Hi Everyone,
There have been so many thoughtful posts I feel compelled to address as many as I can over the next couple days (as time allows), thank you all!
Joe,
I think your words reflect a HARD truth that can only be EXPERIENCED. Before you were led to the truths of God, you had to know what was missing. THAT was the ONLY way you would have searched for the "buried treasure" hidden "FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE AGES". May God continue to reveal more of who He is IN CHRIST to you as you journey on from here.
Ches
Hello Ches,
You know I really hadn't experienced that gaping void since I was a teenager and had gone through some very spirit crushing tragedies due to the deaths of my brother and sister and my first girlfriend. The last one actually led me to seek God earnestly but His will for me was to experience the Seventh Day Adventist church first. Eventually that experience (about 3 years or so) turned me off of churches (I was brought up a lackluster Catholic) so there I was totally immersed back into the world, self serving, callous and reckless.
God was more or less always in the back of my mind, way, way back mostly, but I did from time to time buy and read Hal Lindsay and books of that sort, especially when I was facing some sort of trouble.
None of these books or authors seemed to line up with each other though, always a variation of interpretation so I kind of came to my own idea that some people are given certain keys to Truth and at some point perhaps it would all come together. I did have a belief in a God but I had no clue as to what He was really all about and even less of a clue of what His ultimate plan and purpose might be.
When I had that wounded, anxiety filled spirit as a teen at least I knew why I had felt so dreadful and helpless, when it reemerged in middle age with absolutely no real problems it was a total mystery, it wasn't until the scales began to drop off my eyes (they are still falling thank God!) and I first started seeing what God's real plan and purpose for us all was that this void began to be filled with a peace that only He can provide. It isn't always easy but when we know the reason and purpose of our tribulations here (even if we can't truly comprehend every aspect) they are much less likely to overwhelm us in a negative way. Amazingly enough these trials can even be a source of joy in a spiritual way. Try explaining that to a non believer or a "name it and claim it" believer!
Peace,
Joe