damage and more - who will criticism him?
It is not fair that Jesus should suffer and die
for you and your sins. - But He did. Because Jesus died for you and paid the
price - He can and will forgive. |
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When "Sorry" is not good enough
Saying "Sorry" will not get forgiveness. A life turned round to
God, rejecting the old sinful way and being determined with God's help to live
God's way will get forgiveness. The Bible calls this turning around "Repentance"
and it is truly a wonderful thing. Not only will God forgive - He will cleanse
from all the sin pollution in your life. Not only will He cleanse, but if you
will trust Him in this, He will make you one of His adopted children. And
as if this is were not enough - He will also give you freely of His Holy
Spirit who will guide you and empower you to live a great life for Him.
How much does it cost?
"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure
heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
1 Timothy 1 verse5 |
It costs more than you can afford - but Jesus has paid it in full. However
The Lord Jesus doesn't want you cleansed and then going back into sin. He will
not tolerate that. If you give your life to Jesus He expects you to be real
forever. Don't play the fool with God - you will regret it. If you fall or fail
He will restore you and forgive you again. He is utterly trustworthy and
faithful at all times - but don't play games with Him - be honest and sincere
before Him and He will totally save you . |
How do I give my life to God?
To make it very simple:
1. Accept & own up to your sin and your part in making this
world the suffering place it is. Know that you have been offensive to God and
ask Him for forgiveness. Be determined to turn away from your sin and ask Him to
cleanse you and help you to stand against all evil in your life.
2. Believe in Jesus Christ. That is trust that He has kept
His Word and has forgiven you - even if you don't feel different. (The Bible
calls this faith.) Ask Him to take over your life and to make you a new person.
Tell Him that you now have decided to follow Him even when it is inconvenient or
others make life difficult. Trust Him that He has made you a new person and that
death is no longer your enemy you will live forever in His presence. It is most
important that you accept what He says in His Word - if you don't it is like
calling God a liar - and that doesn't go down well at all!
3. Continue in The Christian Life
For advice, contact me with your questions - I would be pleased to answer them. Do you now know
God - make sure you do.
God bless Pastor Kevin
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