We are all believers...but in what?

When we make a statement of absolute certainty - such as God does or does not exist - how do we know if our ⁴claim is true?

To make such a statement with absolute certainty, we must have absolute (infinite) knowledge, i.e., we must be all-knowing. Otherwise, there may be information somewhere ¹yet to be discovered that proves our claim is wrong. 

We already know there is vast knowledge beyond our awareness for two reasons. 

The more we learn about our universe and ourselves, the more we realize 

1. How ¹little we know and 

2. How limited (finite) our understanding is of what we do know. 

And this is only regarding the physical realm. 

What about the spiritual? How can we be sure there isn't such a ³realm which is equally, if not, a far greater realm of knowledge and understanding than the physical/material world? 

What if the state of our present existence somehow prevents us from seeing this ³realm well, if not altogether? Without absolute knowledge, we can't know with complete certainty.

To be absolutely certain of any claim, we must be everywhere present at the same time - in every dimension - in order to observe everything there is to know about our claim. Then, we must have a perfect understanding of everything we observe to ensure we interpret everything correctly. 

In short, we must be infinite in knowledge, wisdom, presence, and power to know something with absolute certainty. 

Otherwise, we must know and trust someone who has all these characteristics. This is true of only one being and that being is not us.

Do we have such ability collectively? 

Since all humans are limited (even the brightest among us), we may discover a tremendous amount, but we can never have infinite knowledge collectively, either. Increasing the number of finite individuals to gather information still produces finite knowledge because individually we are finite and there is not an infinite number of us. 

Even AI cannot acquire this because its knowledge is based only on what finite minds have discovered and compiled to date, and made available and programmed AI to gather. And if there is bias in the programmers, vital information could be withheld that is necessary for complete knowledge on a subject. 

No doubt AI will come to the place where it will be able to learn and gather new information on it's own (and may already be there). But this will simply give us a greater knowledge of what is, which I suggest will only give us more evidence to support the existence of a Creator. 

The only way to have infinite knowledge is to have access to and trust in the infinite, i.e. trust someone with infinite knowledge.  

Yet we still prefer being our own god and trusting ourselves over God because...

1. We're under the illusion that we can control other things or persons well enough to get what we need - and we believe we don't need God to do this (though God would never control others to serve our ends).

2. That these other things or persons can give us what we need - purpose, meaning, fulfillment, and lasting life - if we can only acquire and control them.

3. We suspect (correctly) that God can not be controlled by us or anyone else (by definition, this is a significant part of what it means to be God). We prefer to trust ourselves over someone we have zero control over - which actually reveals that our distrust of others is a core part of our broken disposition.

Some assert they are agnostic about such things. But this also requires absolute knowledge. This is saying with 100% certainty we cannot be sure either way. But how do we know this without having absolute knowledge? We don't.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether we trust ourselves to make life work without (i.e., independent of) God or we trust God. 

²Every last one of us must operate by faith, not just "believers" i.e. Christians. We are all believers in something or someone simply

because we have to be since we are finite i.e. not infinite in knowledge or power or everywhere present, and we are dependent creatures. We simply don't know the far reaches of the universe and everything that is out there, much less the One who claims to have created it all and keep it all going. 

For a more in depth look into this click here.

Since we are designed to live, move, and have our being (existence) in God we cannot make life work as it was designed to without Him, no more than a fish can live on land out of water. It is simply a matter of ⁵our design as creatures and bearers of God's image. 

Yet most refuse (choose not) to acknowledge this or Him. This creates a major problem. Our refusal colors and distorts everything we see, hear, do, and understand, since we are cutting ourselves off from the source of all knowledge. i.e. if the Bible is correct about God and creation, this is a denial of reality i.e. what is. 

We interpret our world according to our beliefs. If our beliefs are wrong, so is our interpretation of the "facts." And everyone believes i.e. has faith in - something or someone. There are no exceptions. We must because we are not all-knowing. None of us.

