This post was written about a year and a half ago, but I still feel that the topic is both relevant and truthful. Let's hear what you think!
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In the past months, I have noticed seasons of change passing through my life. Not negative change, but just a maturing, a chastening from God. Among these natural seasons of challenge and possible (seemingly) distance from God, I have been blessed with a greater sense of security in my faith and a more in tune understanding of what life to the fullest looks like; and on the other hand what life with a blind fold on looks like.
This brings me to the area of resolve. We, as humans, are desperate for resolve. If we aren't careful to discipline ourselves, we will find that many of our preferences involve a crave for resolution. Think about it. When we watch a movie, no one wants a cliff-hanger ending. It bugs us, we want to know the ending. When two teams tie a game at a sporting event, we feel disappointed and anticipate a definitive outcome; we want one of the teams to win. We humans want to know everything and have every answer to every question that presents itself, even though there are obvious limits to our knowledge.
All through our lives we can find evidence of this natural attraction to resolve. I think this is part of our human nature, one of the qualities of being a mortal being. I also believe this is one of the reasons many people have trouble believing or submitting fully to a God who doesn't resolve. God is infinite, always has been here and always will be. If you or someone you know is having difficulty putting faith in an immortal God, remember our own mortality! Another way to put it is that we, as humans, need to understand our own inability to understand. Suppose for a second that we were all certain of God's existence. How could we, limited beings, even begin to understand the ways of an infinite God? We have to get over the fact that we won't have every answer, and we have to acquire perspective and faith.
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In another aspect, we as Christ followers cannot allow resolve to influence our walk with Jesus. We can't get comfortable with our faith, slap a label and tie a bow to it, then say "Well, that's that." Our relationship with the Lord is a lifelong, even eternal process, constantly growing in richness.
I guess I had gotten to a point in my life where I was content with getting my feet wet, when God wanted to absolutely drench me in His wisdom, understanding and love. Thankfully, He poured out His spirit, and that's why I am here sharing with you. I'm typing this to urge you to think deeper, run this race harder, and NEVER become idly complacent with God. Just when you think you have all you need, He's about to rock your world.
"We ought to obey God rather than men...It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables."
Andrew
Andrew
I agree that we’re beings of resolve but I do not think that people have a problem with god being eternal. I would say the reason why it’s hard for people to believe is that gods resolve takes longer than humans. Our long term is short term in God’s eyes. A horrible thing that happens to me today that I see as a punishment or a unjust verdict is a gift, for through the “horrible thing” god has made the right situation for things that will bring us happiness to be born. Its gods way of plowing the field before he plants. But human kind doesn’t have a perspective large enough, it is as if we are all small ants and the plowed field just seems like mountains and valleys having to be crossed. In times of trouble someone not rooted in Christ or sometimes people who forget the existence of a larger plan turn from what god has planned taking the situation and making it worse because they didn’t allow god to plant anything in the wholes he dug. We see the plowed field as the resolve not the start. If we all tried harder to think about the positives bad situations might cause, maybe not tomorrow or even not for yourself then this will not be a point of stumble.
ReplyDeleteGood observations, but my point was more towards those who don't believe in a God at all. As you said, perspective is a treasure that humans struggle to obtain, but you focused on those who already accept the fact that God exists yet have trouble adopting His perspective. The point I was trying to make is that believing in God at all is difficult for many people because He is such a mystery, and He requires faith. Neither mysteries nor faith are definitive things, therefore displeasing our natural desire for resolution. I appreciate the spin you took on the issue however, your points are true as well, I just think you didn't quite understand the intent of my post.
ReplyDeleteAndrew
Shamir i have two things to argue with you. the first is the fact that humans do have a problem with resolve and as a matter of fact, not only do humans have a problem with resolve but they also have a problem for when it comes. humans expect things to happen now and they want the reasons for things to be given in the moment that they happen. a proof of that is the simple fact of sin and how we always go for the quick and easy things in life, the accepatnce of immediate pleasures over long term achievements is one of the reasons why the new generations are becoming dumber, duller, and more dangerous for their own safety and the safety of those within their comunities. also, the human mind cannot process the idea of something being infinite because we are simply uncapable of conceiving what infinite looks like, that is why human kind is so obsessed with how it all started and how it will all end. our minds cannot fully process the idea of infinity no matter how much a person tries, if u imagine a never ending road you will never imagine it in its infinity but will simply imagine it to a point where you cant see it any longer but you cant see the end of it either so it gives the illusion that it is never ending, though in reality the fact of imaging it in a picture gives it an end.
ReplyDeletesecond thing: i dont know how well you know this Shamir but when a person calls himself a christian they spell God with a capital G. just wanted to make that clear. not writing it with a capitalized g would mean u are refering to a pagan god.
Good points Israel. Resolve most definitely is related to our desire for a definitive beginning and end. In fact, the idea of resolve can be applied to many different aspects of Christianity and life in general, so I'm looking forward to seeing how other people interpret it.
ReplyDeleteAndrew