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| <~~~BACK It's a startling thing for God to tell us he is the hungry, the thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, and in prison. And it's a claim that only the Christian God makes. Pagan gods supposedly did things on earth as a consequence of what happened in heaven. (For example, a god became angry and yelled, causing an earthquake on earth.) Christ tells us that the opposite is really true. What happens in heaven is a consequence of what happens on earth. Humans actually matter. We pray, God goes to work. We help other humans, we show our love for God. What Christ is not saying is that by doing good things we can earn our inheritance in Heaven. Nope, we can't earn our way there--as he pointed out many, many times. However, if we truly love (agape) God, then that love naturally expresses itself in helping others. So�Which side are you on? Are you a sheep�or a goat? To Walk in Love, Truth, & Knowledge is this week's recommendation. To hear this series of audio clips by Chuck Missler, go to http://www.khouse.org/6640/personal/VS010-1.html If you have a high speed connection, simply click the titles and listen to the program online. Otherwise, you may wish to right-click the titles and download the audio files to your computer, so that you can listen to them off-line. Questions Q: "Why does the Old Testament God seem so angry and the New Testament God seem so loving?" A: It's a common misconception that God, as shown in the Old Testament, is cranky and mean, while God as shown in the New Testament is nothing but gentle love. However, the Old Testament contains far more verses about God's love and mercy than the New Testament, and Jesus gave some of the strongest statements of wrath in the entire Bible. Here are just a few examples of Old Testament love: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." (Ex. 34:6) "But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deut. 7:8) "Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great." (2 Sam. 24:14) "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him� But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him�" (Ps. 103:13 & 17) "�God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him..." (Neh.1:5) "�From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies." (Neh. 9:27) "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'" (Jer. 31:3) "�and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. " (see all of Psalm 136) "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you�" (Is. 43:4) The Old Testament also, of course, shows God disciplining humans, just as any good father disciplines his children. Similarly the New Testament also shows God disciplining us: NEXT ~~~> |
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