We are also naturally inclined to believe our will is paramount over anyone else's, especially God's. We are all about self unless we are plugged into God. In short, we are selfish. Our "ishness" in our present disconnected state (by our choosing) from the ultimate Source of all things - and all truth - is about putting ourselves first,  when it is very possible and even highly likely that we are not the most important being in the universe. 

We can only be about others when we are plugged into the Source of life, love, and everything else as God designed us to be. Without Him, we are "running on empty."

We are set on being our own god unless and until we come to recognize being our own god will not and does not work, i.e. give us true and lasting life.

And what is the essence of life for us personally? 

We are important, significant, and valuable because we are in God's image. For more on this, click here.

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Footnotes:

¹We regularly hear of new discoveries made by the James Webb Telescope that regularly contradicts our previous understanding. Why? Our prior understanding was based on faith (theory), not facts. In science, it's called hypothesis, theory, or speculation (or presuppositions in philosophy) which are all fancy names for belief or faith. In science, the purpose of the scientific method is to prove or disprove theories because theories are not facts. They are statements of belief i.e. presuppositions.  

The irony is the scientific community criticizes "believers" who openly admit they operate by faith when they also operate by faith but try to hide it behind "scientific" words that sound more sophisticated than that "anti-intellectual" word we call faith.

Why are theories even necessary or used? Because we are not everywhere present and neither are we all knowing. Therefore, we operate by faith; every last one of us.

²Until we recognize there are no exceptions with faith - i.e. We all operate by it - we will not objectively and honestly look at all the evidence that does exist. We interpret our world - the "facts" - according to our beliefs or presuppositions. 

When we are honest in admitting our limitations, we can look at everything and see which belief system is best supported by the evidence we do have. When we do, we will be shocked to see how much the evidence points towards supporting the claims of the Bible and Christ himself and all that he is, said, and did. 

³As we develop greater tools to observe and study what is and gather more information, we are beginning to understand the quantum realm. This is more like science fiction than science. It's so mysterious it's almost a mixture of the spiritual and the scientific.

⁴Faith is so despised by the secular mind that we substitute what we call it with other flowery words to sound intelligent. But these are only substitute words for belief or faith e.g. hypothesis, theory, postulate, speculation, posit, presume, presupposition, assertion, claim, etc. are all expressions of what we believe before we have proof that they are true. 

⁵As a result, all of humanity operates like a fish out of water. This is also why the world is such a mess. To continue the analogy, fish are not designed to live out of water, no more than we are designed to operate without a conscious relationship with the Source of life, love, and all things, i.e. our Creator...

Except for those who already recognize that being our own god doesn't work. Even though they still have to deal with their limitations and the brokenness of humanity, they do so with God at the center of the equation. 

A primary role of pain:

A primary - possibly the primary role of pain:

The main question regarding pain (suffering) is not why we experience it, but what do we do with it i.e. what can we gain from it when we see it from God's vantage point - which is the only true (accurate) vantage point. 

We may not always know if the specific decisions/choices we made caused (or did not cause) our suffering, but we can always be sure that our pain can be a - maybe the - primary means by which we are drawn nearer to God. But only if we are willing to listen and learn i.e. humble ourselves. Was this not the outcome of Job's experience and lesson i.e. humility?

If we are the cause of our pain, it is good to know how, but only to help us avoid that same choice next time, so we might turn away from it if it presents itself again.

Regardless of whether we are or are not the cause, God's intended and desired outcome is the same… that we draw nearer to him. 

Our focus is not on the cause of our pain but on how we can learn from it and draw nearer to God in and through it i.e. What are those areas we can discover about ¹ourselves and ²God - in and through our pain - so we might grow in greater humility and trust in God.

Nothing occurs outside of God's good purposes, even our poor choices. Though we should always seek to make the best choices, we do not have to be fearful if we don't make the perfect choice. 

