Are You Going As Far As You Can For God?

If you've ever saw the movie, Facing the Giants, you probably recall the death crawl scene.

Briefly, this movie is about a football team that is losing game after game. The coach gets right with God, and begins to put teaching the players about God before the actual game of football, which is ultimately successful. I highly recommend to watch this movie if you haven't already.

One day at practice, to show the players that they can do more than they think, the coach chooses a player that is a senior, who everyone looks to as a guide, to do a death crawl. A death crawl consists of a player holding another player on his back, and they must see how far they can crawl on their hands and feet across the field.

The coach wants the player to give the others a good role model to look toward, and show that he putting all of his strength into everything he does, so that the others will do the same. A blindfold is placed on the player's eyes, so that his view of the field will not influence how far he crawls; the furthest he had ever crawled was to the thirty yard line. As soon as the player begins to crawl, the coach is cheering him on, and when needed, pushing him to go farther.

The player begins to plead to be able to stop, or at least rest a moment, but the coach just keeps pushing and pushing him to go further and further. By the end of his crawl, the player is about to give up, and the coach tells him, "Just 30 more steps," then "10 more," then "one more." When the player falls down in defeat, he cries out in pain. The coach bends down to look the player in his eyes, and tells him to look up and says, "You're in the in-zone."

Everyone that was there stood in amazement with their jaws dropped. None of the players believed that he could make it that far, but the coach did.

Much like a coach in football, God is our coach. He is pushing us to go farther for Him. Are we doing all that we can for Him? Or, are we just doing enough to get by?

In life, there are a lot of times that we will be put in situations that scare us. Situations that we have never faced before, and have never successfully been through. Does that mean that we don't try? God knows our strengths, and He is fully aware of what we can handle. Plus, God will be with us every step of every day of our lives. We don't have to go through one single thing alone, for God is always cheering us on, and pushing us to do more for Him.

So, it is time to ask ourselves; are we just doing enough to get by? God has a limit for everyone, and He doesn't want us to stop until we reach that limit. God will let us know when that limit is in front of us, but until then, we have got to keep pushing ourselves to be more for God. If we let God have control of our lives, we will look up one day, and be amazed at where He has taken us.

Receiving Jesus VS. Professing Jesus

There is a huge difference in actually accepting Jesus as your personal savior, and solely professing to know Jesus. By receiving Jesus into your heart, I mean, asking Him for forgiveness and dedicating your life to Him. By professing Jesus, I mean, a person is simply saying that they know God, when they truly don't. Or in other words, putting on a fake to the world. I have personal experience in both of these.

When I was around twelve, I got under conviction. God was drawing me to Him one night at Bible School, and the teacher prayed with me, and after the prayer, I thought that I was saved, simply because I went through the process of praying to God. I professed to everyone that I accepted Jesus into my heart, but in reality, I hadn't at all. At the time, I didn't really understand what it was to get saved. I knew that I needed salvation, but I didn't fully understand the severity of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. So, needless to say, nothing changed in my life. I continued living in my sin, and God was clearly not present in my life. For a long time, I told the world I was saved because I didn't want them to think badly of me, and I wanted to believe that I was saved. Though, this was only taking away chance after chance of me getting truly right with God. Thankfully, God kept giving me opportunities to get saved, and thank God, I accepted Jesus on March 31st, 2011. After I did get saved, and I committed my life to God, which wasn't instant, I saw everything in such a new light.

I think that a huge problem in Christianity is that people are fooled by the world and the devil into believing that they are saved when they really aren't. I was fooled for about 3 years, believing that I was saved, and it was completely my fault. I let my emotions and the devil convince me that I was okay with God, but me saying that I was saved didn't do anything. When I accepted Jesus, and gave my life to Him, that is when I got saved. 

There's so many beliefs on how a person gets saved, but there's only one way. A person must accept Jesus into their heart if they want God to be in their life. There's not going to be any change until this happens.

Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

I personally was so amazed by the change that I experienced. After I professed to getting saved, I was so confused why nothing changed, and why God wasn't working in my life. When I committed myself to God, I saw drastic changes to obstacles that I never thought I would overcome. A major obstacle being, saying 'I love you.' I've never been the most loving, but because Jesus showed me love, I am now doing the same.  

Before becoming truly saved, I was lost in the world of sin. I had no joy for God, no desire to read my bible or pray, and I certainly wasn't thankful towards God. The desire didn't come until the salvation was real. With salvation comes a love for God and a want to live for Him. Until Jesus is accepted into a person's heart, the real effects of a Christian relationship with God will not happen. 

