No neutral? ...Friend of God... enemy of God... are those the only choices? *smiles* I propose a third. *Child* of God. Now, you may be thinking I'm just dabbling in semantics (as, yes, I admit! I'm prone to doing *just* that!) ...but not this time. It's something that I've been thinking a bit on of late, and even touched on last time in my post. There *is* no "us and them." There are no "good" people and "bad" people... there are no "righteous" or "unrighteous" (let me explain before you begin *throwing* those stones!) We try and segregate ourselves into being *once* evil, but now "cleansed." Or an "elevated" or "enlightened" creature... grown above all the rest. But what are we called for? We're to *humble* ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that we may be exalted in due time. (1 Peter 5:6) Has our time come? ...are we exalted? *looks around* Ok... did I miss something? I'm still on the same mosquito (they're bad this year, that's why I mention them) infested globe, with the *same* cares, concerns, fears, evils, and temptations all around... If *this* is our exaltation, then personally, I was lead to believe in a whole lot more... but fortunately! Being made the infernal (or eternal... whichever you prefer) optimist, I don't think our time has yet come! ...but... what now then? Are we not *still* supposed to be humbled? ...and doesn't that make us *lower* than all the rest? ...Hmmn... I've come to the belief that a desire for salvation springs from a conscious need. This, in turn comes from the realization that we are indeed a degenerate people... basically that *all* of us are a failure to our heavenly father. And failures... are they not our enemies? (I'm speaking of failed *actions* now, not "failures" the noun* As the scripture goes on to say, "For all have sinned and *fall* short of the glory of God." ...most often it was inforced on me that since it says "all," that means everyone (ie. "including *you.*" (being me)) ...but what *I* want to stress is the use of the present tense in the verse. We are fallen. We have failed. This isn't what we *once* were... this is what we *are.* In this light, if you insist that God must have a black and white scale... We're all damned. I'm not meaning to alarm, or be sensational, but this *is* the honest truth. If there is only good and evil... then we are evil... "For all have sinned..." "...and the wages of sin is death." A quote: "I've often wished for the ability to call down fire from heaven, to smite those around me as in the days of old... yet the conscious realization is always reached at the same time, that morally, if this gift were bestowed, that I would be morally oblidged to begin with myself." ...and if you're wonding who said that... well... it was an original quote :) ;)(Remember how I passed English? Quoting all those *retired* PHDs? *grins* I know... I know... evil... worthy of death (or a good thrashing with a wet noodle anyhow!)) The point is still the same. ...the point however, (fortunately) is moot! Huzzah! *grins* ...because God *isn't* black and white! ...I suppose I'm speaking to *slightly* the wrong generation, since none of us have children... just disprove me if you like! :D *has complete confidence in this insight* We call Him "Abba" (Daddy) ...and what does a father do with his child? There is no enmity from father to child... (I realize that in every age, this analogy breaks down to a certain extent, but do remember that we're talking about a perfect Father.) The things we do, the mistakes we make... I can't say it doesn't matter to Him, because it does... these things pain him. But just as Christ told about the prodigal son, so He was telling us how we too, being fallen, could be welcomed back. Where is He? ...right there... "Why do you look for God when He is right where you left Him?" *enjoys the play on words in that question* Why is he there? ...because He is our father... and with that, come *all* the unspoken promises a father makes... protection, love, forgiveness, correction, instruction... All there. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "Love never fails." "For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." ... They go on... and on. So why was I responding to this? (By the way... this is partly in reply to a post and a comment posted at
http://faithisgrowing.blogspot.com/ The post entitled "Three hours of prayer") I suppose I'm responding... er... mmn... ok... so I guess I was just dabbling in semantics... **knows* the verse says "enemy" of God* ...I just wanted it to be stated that... though we make ourselves at odds with God... He is never an enemy to *us.* Take heart in this, my friends.
