Post by mike on Oct 10, 2017 11:26:11 GMT -6
I am not sure the subject line is the most descriptive of what I want to say here. Nor am I certain this is the right place. If there is a better spot than I ask one of the mods to please move to the more appropriate spot.
I also want to say that I wish I was a better writer but it is not my strong suit. Apologies in advance for poor writing/communication.
Over the last few months my brothers and sisters here have helped me in many ways. Although I’ve thanked some of you directly, most wouldn’t even realize what a blessing you’ve been. This is all orchestrated by the Holy Spirit though us as unsuspecting vessels of His glory. As He has moved though us searching diligently in different areas according as He has gifted us while we wait and long for the return of our King, many of you have given me much insight into many things and for that I am so thankful!
I wanted to try to share something I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me over the last several weeks. This was profound for me, so it may be only for me, but in case its not I want to share. If I can bless one of you, then its worth it!
A couple weeks back brother delo63 wrote a blog on his site preservingfaith.blog and put the content on the forum as well. He & I had a little bit of dialogue regarding the origin/existence of sin & evil, you can read its entirety here.
This really got me thinking about how it all came to be, sin & evil that is. You see most of us think God created everything, so logically that would also include sin & evil wouldn’t it? We assume sin had a beginning someplace at a point in time, and one day it will end (Hallelujah!). Or did sin only begin here on earth where it will also one day end here on earth? Did sin originate in the heavens? When did that happen? Was there a 'day' Lucifer decided to rebel, a day as in the day before Adam was created or 1000 days before that or years and years...Since Lucifer was created when did he decide to sin in the eternal state? WOW! I really don’t think we can comprehend that, well I know I sure can’t!
As I thought about this further, I started to realize that the thought of God creating sin or evil was contrary to His character and a couple scriptures came to mind.
1 John 1:5 - "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
James 1:13 - "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."
Then it hit me! An analogy which most have heard at some point “There is no such thing as cold. cold is a word we use to describe the absence of heat.” We’ve all heard that in science classes or on Discovery Channel. Similarly there is no such thing as darkness only an absence of light. Hang onto these two analogies for the wrap…
Among the many attributes of God, could we agree that one of those is that “God is love”? (see above 1 John 1:5)
Now that you agree
I want to also point out that God created us as free moral agents capable of loving and not loving. We have the ability to decide what we want to do based on our own free will, don’t we? I love my daughter although I could chose to not love her (NEVER!). Bad example…I could to not love someone who wronged me, most of us have been there! I want to preface this next piece, I am not trying to debate free will vs. predestination here. The fact you’re reading this note says you made the choice to do so 
So many times I have heard this “God can do anything He wants”. Well I have to disagree with that. 1. He cant violate His word, for He is the Word and as Jer 1:12 says “…for I am watching over My word to perform it.” And in Psalm 138:2 “…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Two He can’t violate our ability to choose. Why? He wouldn’t have created us with the ability to choose if He was going to violate it in the first place. He wants us to express love, and while perhaps He could force us to love Him and each other, He does not. (Mark 12:30-31)
As most reading this are aware, Satan chose to rebel. He was allowed to make that choice even though God knew He would make that decision from eternity past. He chose to walk away from light, to make his own decision absent from God and His love! Similarly in our lives every day in every situation we have a choice. Why do we see such rebellion and lewd acts in the world today and throughout history? An absence of God in the world. There is no such thing as evil, just an absence of God!
I have been (trying) to apply this in every thought, conversation, action & deed. Don’t make the choice to not include God in this situation. I hope this message means something to someone.
I also want to say that I wish I was a better writer but it is not my strong suit. Apologies in advance for poor writing/communication.
Over the last few months my brothers and sisters here have helped me in many ways. Although I’ve thanked some of you directly, most wouldn’t even realize what a blessing you’ve been. This is all orchestrated by the Holy Spirit though us as unsuspecting vessels of His glory. As He has moved though us searching diligently in different areas according as He has gifted us while we wait and long for the return of our King, many of you have given me much insight into many things and for that I am so thankful!
I wanted to try to share something I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me over the last several weeks. This was profound for me, so it may be only for me, but in case its not I want to share. If I can bless one of you, then its worth it!
A couple weeks back brother delo63 wrote a blog on his site preservingfaith.blog and put the content on the forum as well. He & I had a little bit of dialogue regarding the origin/existence of sin & evil, you can read its entirety here.
This really got me thinking about how it all came to be, sin & evil that is. You see most of us think God created everything, so logically that would also include sin & evil wouldn’t it? We assume sin had a beginning someplace at a point in time, and one day it will end (Hallelujah!). Or did sin only begin here on earth where it will also one day end here on earth? Did sin originate in the heavens? When did that happen? Was there a 'day' Lucifer decided to rebel, a day as in the day before Adam was created or 1000 days before that or years and years...Since Lucifer was created when did he decide to sin in the eternal state? WOW! I really don’t think we can comprehend that, well I know I sure can’t!
As I thought about this further, I started to realize that the thought of God creating sin or evil was contrary to His character and a couple scriptures came to mind.
1 John 1:5 - "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
James 1:13 - "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."
Then it hit me! An analogy which most have heard at some point “There is no such thing as cold. cold is a word we use to describe the absence of heat.” We’ve all heard that in science classes or on Discovery Channel. Similarly there is no such thing as darkness only an absence of light. Hang onto these two analogies for the wrap…
Among the many attributes of God, could we agree that one of those is that “God is love”? (see above 1 John 1:5)
Now that you agree
I want to also point out that God created us as free moral agents capable of loving and not loving. We have the ability to decide what we want to do based on our own free will, don’t we? I love my daughter although I could chose to not love her (NEVER!). Bad example…I could to not love someone who wronged me, most of us have been there! I want to preface this next piece, I am not trying to debate free will vs. predestination here. The fact you’re reading this note says you made the choice to do so 
So many times I have heard this “God can do anything He wants”. Well I have to disagree with that. 1. He cant violate His word, for He is the Word and as Jer 1:12 says “…for I am watching over My word to perform it.” And in Psalm 138:2 “…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Two He can’t violate our ability to choose. Why? He wouldn’t have created us with the ability to choose if He was going to violate it in the first place. He wants us to express love, and while perhaps He could force us to love Him and each other, He does not. (Mark 12:30-31)As most reading this are aware, Satan chose to rebel. He was allowed to make that choice even though God knew He would make that decision from eternity past. He chose to walk away from light, to make his own decision absent from God and His love! Similarly in our lives every day in every situation we have a choice. Why do we see such rebellion and lewd acts in the world today and throughout history? An absence of God in the world. There is no such thing as evil, just an absence of God!
I have been (trying) to apply this in every thought, conversation, action & deed. Don’t make the choice to not include God in this situation. I hope this message means something to someone.