Elements of Christian Love

What elements does the Bible say that a Christian's love should possess? 

1) Ask for nothing in return: You love for the good of others, not because of what you may receive. God asks nothing of us when He saves us, so we shouldn't as well.

1 Corinthians 16:14 - "Let all your things be done with charity."

2) Willing to sacrifice: The willingness to sacrifice things and even yourself for others is a very courageous thing to do. Our flesh is naturally, very selfish and we love ourselves, so when we give up something for the good of others, this shows a truly, loving heart.  

John 15:13 - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

3) Love your enemies: As time passes, and the world becomes more overtaken by sin, it seems that the number of enemies of Christians grow. Not only is the number of people that are not getting right with God growing, but the sins are becoming worse as well. It's hard for me as a Christian not to be angered by the world living as if God doesn't even exist. Just a couple of days ago, I heard that someone called Jesus a failure. It's despicable to think people would treat God like this, but we must pray for those people and be a witness for them, for God has mercy, and with our witness, they might see that they need God as well. 

Luke 6:27 - "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you."

4) Sincerity: God's love is nothing but sincere. Everything that God does, He does with a pure heart, with nothing but pure intentions. In life, we cannot do for God, while having ill intentions. God's love and light deserves to be represented with exactly that; love. People can see when someone is being fake, and that is only going to represent God wrongly. 

Romans 12:9- "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

5) Above all, love God: What more can I say that this verse doesn't? "We love him, because he first loved us." What a simple, but beyond amazing statement. God loves us, and He gave us the most incredible gift when He granted us salvation. For this reason, and the many others, God is to be first in our hearts and lives. 

1 John 4:19 - "We love him, because he first loved us."

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

A common question that is asked concerning God is why He allows people to suffer. God has his reasonings behind allowing sin, and here are a few: 

1) To remind us of sin: 

When Adam and Eve first sinned when they ate of the tree of knowledge, after God clearly told them not to, they were exiled out of the garden by God, and God punished each of them, which lead to suffering. He stunted Adam's ability to grow vegetation, and He made child birth painful for Eve's sin. Suffering is man's fault. God didn't want His creation to suffer, but man sinned against God, and because of this, we have to face the consequences for the failures of the human race. Thankfully, sin reminds us that we have a savior that can save us from all of those sins. 

2) Awaken the lost: 

John 8:24 - "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins."

If everything was perfect, no one would see a need to change their lives. They would be more than happy with the life that they had, and there would be no reason to do anything different. Though, because there are bad times in life, we seek something that can help us, and that something should be God. God can't promise that we won't suffer, but He can give us hope through the salvation of our sins. 

3) Depend on God: 

Philippians 4:19 - "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Suffering reminds us that we need to rely on God. God is the only person that can help end our pain, and He wants to be the guide of our lives. When we cast all of our cares and burdens to God, we can trust that whatever happens, it will be the will of God. If we are to rely on God, we will not suffer alone. 

4) Suffering will not be forever: 

Romans 8:18 - "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Suffering reminds us that we will not be in pain forever, and that we have a Heavenly eternity to look forward to. The outcome of sin was suffering, and the outcome of suffering will be Heaven if we accept God, for suffering will show us we need God. 

Suffering is obviously not a desired feeling, but it is what shows us that there is God above, and that we need to be saved from the sins that we commit everyday. It also reminds us that we have God who will help us through any suffering that we might endure, and who we will see in Heaven someday, where suffering will be no more. 

Revelation 21:4- "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."

Sinners Are Not to Be Envied

Anyone that serves God has probably at least once become angry at the world. Not necessarily because of their sins, but because it seems that they are able to get by with those sins with no consequences.

In the book of Habakkuk, Habakkuk also felt this way about the people around him. During this time, there was much violence in Judah. The people of Judah had turned away from God, but Habakkuk stayed faithful to God. Habakkuk hated what what had happened to the people of Judah, and didn't understand why God let them by with their sins. 

This frustration leads to Habakkuk questioning God of His intentions, and in turn, God answers Habakkuk. Habakkuk questioned God why He had let violence go such a long period of time, and God answered saying that he was rising up an army of Babylonians, a very violent people, to come and take down the people of Judah. Further along, Habakkuk questioned God's intentions of why He would use such a sinful people to come destroy the city of Judah when God was supposed to love the people of Judah. God replies with saying that He would use the Babylonians because they are a fearless people, and they wouldn't back down. God also says that the Babylonians will not go unpunished though, for they have sinned as well.

