| ~In this world we live in~ We often feel like we don't belong, as if we're aliens in a world alien to us. We see the actions of others, not understanding why they don't see the things we see, why they don't know that what they're doing isn't helpful it's harmful. We love these people and don't want to abandon them, yet we don't know how to help them. Do we visit them where they live, risking temptation? One of our most powerful tools in life is prayer. It's the tool we used when we accepted the Lord's gift to us and those who've prayed it know its power. While we can't pray the prayer for others, we can pray that the Lord will speak to others as He spoke to us. When we tell others about the Lord, many times, we receive a bad reaction, yet many times this reaction, on some level, is merely a facade. It's as if these people don't know if they can believe the things we believe, yet they really want the thing we have, the assurance that no matter what, in the end, we will go to Heaven. Many people live their lives feeling guilty about the things they've done, but the only way they know of to release this guilt is to simply deny that they've done something wrong. They hide it in their hearts, unable to let it go. However, when they hear there's a way to release them from sin, though on the outside they don't seem to listen, on the inside, they're all ears. Now, sometimes, these things take time to have an effect on them, they may react negatively about it, but when they're all alone, with nothing but their guilt to keep them company, they begin to realize that they can't go on with things as they are. They have two options, to deny their guilt as usual, convincing themselves that this is true or actually taking what is said to heart. However, simply admitting guilt is of little help, if they don't also believe in the Lord and admit it. They begin to think that maybe, if Christians can find such assurance, there really is some validity in what they say and that there is in fact a God. However, for those of us who are already Christians, it takes a great deal of patience to endure all of the trials and tribulations involved with telling others about Jesus. Many people do admit that they've sinned and they may even believe in God, but they have trouble understanding the power of Christ's death and resurrection and how it could cover up all of their sin, no matter how severe. Really, they have good reason to feel this way, because chances are we've all had trouble comprehending the awesomeness of what Christ did for us. However, when we remember that God is omnipotent and nothing is too great for Him, and that as powerful as He is at everything, His sacrifice is just as powerful at covering up our sin, we begin to understand. Some people on the other hand, feel that if they do good, these acts will cover for the things they've done wrong. What we must remember is that it only took one sin for Adam and Eve to be thrown out of Eden. In addition, when we go off to do our own bidding, we're doing much the same. Though the Lord forgives us for digging our own wells, He only forgives us when we recognize that digging our own wells instead of accepting the water of Christ is wrong of us and that we must change. Simply doing something good won't work, because, even if it were true that if good outweighs bad we can go to Heaven, if we're really honest with ourselves we know that we can't even live up even to this. Remember that Jesus at one point said, essentially, that when we sin in our thoughts, it's the same as sinning in action. Bringing this into the picture it becomes even clearer that we need the Lord's forgiveness. When you want to find something, you have to look rather hard. But, when you don�t want to, it�s always there. Many times, we come across things we�ve been missing for quite some time, but we don�t really feel that we need it at that particular time, and so, expecting to remember where it was when you do need it, you go on your merry way. But, later on, when you do in fact need it, it suddenly goes missing. But, you know that you saw it recently, so though you could likely just work your way around your need for it, you decide to go hunting for it. It�s as if, in having seen it recently, you allowed your mind to go wandering, to find ways that you could put it to good use. It�s as though you�ve been distracted from the path you were following prior to finding it. Have you noticed that when you are doing something good, something that will help put you in the right direction, things pop out of the woodwork to screw that up? In addition, when you�re doing something you know is wrong, things come to light to make you feel guilty about what you�re doing. It�s as if, when we�re doing something good, the Lord allows us to be tempted, in order to strengthen us. And, when we�re doing something bad, the Lord tries to put us back on course. It�s as if the things we�re not looking for are found in order to act as either a test or a distraction. When we�re tested, we realize that we aren�t as strong as we thought we were, so we direct more of our attention and prayer towards rectifying that problem. But when the Lord gives a distraction, right when we know what we�re doing is wrong, it�s like a seed is put in our minds to make us think about whether or not it�s really worth doing that thing we really know is wrong or unhelpful. Sometimes, we go looking for something, that although it may be right under our noses, we simply don�t see it. Sometimes, in looking ahead toward that which we hope for, we ignore the steps involved in getting there. When we want to find the truth for instance, we look all over, ignoring the things that are closest to us. We ignore the small parts of what it takes to understand something and go straight for the whole picture. We want to understand the big questions, without first finding answers for the smaller ones. In effect, we create our own answers for these simpler questions, in order to more speedily reach our desired destination. Many times, there�s a specific path that must be taken in order to reach our desired goal, but we don�t have the patience or the endurance to wait for what we want to find. After a long tedious path of trying different shortcuts, trying to find that one that will take us directly to where we want to go, we often find ourselves, no closer than we were before. We may be able to get something we didn�t have before, but we�ve only replaced that which we had in the first place. If you go to the store, hoping to get a long list of things, you may decide that you don�t have time to get a shopping cart and have to push it all around the store. Instead, you opt to simply trying to hold everything at once. However, after a while, when you�ve gotten down part of the list, you realize you can�t hold anything else. Therefore, you have the option to either put down some of the things you have in order to pick something else up or simply go with what you have already. That�s simply enough, you just eliminate things you don�t really need, but what if you�re trying to get ingredients for a recipe and all the things on the list are required. Then what would you do? You couldn�t use only half the ingredients or the recipe wouldn�t turn out right. However, you decide to go with what you have anyways. After you�ve bought the items and you�re leaving the store you see someone else in line, someone who took the time to get a cart and was able to get all that they needed. And, you begin to wonder why you didn�t get a cart when you had the chance. Life is much the same. There are many things to be done, many temptations to resist. To get into Heaven, we must carry all this out, going though our whole life without sinning, but we can�t do it. Therefore, we try to do our best expecting that we�ll manage somehow. However, we can�t, we must be sinless in order to get into Heaven. We need Jesus to help carry the weight, allowing us to have the strength to juggle our problems, without letting them drop to the floor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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