May you all have peace!
A dear one asked me some questions recently, including WHY God isn't... doing "anything"... and what IS He doing. For reasons of confidentiality, I will not name the person, but I am going to post some parts of our discussion, because I think it may put some things into "perspective" for some who truly wish to know:
- Why does God answer prayers at different speeds for different individuals –
Truly, it all depends on a couple things: the challenge that the individual may unknowingly be facing at the time (Job 2:4), and the faith of the individual at the time of asking (James 1:5-8). Either… and at times both… of these will have some bearing.
- When a person prays not to be raped and killed, do you think that if they are killed God didn't feel the need to save them or what? -
Again, a couple things: first, some of us believe that this "life" is all there is, and so unless something is done NOW... they don't really want to hear it. Which I understand. I also understand that this life is NOT all there is... and God has not forgotten such ones. Their blood WILL be “avenged”. Also, there are those who live in this life that will not be granted to live in the next (they are having their “reward” now), and those who leave early from this one, but will receive their “reward”… eternal life… in the next. I would not deign to “check God’s hand” on who is chosen for which and why.
Second, I have to say (and you may not like this)... the Father may not intervene... due to the "challenge" above. (Job 2:4) You see, it is Satan's self-appointed PURPOSE to 'wage war' with us... in any way he can. Persecution is one way. Killing us is another. By the hand of others… or by means of our own flesh… which “belongs” to HIS ‘father’… Death. To whom we have been sold… by Adam.
And, it is also his (Satan’s) PURPOSE... to lead us AWAY from God. I ask you, IF it seemed that God was always there, always answering, always saving us... it would be EASY for us to love Him, wouldn't it? Of course. So many here have said as much. And that is exactly what Satan said: we only love God BECAUSE of what He does for us... and for that reason only. Our love is born purely of our selfishiness. But as with Job, he challenged God to REMOVE the "hedge" and "see if he will not curse you to your very face."
That challenge has been made with regard to each and every one of us. And what has been the result? Well, hedges have been removed, certainly... and judging just by the comments made here… which is a TINY fraction of the whole world… there is a WHOLE lot of "cursing" of God going on. Sad to say, then, in many cases... it seems that Satan… was right. When God blesses us… we glorify Him; when He refrains… or does not intervene as we would wish Him to... we curse Him. Of course. That IS, after all, what Satan said we would do.
- What is he accomplishing by allowing all the evil to continue in this world, if he has the power to do away with the wicked? -
My Father is allowing US... each of us... to make our OWN lives a reply to Satan; He is not replying FOR us... or protecting us from the challenge presented by Satan. Satan... said we are "wimps". I am almost tempted to say that he was right: perhaps we are not truly cut out to be spirit beings, but like Adam, will do what WE want, no matter the cost... and then blame God and everyone else.
Israel whined and moaned and complained. Are we STILL of that ilk? Or are we strong enough to give our Father A REPLY for the Adversary… the ACCUSER of us… the one who is TAUNTING Him… on our account?
- How much time does a "God" need to make us realize we are the puny little humans and he is the "God"? -
God is not trying to make us realize such a thing! Not at ALL! HE knows... that "we are dust". It is SATAN… who has made the accusation that we "can't stand the heat"! GOD... is giving us time to PROVE Satan WRONG… so that ALL creation will realize that we are NOT the puny little selfish wimps he has accused us of being… that ADAM gave evidence of! WE... CAN... “stand fast” in the Truth… Christ... and NOT be separated from him the Tree of Life… no matter WHAT tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger or sword, no matter WHAT death, what life, what angel, what government, what things now here or what things to come… no matter WHAT “other creation”… we may encounter.
Because contrary to the accusation made by Satan, that “skin in behalf of skin and ALL that a man has, he will give in behalf of his soul,” we DO have INTEGRITY… and we DO know that the flesh is of no use at all but that it is the SPIRIT that is life-giving… so that we do NOT fear him that can kill the body… but it is Him that can destroy the SPIRIT whom we are sticking to.
- I have a hard time reading the Old Testament because I don't like the personality of God -
That was His "personality" when dealing with Israel who was under the LAW Covenant... an agreement which they KEPT profaning.
- When I read the Gospel accounts, I fall in love with Jesus. He said "to know him, was to know the father" -
Because NOW, you get to "see" God… by means of His SON… when He deals with Israel under the NEW Covenant. Which those who are "Israel" by means of SPIRIT... versus ancient Israel... God's people by means of the FLESH... who got everything they asked for… and agreed to. Good... and bad.
By means of Christ, we can get what WE ask for, too.
- I just don't get it -
I hope you do, now. And I bid you peace!
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