No matter how it seems, no one is going to get by with their sin, for it will eventually catch up to them. It is better to live for God than to live in sin. Living for Gid will bring about a much better outcome, which will eventually be Heaven. While those that have decided to live in sin will unfortunately spend an eternity in Hell. Sinners may have a luxurious life on Earth, but their eternity will not be worth the short life lived on Earth. 

Be Addicted to God

In the Bible, God gives several reasons why one should not drink alcohol, for it is a sin. Here is six of those reasons: 

1) Alters Thinking: Proverbs 20:1 - "Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

Alcohol takes away a person's deception of right and wrong. They can't think clearly, which prevents them from thinking in a Godly mindset. When one cannot decipher what is Godly and what is not Godly, their flesh is going to take control, and lead them in the wrong direction. 

2) Addiction: Isaiah- "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine inflame them!"

Alcohol is addicting. Many people will start out drinking a glass of wine here or a bottle of beer there, but once they become addicted, it takes over their life. Addictions are not easy to control or even predict. It can lead up to consequences you're not prepared for.

3) Gateway Sin: Galatians 5:19-21 - "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness."

Alcohol leads to many other sins. Because a person can't think correctly, they are going to do things that they usually wouldn't. A lot of the time, alcohol brings out emotions that a person wouldn't usually express. For example, if a person likes another as more than a friend, the distorted thought process could lead to premarital sex, which is fornication, and said in Galations.

4) Becomes Problem Solver: Proverbs 31:6 - "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts."

Due to the fact that alcohol takes away a person's ability to think straight, people will take advantage of this to forget their problems. Though, alcohol just multiplies the problem. The true problem that a person is facing grows, even when the person is blocking it out of their minds with alcohol. Dealing with the problem in a straightforward manner is what will bring about a solution, not hiding from the problem. 

5) Cannot Enter Heaven: Galatians- "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

God says that drunkards will not enter into Heaven. This is the worst thing that alcohol can do to a person. Drinking is a sin, just like murdering someone; God states this clearly in this verse. Sin will send a person to Hell. Of course, a person can be saved and still drink, but the relationship with God isn't going to be there, and for those that are not saved, alcohol is a huge obstacle in the way of ever reaching God. 

6) Changes the Heart: Hosea- "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart."

Addiction to alcohol has the ability to change the nicest person in the world into the biggest jerk. I'm sure that we have all saw someone that has been affected by alcohol use. Half of the kids that I went to high school with, some of the best friends I had, aren't the same people inside that I used to know; all due to alcohol and sin that flourished from it in their life. 

Having the "cool" image that drinking alcohol can bring about isn't worth sacrificing your soul. Alcohol distorts everything good in your life, and turns it into something ugly. Relationships can be ruined, hearts broken, and lives completely turned upside down. Life is hard, and the only person that can help is God. God will face the problem head on, and right by your side. He never makes you face a problem alone, but if you turn to alcohol, you might be surprised to be alone someday, still having the same problems as before, but with more depth. Choose God over the world. If you're going to have an addiction, make it serving God, because that's an addiction that won't let you fall. 

The Errors of Predestination

Predestination is simply the belief that before we are even born, it has already been foretold if we will be saved or not. Predestination guides those that are destined to be saved unto the Lord, while those that are not destined to be saved, has a lessened chance of coming to repentance.  

Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." 

In this verse, God does not say those that are predestined to be saved can call unto God, and He will answer. God says that ANY man that would call upon him will be saved. 

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Once again, God doesn't say that some should come to repentance, but ALL. 

God does not point out any specific people to be saved. Salvation is not some kind of exclusive club; it is for anyone that is willing to repent and live for Him. 

Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 

In this verse, God says that we are saved by faith, a personal belief in our heart, which we have the opportunity to believe, because Jesus died on the cross for our sins. 

If we were predestined to a specific eternity, did Jesus die on the cross with only a certain amount of people on his mind? Did God tell Jesus to go save this and that person, but leave the others alone to a life of sin? No, of course not. Jesus loves all, and doesn't want anyone to die lost. He died on the cross, knowing that anyone who was willing could come to salvation, and live in Heaven with Him one day. 

The Bible does not support the belief of predestination. It speaks of a savior that died so that anyone could be saved if willing to repent. In the Bible, God speaks about people that commit their life to Him, not because they were chosen to, but because they believed. God supports a life that is devoted to Him, and trusts in Him for a joyous eternity. God doesn't choose who is saved, we do, and I hope that everyone will be willing to choose God.