Danger and faith

[Attreyu]

I'm curious as to how many people in the world are religious simply as a "safety harness". There are many many people who've never even considered praying to God, ever. Then something drastic happens. You're going to lose your house to the bank, you're in such emotional distress after a breakup in a serious relationship, you can't provide for your family or you've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Any one of these events happen and suddenly people become believers.

Is this selfish of people? Does God look down on them as opposed to those who've always believed? Or does he welcome them with open arms as if to say "its about time you showed up"?

Thoughts?

[wyguy]

Is this selfish of people? Does God look down on them as opposed to those who've always believed?

I don't think the most important thing is how or when you got to the party - just the fact that you showed up.

God's grace can cover a young child repenting as well as a deathbed conversion.

Remember the story about the owner of the field who paid the late comers just as much as those who had worked all day?

[Guest LadyC]

sometimes it takes drastic and desperate circumstances for a person to acknowledge what they've always instinctively known... that God IS real, that there IS a heaven and hell, and that their only hope is in Jesus.

is that selfish? no.

but their entire lives leading up to that point have been incredibly selfish. they ignored what they instinctively knew because they didn't want to give up themselves. that was selfish. finally submitting to Christ is not.

however, there are some who don't really submit. they try to bargain with God. and when things are going smoothly, they put their new-found faith on a back burner and forget all about it. and that is selfish, too. you see this frequently with people coming out of prison. they had a jail-house conversion, but when they're free in the world again, they want to be free to BE in the world again, and off they go.

[Joshua-777]

Sometimes God allows something drastic to happen get us to turn to him Salvation doesn't come from works, it comes from the grace of God. God will use situations to bring us to him.

[wyguy]

C.S. Lewis once said,

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

[HeatherEljohari]

I think we have to remember God is in control of everything + knows everything. And no one can come to God besides he draws the person to himself. If you recognize God in health or illness its only because the Lord has opened your eyes + drawn you to him. I've seen alot of sick folks who dont even consider God on their deathbeds. I actually remember one woman who was a lesbian/witch and when I tried to discuss God with her (she was terminally ill/liver cancer) she told me I could save him for myself. So, we see nothing comes from us. This leads to topic that only God can save.

Heatherxoxox

[Guest HIS girl]

Where there's life there is hope -

God in His mercy and kindness is longsuffering toward us and never turns away a person who comes to Him -

There are those that only call on Him when the going get's tough then ignore Him the rest of the time - but God knows the heart of a person and who call to Him in truth -

[wyguy]

I think we have to remember God is in control of everything + knows everything. And no one can come to God besides he draws the person to himself. If you recognize God in health or illness its only because the Lord has opened your eyes + drawn you to him. I've seen alot of sick folks who dont even consider God on their deathbeds. I actually remember one woman who was a lesbian/witch and when I tried to discuss God with her (she was terminally ill/liver cancer) she told me I could save him for myself. So, we see nothing comes from us. This leads to topic that only God can save.

Heatherxoxox

Well, that is true in the fact that it is the Father who draws one to Christ.

Jesus said, ""No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draw him." (John 6:44)

[OneLight]

Mark 2:17

When Jesus heard it, He said to them,

[new nanny]

C.S. Lewis once said,

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

How true...and He has been doing a lot of shouting around the world recently...for those of you who think there is a connection....

"the earth groans for His return" ..........Losing mortages...................and earthquakes.....whatever it takes?