God - who loves us infinitely and enough to send his Son to restore us - is bigger than our choices and uses all of them - good and bad - to bring about His highest glory and perfect design for us.

How do we discover God's love in our pain? click here

For a further discussion of how God uses evil for our good click here...and here.

The greater the evil the greater the opportunity for healing/

grace click here.

For a discussion on the key lesson from the book of Job, click here.

For a discussion on the value of paradox, click here.

For a discussion of how big is our God click here

For a discussion on the necessity of humility click here.

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¹ourself - how and where we don't trust him

²God - how and why he is trustworthy

Is making a lot of money legit?

Is it legitimate to pursue making a lot of money as an end in itself? No.

However, note the above says the love of money is the problem, not money itself.

If we diligently pursue doing things with excellence for the glory of God, it is not only totally legitimate to be as productive and fruitful as possible, but what we are called to do. 

From the beginning in Genesis and throughout the New Testament, God's mandate to humanity was to be fruitful and multiply i.e. bear much fruit. This honors God.

This may result in financial success (and sometimes does, particularly if God gave you the temperament and skills to be an effective business person). But it's not automatically a guarantee. 

Since making money is not the focus (though it can clearly be a legitimate measuring stick of success under the right conditions), but the pursuit of excellence for Christ's sake is i.e., doing everything - including "business" - for God's honor (glory) regardless of whether we see a significant financial reward or not. 

We should always strive for excellence and never back off from being as fruitful as possible, both spiritually and materially. Doing things with excellence has more to do with effort and intent than outcome. Backing off from doing all things for God's glory is not optional. Honoring God in all we say and do is the calling of every believer.
 

What about our skills?

What if our skills and abilities, energy, stamina, strength, and mental sharpness have considerably dropped off with age or for some other reason, such as overall health or injury? Is this a legitimate reason to slow down? 

Because money is not the final measuring stick of a legitimate endeavor but intent to honor God is, we are still to pursue things with excellence regardless of our skills i.e. being excellent for Christ's sake always remains the ¹same even though our abilities change over time (some for better - like increased wisdom through increased life experience - and some for worse, like declining physical and mental stamina). 

Doing everything with excellence for the glory of God should ²always be our goal and modus operandi, regardless of the resources or skills we may or may not have; whether those resources change, decline, or increase.

What about excellence vs doing just enough to "get by?"

Excellence in the marketplace, in contrast to the lack of excellence, provides a greater opportunity to put God on display; to demonstrate that living for God is a more excellent and productive way than not living for him and living only for self-advancement. 

This is exactly why Joseph excelled in every circumstance he found himself in and was entrusted to oversee things wherever he went. He was eventually promoted to second in command in Egypt, probably the greatest nation in the world at that time. This led to great prosperity, which in turn was used to save many lives, including his own family. 

Truly knowing and living for God makes us more productive, resourceful, and excellent, resulting in greater honor to God and service to humanity made up of fellow bearers of God's image.

Excellence in attitude.

We are not only to be excellent in our effort but excellent in attitude e.g. humble, diligent, caring, etc., which usually, though not automatically, leads to an excellent outcome. In fact the right attitude leads to the right outcome. Therefore, knowing God is more excellent in the work environment (or any area of endeavor) than not knowing Him.  It is the superior way of living life. 

But we must distinguish between truly knowing God versus knowing about God. They are not the same. 

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ecc 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. 

Col 3:23  Whatever you do G4160, work G2038b heartily G5590, as for the Lord and not for men, 

Do – G4160

ποιέω - poieō - poy-eh'-o

Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct): - abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare G4238.

Work – G2038b

ἐργάζομαι - ergazomai; from G2041; to work, labor: — accomplish (1), accomplished (1), accomplishing (1), achieve (1), committing (1), do (1), do...work (1), does (3), doing (1), doing...work (1), done (2), make...living (1), perform (4), performed (1), performing (1), practice (1), produces (1), traded (1), work (9), work be done (1), work do...perform (1), working (7), works (1), wrought (1).

