I should try to answer questions more often. I don't seem to have the time to both blog on new topics and answer questions that come up. I wish I did, because my readers ask valid questions that others are probably interested in also. I'll try and do better with this.
"I became a Christian three years ago. Why do bad things still happen to me? My life is a mess, why?
For one thing, we live in a fallen, messy world. The Bible doesn't tell us that life will be perfect if we are a believer. The truth is, "God didn't come to fix your life, He came to forgive your sins." This is a quote from a message I heard recently. Let this truth sink in. Jesus Christ came to redeem a lost people - that's us.
"There are none righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." Romans 3:10.
We can never be righteous in God's eyes by trying to keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. This is not possible. He gave us the 'law' so we would "become conscious of sin" and know we needed a Savior, Romans 3:20. We have a righteousness apart from the law "through faith in Jesus Christ", Romans 3:21.
God is focused on what is spiritual and eternal. We focus on this world and what is material. I recently saw this statement on a marque, "The best proof of love is trust." There will be no peace if you are judging God's plan. If you love the Lord, you will trust Him, if you trust Him, you will experience peace even though your life is far from perfect. The Lord most certainly is interested in every detail of your life; He's even counted the hairs on your head, Matthew 10:30. However, He didn't come to fix your life according to your plan; He came to remove your sin so you can be righteous before God - Jude 24.
God is interested in the long-term. He's not growing us like mushrooms that spring up and then soon rot in the ground. God is growing us into oak trees - strong, sturdy, stable and able to withstand adversity. It takes a long time to grow an oak tree, be patient. Have you ever watched a tree grow? It appears that nothing is happening, but in God's time, you discover a lovely tree, and you realize that God has been working all this time that you've been fretting and anxious. If you are 'in Christ' the Holy Spirit dwells in you and you are eternally His.
My sister is gay. She says she's a believer in Jesus and will go to heaven. I'm not so sure. Doesn't the Bible say homosexuality is sinful?
Let me ask this. . .if you know a believer who admits he stole something one time, would you be worried about him going to heaven? Probably not. If he's a believer, his sins are forgiven. Isn't that why Jesus died on the cross? Of course it is, no problem. Then why would you not believe that your sister isn't forgiven? Sin is sin. The Bible lists homosexuals right along with the greedy and swindlers, I Corinthians 6:9 - 10. There are none righteous, we all need Jesus.
Keep in mind that God is sovereign - that means He's in control of what happens. Sovereignty is the most pervasive doctrine in the Bible. This being true - if God didn't plan for there to be homosexuals among us, there wouldn't be any. Neither would there be thieves, liars or drunks. I don't completely understand this, but this is what the Bible says and I trust God's word.
It's never pleasant to be 'different'. I think we innately desire to be like others. I'm grateful that I'm not blind or deaf, or homosexual. I did not experience making a conscious choice concerning my sexual orientation, nor a choice as to whether I can see or hear. I am who I am. Historically, there have always been gays among us. We can find no documentation however that there have been cultures who have sanctioned 'same sex' unions, as in a marriage. We do find a lot of evidence of bigamy, the Scriptures are a source, men having multiple wives.
I believe problems with homosexuality arise because of a small percentage of gays who are almost militant and in-your-face concerning their sexuality. All through history there have been people who had no desire for the opposite sex and preferred their own. They accepted who they were and others probably did also. Now, some insist on not only 'equal rights' but special rights. The behavior of the few makes it difficult for the many. I don't believe that we have a choice as to our sexual orientation, but we do have a choice concerning our behavior.
Sin is sin. The wages of sin is death - hell is eternal death, heaven is eternal life, Romans 6:23. When we become a believer, the Holy Spirit in us moves us away from sin, not according to our plan and time schedule, but God's. Again, we need to trust Him. There is only one 'unforgiveable sin', and this is the sin of unbelief. Romans 4:21 tells us that God has the power to do what He has promised.
We are not called to judge one another, we are called to love one another. "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.", John 15:17. Will the Lord reject a woman who has had an abortion because 'Thou shall not murder'. No, not if she comes to Him - He is faithful to forgive.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1: 8 - 9
Given this truth, if you are one of those who consider homosexuals as having committed a sin which cannot be forgiven, think again. Your sin, in God's eyes, is just the same and we are all in this together. . .without our Savior, Jesus Christ, we are in big trouble! Paul said, "When they measure themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. II Corinthians 10:12. When we fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author of our faith, Hebrews 12:2, life is infinitely better.
Lord, help us to keep focused on You and Your promise to redeem the lost sheep out of this world and into Your Kingdom. Please shed Your love in our hearts so we can love each other.
