Ask Me Anything About Christianity

[Starise]

On 10/14/2022 at 12:04 PM, Not of the World said:

I know that we cannot come to God unless he draws us near.  So why does God call on some of us but not ALL of humanity?  For instance, my older sister (70's) has no interest in seeking God yet I am obsessed with doing so.  Is there a reason(s) for this?  Thanks in advance.

A callous Calvinist response might go something like this.

She wasn't elected to heaven. She was a vessel for dishonor. God intends her for destruction. God only loves those He decides to elect.

This would NOT be my response. I see the drawing as a two way street. If a man meets a woman and wants to know her better, he arranges to see if they can meet and get to know one another. One woman might jump in anticipation at the thought of meeting him while another woman really has zero interest in him and tells him as much. No matter how much the man pursues her, she is obstinate and stubborn, eventually maybe years later the woman has a change of heart. The man has been drawing her for a very long time to meet with him. Maybe on her death bed she realizes the man is there loving her and is moved in such a way that she makes a bond with him. The love that could have been finally is.

This is how we would hope anyone who has been dismissive of God will finally see the love, even if it's the 9th hour. 

I have often wondered how anyone could ignore the eventuality of the end of life and get to the place where money means nothing and goes nowhere, health has failed, relationships might have deteriorated and any hope of many tomorrows is waning with every day. The inevitable comes and what? They STILL have no inclination to the Lord?

Lots of preachers will use the "spare tire" analogy if a person comes to the Lord at the very last minute. God is there so the opportunity still exists. The spare tire explanation probably isn't sincere if it's just a way to bridge what looks like an uncertain future. They might reason that "if" there is an after life, maybe I should make a go at this Jesus thing, because no doubt they have heard of the alternatives.

I do believe though that for some unbelievers, they finally see the emptiness of life. Maybe they made a lot of money, have a lot of things. If they were loose with their life they might have tried all kinds of illegal substances and immoral acts to pacify themselves. Maybe they traveled extensively or did any number of things that people who are supposed to be enjoying life do. Many of these people have been through the wringer and some of them might think that it would be hypocritical to come to God now, at the very end.

"IF" one of them would exert the slightest effort to LOOK for the Lord, as the bible says, 'seek the Lord while He may be found". Isaiah 55:6 God will save them.

....and maybe, just maybe God could use you to minister to your sister. If she could see your burden, maybe she would see her deeper need.

[Dan Knight]

On 10/14/2022 at 12:04 PM, Not of the World said:

I know that we cannot come to God unless he draws us near.  So why does God call on some of us but not ALL of humanity?  For instance, my older sister (70's) has no interest in seeking God yet I am obsessed with doing so.  Is there a reason(s) for this?  Thanks in advance.

Have You considered that now is not the only time that humans can be saved. There is the general resurrection when all that have ever lived will be resurrected. Also consider the 1000 years that Satan will be bound so he cannot influence humans, but at the end of that time he will be loosed for a short time.  Why?

[Selah7]

10 minutes ago, Dan Knight said:

Also consider the 1000 years that Satan will be bound so he cannot influence humans, but at the end of that time he will be loosed for a short time.  Why?

To test them.  To see whether or not they will finally believe in their Savior.

Selah

[Selah7]

On 10/14/2022 at 11:04 AM, Not of the World said:

I know that we cannot come to God unless he draws us near.  So why does God call on some of us but not ALL of humanity?  For instance, my older sister (70's) has no interest in seeking God yet I am obsessed with doing so.  Is there a reason(s) for this?  Thanks in advance.

We must seek God first. . .   Selah 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

- James 4:8-10 

[Dan Knight]

13 minutes ago, Selah7 said:

To test them.  To see whether or not they will finally believe in their Savior.

Selah

Agreed. Every one must choose.  

The Offer of Life or Death

^{Deut 30:11} Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 

no excuses. 

[DeighAnn]

On 10/14/2022 at 9:04 AM, Not of the World said:

I know that we cannot come to God unless he draws us near.  So why does God call on some of us but not ALL of humanity?  For instance, my older sister (70's) has no interest in seeking God yet I am obsessed with doing so.  Is there a reason(s) for this?  Thanks in advance.

Sheep hear the Shepherds voice,  and come a running.  That's why some are obsessed  .  Others have to be called.  Some seem to have been born without ears.  BUT that is why we have the millennium.  All those dead who buried their dead have got to be given a chance too!!!


 

[Selah7]

16 minutes ago, DeighAnn said:

Sheep hear the Shepherds voice,  and come a running.  That's why some are obsessed  .  Others have to be called.  Some seem to have been born without ears.  BUT that is why we have the millennium.  All those dead who buried their dead have got to be given a chance too!!!


 

Amen.  For individuals who were never properly taught or, for whatever reason, never had the opportunity to hear the Word of God and be saved, I think there will be a lot of teaching and discipline taking place during the Millennium. Our God is exceedingly fair.  
 

Selah

[DeighAnn]

2 minutes ago, Selah7 said:

Amen.  For individuals who were never properly taught or, for whatever reason, never had the opportunity to hear the Word of God and be saved, I think there will be a lot of teaching and discipline taking place during the Millennium. Our God is exceedingly fair.  
 

Selah

I AGREE.  ....all come to repentance.  No one 'slipping through any cracks'.   I think we try so hard to fit Gods word into a one dimensional thinking,  with 'this is right and that is wrong',  when in fact there are so many facets to it it can never be one way or the other. 

GODs words are LIFE, real life and real life LIVED, real life being lived BOTH in a world unseen and seen,  and that takes many forms.  If only we could get off of the WORDS themselves, and get into the SPIRIT OF LIFE found within them...but I don't think anyone even learns the bible as God tells us to learn it.  Everyone 'THINKS' oh it's ok to do it my way, I am not going to learn it 'precept on precept' now,  I've been reading it for years already...but I THANK GOD that I did just that.  Stopped everything and sat down for the next couple years and PRECEPT ON PRECEPT verse by verse....and a couple of times and STILL didn't think I was getting anywhere until that one day...God took all that knowledge my brain had no idea what to do with nor any sort of picture it was painting and in a matter of 'seconds? minutes? hour? ' just arranged it all and I FINALLY finally got some understanding.  Ever since it's been like walking through fields of treasure with nuggets and gems found all the time.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE WORDS OF GOD!!!

[DeighAnn]

6 minutes ago, Rosie1jack2pauline3 said:

Open a new window on your computer by hitting the + icon at the top of the computer screen

Type in 'truly free bible - copy and paste',  hit enter

Click on 'Genesis'

with the left finger on the mouse button, click and DON'T RELEASE your finger until you get to the word 'created' and then let your finger off the button.  

Move the little 'arrow' icon so it is somewhere inside of the highlighted section.  

Use your middle finger on the mouse and click

a window should pop up and look for the 'copy'

index finger copy.

come back to this window

middle finger click and look for the word paste

click on that.  

Let me know how that goes.  

IF THIS IS MY MISTAKE, I fully apologize right now.  In case it isn't, sometimes the buttons on the mouse will be backwards,  so might have to switch the fingers.  

In summary it is left click, which highlights, right click to copy, go to where you want to 'paste' and right click again and paste.  

[NCAP]

9 minutes ago, DeighAnn said:

Open a new window on your computer by hitting the + icon at the top of the computer screen 

Hitting the + icon on my computer doesn't open up anything. Nothing happens.