Heartily – G5590

ψυχή - psuchē; of unc. or.; breath, the soul: — heart (2), heartily (1), life (36), lives (7), mind (1), minds (1), person (1), persons (3), soul (33), souls (14), suspense *(1), thing (1).

From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

Thayer Definition:

1) breath

1a) the breath of life

1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing

1a1a) of animals

1a1b) of men

1b) life

1c) that in which there is life

1c1) a living being, a living soul

2) the soul

2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)

2b) the (human) soul in so far as the right use of the aids constituted it that offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life

2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body) i.e. put your heart into it. Do it with passion, spirit, and energy.

As a believer in business for over 40 years, I have wrestled with what is legitimate and what is questionable in "doing business." 

The following links are some conclusions I have come to so far, based on scripture first and my own experience, failures, struggles, and successes. 

For those who have wrestled with these same things, I trust you will find the below helpful. 

For a further discussion on excellence click here. 

For a discussion on sowing and reaping click here. 

For a discussion on legitimate vs illegitimate business click here 

For a discussion on giving what you have click here.

For a discussion on diligence vs being undisciplined click here

For a discussion on resting in God click here

For a discussion on whether competition is good or bad click here

For a further discussion on being diligent, click here

For a discussion on what is more important, great effort or great faith, click here

For a discussion on the fallacy of the health and wealth gospel, click here.

For a discussion of what exactly is money/currency click here.

For a discussion how faith is hard work click here.

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¹And as we mature, our walk with God should strengthen, so this becomes a more consistent and common part of our life, not less common.

²Whatever you have, no matter how much or how little, use it with all the faith, strength, and energy God gives you for his glory.

Work out your own salvation

Because our lack of humility and our inclination to be our own god has continued since our initial rebellion in Eden, everything we do tends to be performance-based i.e. We are naturally inclined to take everything that God says - His directions or commandments - and turn them into a performance based approach to God i.e. a way of earning God's approval and acceptance. 

Why? 

We feel compelled to prove our worth and counter our sense of inadequacy that resulted from our abandoning God, the source and only true basis of our identity. 

Why? Because we were created for glory but are no longer connected to the Source of glory, life, and meaning i.e. we are missing what we were designed to partake of; the beautiful (glorious), all-wise, and loving God. 

Since we are designed to experience our greatest identity and sense of worth in God, without him, we seek to regain this outside of and apart from him. 

We no longer do things to honor God but try to "save ourselves" through doing "good deeds." Even as His Children, we are ¹naturally inclined this way if we do not operate in and by His Spirit. 

True humility recognizes I can't (and never will) follow and pursue God perfectly in my natural strength, i.e., by simply willing it. God must be the energy and driving force behind my actions. I must recognize my weakness in living as God intends before I can be strong (in His strength) in faithfully pursuing Him.

The paradox of the "upside down" Christian life is when I am weak I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10

"Therefore, my beloved... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." - Phil 2:12-13

This passage does not say work for your salvation but work out your salvation that is already yours i.e. live out who you fully are - who God has made you to be in and through Christ - i.e. act as someone who is perfectly righteous (and loved) because of Christ's efforts on your behalf, not as someone trying desperately to make yourself righteous to win the acceptance and approval (and love) of others... starting with God.

Who we are in Christ ("our own salvation") is what gives us the will (desire) and power to live for God's pleasure. But we must fully believe and embrace what God declares about us in Christ if we are to experience His strength in and through us.

For a further discussion on the difference between being righteous and living righteously, click here.

For a discussion on the difference between being spirit-driven vs works-driven click here.

For a discussion on being loved, vs experiencing his love click here.

For a discussion on becoming who we already are in Christ click here.

For a discussion on how we are created for glory click here, here, and here.

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Footnotes:

¹This is why the Galatians reverted back to performance based salvation after Paul initially had clearly presented the gospel to them, resulting in him writing his letter to get them back on track. 

The central theme of the beatitudes?

