Posted on 06/18/2010 6:59:20 PM PDT by Patriot1259
I would add that it's not "about" this heaven and earth. It's "about" the next heaven and earth, wherein God has gathered His adopted children to live with Him forevermore. (Revelation 21, Colossians 1:15, John 1, etc.)
From Genesis to Revelation, "all that there is" culminates in that "final cause."
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.– Colossians 1:15-20
It makes no "sense" to them.
But to the Christian, the present heaven and earth is like the front of the wristwatch. It is keeping perfect time.
As the Scriptures say, God created it "good." (Genesis 1) He did not create it "perfect."
God didn't need this heaven and earth. We did.
He doesn't change. We do.
Once we have matured spiritually, God will gather His adopted children together to live with them forevermore in the perfect, new heaven and new earth.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. – Revelation 21:1-7
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? - I Corinthians 6:19
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. – Matthew 24:35
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil. – 2 Th 3:3
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. – John 5:24
Without good and evil there would be no ability to make choices, nor any chance for good to triumph over evil.
God does not condone evil by permitting it to exist, but rather He uses it for good in spite of itself.
What many people seem to, or perhaps more accurately choose to, forget is that some day there will be no evil, sickness, cancer, whatever. It will be the perfect world that they claim would exist if God were really who He says He is. But for now, this is a proving ground, the place where we and our faith are tested to see what we and it are made of.
This world doesn’t prove that God doesn’t exist, or that He is somehow not who He says He is like the atheists and other God haters like to claim. He’s got a purpose for it and when that’s done, and everyone has had the chance to make their choices, they will be permanent and nobody will then be able to make an accusation against God. Their destiny will be determined by themselves and their fate sealed by themselves, for good.
God will give them what they want, whether they end up liking it very much or not.
Thank you so very much for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!
Let’s hope the cause does get found and a cure is developed.
I don’t know that people were created disease free...so no, it’s still why.
The issue is then about what you don’t know.....and of course what you believe possible or not to believe of what you do know....
If I wanted to know certain things in a given field I would inquire of those familiar in that field. The field you are talking about is the field of religion or lack of...not medicine. Therefore you might inquire of a Pastor or clergy...or go to their source which is God himself and the scripture (letters) He wrote. You don’t have to believe something to inquire of it. I don’t believe in fiction yet I enjoy good movies now and then...
Just so you know it’s rather interesting to consider the one book which claims to have answeres is the least book sought by those asking the most questions.
I don’t think anyone, ever, knows/knew the answer, pastor, clergy, rabbi, etc. I understand the bible claims to have the answers to these questions.
Wow. Thanks.
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