D0 you remember, the story of Pinocchio? I recalled enough of it to suspect a parallel between Pinocchio and us, so I picked the book up at the library. Sure enough, Geppetto lovingly fashioned Pinocchio for fellowship with him and poured his sacrificial love on to him. But, Pinocchio rebelled against his creator and authored a declaration of independence; he did things his way. He is aptly called a "dummy" and humans who think that living in rebellion against our Creator are as well. In the end Pinocchio was transformed and became his creator's precious son. We all have a lot in common with 'ol Pinocchio. Ultimately he said, "How ridiculous I was when I was a puppet! And how glad I am that I have become a well behaved [son]."
Have you ever pondered a question such as the title of this article, Why Do I Exist? We exist for the same reasons that Pinocchio was fashioned by his creator. God lovingly recreated you for His own pleasure and He is so proud of His handiwork. Now He wants you to bring honor ("glory" is the biblical term) to His name (His reputation). You can identify with that. How did you feel when you first saw your child, that you helped bring into the world? Proud enough to take pictures and show them to your friends, I'll bet! How did you acquire that trait? You got it from our Father. God has a special feeling for His kids, and He has passed that trait along to you.
Can you imagine how proud He was as He recreated you in Christ (Eph. 2:1O)? Imagine Him holding you when you were born into His forever-family and showing you to all the angels. I like to think of Him as a proud daddy (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6), with a grin from ear to ear which says, "Look what I did!" You think this is a far-fetched idea? No way! If you, an earthly parent, experience such a self-sacrificing love for your kids, consider how much greater the Father's love is for you (Heb.12:10). You have never given up your only son that you might give birth to another child (much less one who insists on squirming out of your lap so he might live in rebellious independence like Pinocchio).
How fathomless is His love for you; and oh, how wrong are those people who believe the Father harbors hostility towards His recreated children; that He will one day humiliate us publicly for our sins as if they were not under the blood. What a grotesque image Satan has sold to some of us about our relationship to our Father. Indeed, some Christians have such a wrong view of Him that they feel He scowIs at the mention of their name. Many in Christ even fear the very thing Christ has conquered ... death. They cling to planet earth as if they prefer it over being with Jesus. It would seem their attitude is I'm sure I enjoy a greater happiness here than I ever could with You, Jesus. I have so much to live for.
Look at that... Pinocchio still lives, gang!
God created you in His image, and since He is Spirit so are you. You are a spirit-critter who lives in an earthsuit that will age some seventy years (give or take a few years)and then it dies and the spirit -critter ejects. All dead spirit-critters will eject to exist in the realm of darkness forever; live spirit-critters will eject to live in heaven with Jesus. If you are in Christ, you will never die; only your body will die.
Both the lost and the saved have a human nature. Although the terms human nature and sin nature are eons apart, some believe that they are synonyms! Ever heard a Christian say, "My human nature took over and I sinned"? That's wrong thinking. To have a human nature is not bad, it's good! Let's reason together about that. .. Jesus had a human nature (Phil. 2:7). Adam was created with a human nature. So it can't be bad to have one. Without a human nature you could never have been recreated in Christ. Think about it: gorillas do not have that privileg
Scripture Reading: Provo 16:4; Gen. 1:1-2:7
Why is the universe made up of many galaxies and solar systems so immense and vast that no human can ever begin to comprehend them? Why is there a sun like ours along with millions of stars and several planets including the Moon which our country has been so interested in recently? Why is there a planet--Earth--which alone is habitable? (see Psa. 115:15-16). Why is there an atmosphere about six to seven miles deep surrounding our planet composed of 21% Oxygen, 78% Nitrogen, and 1% inert gases? Without this perfect balance in the atmosphere, or should the slightest change take place to upset that balance, death would come swiftly to all who live on Earth! Why the faithful cycle of evaporation, clouds, and finally precipitation? Why should two-thirds of the surface of this planet be covered by oceans? Why are some places virtually uninhabitable and unproductive--like the Sahara Desert--which seem like a terrible waste of valuable land? Why man? Why not something better than man? We could go on and on asking "Why?"
The answer is not given by merely citing certain scientific laws. The answer is found in the Word of God which makes it clear that all things which God made and the way He has made them function are simply for His pleasure! Look again at the statements in Genesis 1 Where God said "and it was good." Why was it good? Because "The Lord hath made all things for Himself." This is amplified in Colossians 1:16: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth; visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him." Thus Paul states in Romans 11:36: "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Even the wicked, says Proverbs 16:4, have been made by Him "for the day of evil." Yes, even sin, wickedness, and all its attendant miseries, while not having been created by God Himself, nevertheless, He has sovereignly purposed that it should serve His purpose to the praise of His glory! "Since God is God, who dare challenge His prerogative? To murmur against Him is rank rebellion." Worship ye Him!
How God Saves
Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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