Virtually everyone agrees that the "sermon on the mount" is the most significant compilation of Christ's teachings in one message.

Prayer - the "Lords prayer" - happens to be at the ¹center of this sermon. Was this intentional?

Could it be that prayer is central (in theme as well as ¹structurally) to this compilation of Christ's teachings?

Isn't prayer the greatest expression and indication of humility? 

And isn't humility the main disposition needed to know and walk with God? 

Isn't knowing and experiencing God ²most, based on our disposition or posture of humility before Him?

What does scripture say?

"God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble" is a main refrain in the Bible. The importance of humility (or lack of it) is a theme woven throughout virtually every story in the Bible from beginning to end and for good reason - a critical reason. We will not and can not truly know God without it.

Buying into the lie that we can be our own god was the first step in the opposite direction, away from humility and the path humanity has been on since. As a result, everything has come unglued.

If you (we) want to know the level of your (our) humility, look at the significance of prayer in your life. How big a role does it play? 

The more humble you are, the more you will pray. The less you pray the less humble you are. 

The more humble we are the more we experience God's grace and love. Praying without ceasing may be the best indication of the deepest humility.

For a discussion of the humility of Christ click here. 

For a further discussion of the humility of Christ click here. 
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¹Christ's starting the sermon with "blessed are the poor in spirit" - i.e. the humble - is not without good reason. For a further discussion, click here.

²and chronologically

Matt
5:2-48
6:1-34 (The Lord's prayer 9-15)
7:1-27

The sermon consists of 108 total verses making verse 54 the halfway point structurally.

The subject of prayer starts at verse 55 and ends at verse 64 with 44 verses following. Of course, there were no chapters or verses in the original text but this helps us see that prayer is near the structural and grammatical center of the entire sermon as well as central to the sermon's theme.

loving and valuing...the same?

In considering the definition of love, I found the word value helpful. But I have also found myself wondering how ¹value is similar and different from love. 

Is there a difference? If so, what is it? Let's dive in.

Objective vs personal value

Something can be objectively valuable without our personally valuing it or even being aware of its value.

To say it another way, something can be infinitely valuable (objectively) without being valuable to us personally (subjectively).

God would be a classic example. He is infinitely valuable (without Him nothing would be) though He is ²not personally valued by most - at least not to the extent of His true value. I would even suggest that only Christ fully grasps and appreciates the value of the Father. 

For something to have actual value means there is something objectively and innately valuable, important, or significant about a person or thing first, regardless of whether we personally value them (it) or not. 

How are subjective value and love connected?

To personally value something is to also have affection for it i.e. to feel love for something. Loving affection involves experiencing emotional delight in that thing or person we value. Loving affection is an indication we have personal regard ³for the value of someone or something. It is both subjective as well as objective. 

Valuing something more than its worth

On the other hand, to value someone or something does not necessarily make them or it valuable objectively, only subjectively. This involves personal affection toward what is considered valuable by the beholder, even when it may not be valuable objectively, i.e., it is not actually or objectively as valuable as we think or feel. 

For example, we can meet someone charming who we feel could be important to us, who turns out to be nothing like they presented themselves to be. The reality of who they are doesn't match the appeal of who we thought they were or who they presented themselves to be.  

Valuing things vs persons

A classic example of a thing (vs a person) not being as valuable as we thought would be a product that doesn't equal or live up to the promise or "sales pitch" e.g. a job, a certain level of wealth, a potential partner, a particular car, a bigger house, even something simple like a purse or a pair of shoes etc. As we learn and experience more about these things, the actual value doesn't match the hope - or hype. As a result, we often despise the very things we sought so diligently when they do not deliver what we sought them for. 

It is pretty common for all of us to place a higher value on someone or something more than it's actually worth. 

Overvaluing is not the same as something having no value at all

Overvaluing something doesn't mean there is no value. Certain things may give you some happiness initially, but not to the extent you hoped, thought, or were told. They may be good things, but not the best thing, and not to the extent we thought.

