Hi, again!
You also wanted to know:
why God would want to harden hearts and minds. I know He does,
I'm not sure I understand the question. Do you mean that your friends are the ones who are asking why God
wants to do those things? That's a dreadful thought. Don't you remember how Ray taught that we need that backdrop of evil to show up good?
I know there have been times when I thought He actually
wants to do these things. But I can't accept that.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:
turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 18:32 Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:
turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
And John the Baptist and Jesus came on the scene saying "REPENT."
Jesus said:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! It's the same thing, isn't it.
So there we go. All those scriptures to prove beyond a doubt that God doesn't WANT people to be hostile to Him, but to turn from their evil ways and be saved. But how to BELIEVE it?! That's the problem!! LOL How? And it doesn't help at all to read it in the King James because it's written in such archaic language. Beautiful language! But foreign to my ears. And I need someone who can speak my language. I know English. And that's okay! Nothing's too hard for God.
But I want to run in the other direction away from God upon hearing "He
wants to harden some people's hearts." As if He's some sadist. That's just as evil as someone who tortures someone else for ever for no redeeming purpose w h a t s o e v e r.
I'd much rather believe that what God wants is to SAVE everyone but He has to get our attention first (because we have to
believe that God exists and is a rewarder of all those who earnestly seek Him.... did I say that right?).
We automatically find fault with God and how He operates, not because we WANT to but because we see no other way!
And, we never stop to think to ourselves, How else is He (that's God. Remember: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CREATOR OF THE WHOLE WORLD and THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE--God) going to get our attention? Cause things to happen that get our attention, like: "Oh my God, I didn't just see that happen--did I? Hey, did you see what I just saw??* Because God's that unfathomable. But He's also everywhere. You said, "we're not God." No, but we're supposed to have him living in our hearts, aren't we? What is He? Sleeping? lol
It's going to take miracle(s) to believe that He really is operating all for the good. And He will make a way for us to go through the evils we encounter. Not directed around them, or taken out of them. But through them. Like we must
pass through fire. God is
like a refining, purifying fire.
He doesn't want to do these things. He has a lot of pleasure He wants to do too!
Can you go for some pleasure? I can.
But it's going to be a while. But we look in faith to those things we hear believing, and not with what we can see with our physical eyes, not with our own carnal minds.
It's tough and it's ONLY to get our attention and put our eyes on HIM. \
Glory to God in the Highest but it doesn't end there:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, so that we may be also glorified together.
See? You have something in common with Jesus. And that's a good thing.
Makes sense to me!