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predestined
Beloved:
Hi Phyllis...in a way those who have had their eyes open are all "living in prefab match box) . here is an email from Ray that may address some aspect of your question
Dear Ray,
> > I would say it is safe to say I have made knowing God my greatest
> obsession in life. I have studied many religions, but the only thing
> I know for sure is that there IS a God.
>
> Ray, I think you have done a great job writing about the scriptures.
> I help it make sense. My problem is a bit complex. I want a
> relationship with God. I want so much to be closer to God.
>
> In spite of my wanting and begging, I still have not reached a point
> in my life where I believe in X, Y or Z. I am totally confused. Even
> as compelling as your site is, I still doubt the Bible. This is no
> criticism of you. You have done a bang-up job.
>
> I beg God for a dream or to show me my purpose in this life.
> Something more than just being a guy that goes to work and supports
> his family. I have voluntarily offered to give God all I have just to
> have faith and a sense of direction. Sometimes I feel so hopeless,
> lost and empty. Sometimes I don't even want to live anymore although
> I would never commit suicide. I feel like I have been blessed with
> this wonderful life, but I am still not happy. That makes me feel
> guilt because I feel I am slapping God in the face by not being more
> appreciative. My only want in life is to know God. To have that
> peace which is faith and to truly believe.
>
> Is it selfish to want this? I love God, and I just want to know God
> and understand why I am here.
>
> Sorry for this gloomy e-mail. It is just how I feel. All I ask for
> is peace. At least peace in knowing where my faith lies and that the
> scriptures are in fact the absolute truth.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> God Bless.
>
> Chris
Dear Chris:
Many people feel like you do, Chris, and I receive hundreds of emails stating the same. Actually there are many more thousands who read my site and feel the same but are ashamed to admit it in writing.
It is good to feel as you do for whatever period God deems necessary. Many ask me how to be a PERFECT servant of God, TODAY?
The answer is, God will bring you along and take you through the things that He has already foreknown for you from before the foundation of the world, and nothing you can do or think or say will change God's plan or hurry it up.
Nobody wants to suffer in the flesh, not physically, financially, socially, mentally, morally, emotionally, or spiritually. Yet it is God purpose for us to go through these things. "...It is an experience of EVIL God has given to the sons of humanity to HUMBLE them by it" (Ecc. 1:13, Concordant Old Testament Version).
God is with you Chris, even when you think that maybe He isn't.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
God be with you,
Ray
beloved
phyllis:
Peace to you a"ll
Question: Does everbody here believe in predestine? That from the time you are born to the time you die has been determined?
thank y'all
Kat:
Hi Phyllis,
Here is a email that Ray discusses this, maybe it will help :)
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2354.0.html ------
Dear Whirlwind:
You are not understanding this subject and the principle behind it. You ask: "Is it man making the choices or is it God's predestination of things?" It is BOTH. Listen: God is SOVEREIGN! Man therefore has NO FREE WILL OR NO FREE CHOICE. That's it. That's all there is to it. That IS the principle. That IS the Truth. That IS what the Bible teaches. It is not a contradiction to say that "Man makes his own choices." You and millions of other just think it is a contradiction to say man makes his own choices if indeed God is sovereign and God is behind all in His creation. It is not a contradiction. It only sounds like a contradiction for those who do not believe that "God is Sovereign, and Man has no free will."
I hardly know what else to tell you. God made man's heart. Man did not make his own heart, or his body, or his mind, or his brain, or his will, or his hopes and dreams. They are all PREDESTINATED by the foreknowledge of God. So then we don't make choices, right? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO....WE DO MAKE CHOICES. It's just that they are CAUSED by things we can't always see. Sometimes we can see what makes our choices and some times we can't, but either way THEY ARE CAUSED. And God, not us, already knows in advance the outcome of all of those caused choices. How does He do that? He is very smart (has over a 150 IQ), plus HE IS SOVEREIGN, ALL WISE, AND ALL POWERFUL.....and don't forget LOVE.
So, does God FORCE EVIL MEN TO RAPE LITTLE GIRLS? Well, does He? Does God being Sovereign prove that God forces evil men to rape little girls? That's what evil theologians deduce from the truth of no free will. They turn the Sovereignty of God into one of the biggest evils in the universe. If God is Sovereign, then God must be EVIL, because there is so much evil in the world, and God is in control of all things, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong!
Man makes all his own choices. Just because they are CAUSED does not mean that he does not make them. He is, in fact, CAUSED TO MAKE HIS CHOICES. But God does not directly do this. He is responsible, but He does not directly cause those choices. Things like the Devil do such things. And who created the Devil? That's right, that One Who is Sovereign and in charge of all things. Evil men like raping just like evil theologians like stealing widow's social security money. God doesn't make them do it--THEY LIKE TO DO IT. They volunteer with little outside influence. God made humanity this way. He created them spiritually weak. Eve couldn't help but sin. God has a good purpose and God will straighten it all out in the end.
I guess I could just keep writing and writing and writing and one day someone will say................OHHHHHH, now I get it. Maybe today is your day. I'm pulling for ya!!!
God be with you,
Ray
phazel:
--- Quote from: phyllis on April 06, 2008, 05:19:25 PM ---Peace to you a"ll
Question: Does everbody here believe in predestine? That from the time you are born to the time you die has been determined?
thank y'all
--- End quote ---
I certainly do whether I can completely comprehend or understand it.
Chris R:
Hi Phyllis
I suppose i'll throw in my 2 cents.
Beyond all the discussion here concerning individual predestination, there is a major plan, I'll admit I dont know what or where this plan will take us all, But for sure God does.
This is not to say God is not concerned with the smallest of things in our lives, But that God has a overall plan for mankind that must move about without one item out of place.
A thousand piece puzzle has to have all the pieces to come together, and make a picture, if even one piece is missing or if one piece is the wrong shape the final picture would be distorted.
There is a grand purpose/plan, and NONE of this grand purpose could come about without all these things that must happen in perfect order.
All i can say is it's absolutley amazing!
Peace
Chris R
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