One reason this difference is significant is that we may have a greater affection or love for something beyond what it deserves. We can love something to the point of worshiping it (and often do) when in reality it will never deliver long-term what we want, need, or believe it will. 

Not fully experiencing something's true value

We can also appreciate the beauty and value of something objectively without ever personally participating in its full value e.g. we can see and smell an exquisite meal -- which is participation on a limited level.  And observe others eating and enjoying it, but we will not fully experience or benefit from it until we eat it ourselves. It is no less valuable because we don't eat it; it is just not fully valuable to us experientially or personally i.e. subjectively. 

We can observe the beauty or strength of another, yet never personally experience these qualities through direct participation. A fiancé can admire the physical beauty of his soon-to-be bride (or the strength and protection of her soon-to-be husband) but not fully partake of and experience that beauty (or strength) until they are married.

Value is ⁴foundational and a fundamental part of loving. It must exist first. But having loving affection for someone is personal in nature, whereas someone or something having value is an objective fact. 

Valuing from afar vs the nearness of love 

Valuing has more to do with our recognition of something's value from afar. Love/affection has more to do with intimacy (closeness) and personal enjoyment of that which is valuable.

Also, when we value something, it is usually more utilitarian or functional than affectionate.  

The most valuable of all

God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, thereby making Him the most significant and valuable being in the universe. Without Him, nothing exists, including you and I. 

Yet many do not recognize this or have any affection toward Him i.e. God is valuable (objectively) even when He is not ⁵personally (subjectively) valued.  

A skewed view of God

Some even despise God for various reasons, despite His infinite worth. Usually, this is because He didn't come through for them in the way they thought he should. For these people, even though God is objectively valuable, he is not personally (subjectively) attractive.  

The problem however isn't with God but our view that He is some kind of celestial butler who should cater to our every whim. But this would not be God at all. God is all-knowing, loving, and able to do what He knows is best, not what we may think is best. 

By definition, God is controlled by no one. He is guided by His perfect understanding, not our limited understanding. He is the reason He does what He does in the way He does it. Because only He is all wise, loving, and powerful. We are not - though we often think and act as if we are. We are often pretty foolish (fooled).

God values us?

God not only values us as His image bearers but also enjoys our interaction with him. He is delighted when we are delighted in Him. He is happy when we are happy in Him. He finds pleasure in our experiencing pleasure in and from our relationship, fellowship, and communion with Him. In short, He not only values us, He also loves us. Or if you wish you could say He not only loves us but values us. 

God values all his image-bearers by virtue of them being like Him, but he does not have a personal relationship with or affection for all of them. That relationship with the accompanying affections is experienced by those who recognize Him as the Source of love, life, and all things. Those he has personal affection for, He pursues and draws to himself. 

If this article tugs at your heart in any way, He is pursuing you. If it doesn't, pray He has mercy on you and stirs your heart to seek Him. No one comes to Christ unless the Father draws them. Jn 6:44

For a discussion on why God delights in our delight, click here.

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¹by value I simply mean something of importance, e.g. When we say someone has strong values, we mean certain things are very important to them, such as family. When we say someone has strong family values, we mean they place high importance on their family over other persons or things. 

²The only reason God is not personally valued, i.e. loved by most, is because they do not recognize and acknowledge all they are and have is from Him. By definition, this is part of what makes Him God i.e. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

And this is usually because of all the pain and suffering they experience and see others experience. They assume if God existed, he would address all the pain and suffering (which He has, only not on their terms but on His - which are the best terms, because only He knows what is best since He knows and sees all things). We question and doubt God's love and goodness because we don't understand the cause and purpose behind pain. For a further discussion on this click here.

³something cannot be truly loved or worth loving until it is first valuable (objectively) and then valued (subjectively).

⁴The opposite is true for the same reason. Someone who has personal regard for us also has affection for us. 

This, however, doesn't mean someone has to have affection for us to treat us in a loving manner. They can treat us well simply because they recognize our value, i.e. that we are worth being treated well by virtue of being in God's image - i.e. like God. And because God has called us to treat others as we wish to be treated, we desire to honor his wishes. 

⁵How many people regularly and consistently show God gratitude for all they are and have? Do you do this yourself? 

Here's a clue. None of us does. That's why someone else (Christ) had to do this for us and actually did it. If you believe this, He will credit this to you as if you did it.   

Don't be surprised by suffering

If God is good, why does He allow evil (pain and suffering)? This is the age-old question and the reason many give for why they don't trust God.

But could it be that God allows and seeks to use our pain to humble us so ¹we might see that life can not and does not work without Him? Could the reason for pain and suffering be this simple and come with such loving intentions?

What most do not consider is pain and suffering are the eventual outcomes and natural consequences of ²arrogant independence i.e. the belief that ¹we can make life work without acknowledging the Creator of it; that we can extract what we need from creation that which we long for most.

But pain can also become the ³means by which God humbles us, if we let it. Evil itself is bad but humility and whatever is needed to humble ¹us and draw us closer to God is good, not bad (though often unpleasant). A seeming contradiction?

Our inability to find true and lasting life and love outside of God - a very painful and humbling realization - can direct us back to Him. But only if we turn from our arrogant and stubborn belief that we can obtain these without Him. If we persist in our unbelief, the painful consequences of this rebellious distrust of God - i.e. the evil and harm it brings on us and others - are not His fault, but our choice. 

We rarely grasp the far-reaching significance or impact of our rebellious distrust of God - i.e. how harmful and destructive it truly is to ourselves and others - until we experience the pain this distrust causes. And even then, we rarely recognize the true reason we experience it. 

The fact that we are surprised, put off, offended or upset with God by pain and suffering (evil) is proof of how little we understand the far-reaching impact and severe consequences of our distrust of God.

The suffering caused by evil should not surprise us. It is the natural outcome of believing we can make life work without God when all the pain it causes tells us otherwise. 

Believing we can make life work without God is a lie. Life only works as God intends when we are in perfect alignment and union with God our Creator - the source of life, love, and all things - in whose image we were created. If we truly understood how essential He is, we would not be surprised at all by the pain ¹we experience by not being aligned and in tune with the very Source of life.

We all have the capacity to see far more than we now see about God, ourselves, and life (such as how much pain and suffering our unbelief causes). The only thing blocking us from seeing more clearly is our lack of humility - refusing to acknowledge our need for and dependence on God for all we have and are. 

For a further discussion of how God uses evil for our good click here...and here.

The greater the evil the greater the opportunity for healing/grace click here.

For a discussion on the key lesson from the book of Job, click here.

For a discussion on the value of paradox, click here.

For a discussion of how big God is click here

For a discussion on the necessity of humility, click here.

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Footnotes:

¹I'm not saying that our individual pain and suffering is necessarily because of anything specific we haven't or have done. I'm referring to the pain and suffering the world experiences in general. Certainly, there often are negative consequences for our individual poor choices, but humanity in general suffers from being in a broken world because of the world's collective rebellion toward God. And even if our suffering is a direct result of individual poor choices, the remedy is not guilt and shame but humility i.e. increased recognition of our dependence on God. That we can't get from life what we ultimately need apart from Him. 

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. All things work for the good of those who love God. 

 

²Even suicide is an act of arrogant distrust of God. Someone ends their life because they believe it is not worth living. Yet they don't consider the foundational reason they are in despair is the absence of God i.e. their lack of trust in God and His wisdom and love in allowing pain (the organic and rightful consequences of unbelief) to continue.

³God is so wise, powerful, and good, that he even uses evil for good - even though evil is still bad. Only He can. But we will never see or understand this if we do not trust Him. 

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Rom.11.33-36

For a more in-depth look at Rom 11:33-36, click here.