Can you? Will you?

Having questions for God is a fairly common thing. I'm sure everyone has a few they would like to ask God. Many of which may not get complete answers this side of heaven. But what about the questions God asks us?

Several questions God asks people in the Bible immediately come to mind.

God to Adam - Where are you? (Genesis 3:9)
Jesus to His followers - Who do you say that I am? (Mark 8:27-33)
Jesus to Peter - Do you truly love me? (John 21:15)

But lately, in the quietness of my heart, I've sensed God asking me two questions -- and if I'm still enough to hear them, these questions can be heard at every turn throughout the day ... at every thought of panic ... at every problem that arises.

Tina, Can you trust me?

Tina, Will you trust me?

The "Can you trust me?" question goes straight to the heart of who God is ... His character. Is He trustworthy? Has He been faithful in the past? Do I believe His Word is truer than how I feel? What do I know to be true about who God is?

Even with my heart racing and my blood pressure rising, I've learned enough about God's character that my answer to His question, Can I trust Him? is yes. And if I need to be reminded why, I can turn to His Word to find many reasons He can be trusted.

But the second question, Will you trust me? is completely up to me. Will I choose to trust Him right now, at this moment, with this issue? It is a choice I must make.

When I think logically about the choice, trusting Him always beats the alternative. But I confess, I don't always think logically. Often, I'm just off in a panic trying to figure out how to solve the problem myself.

I'm a work in progress. But I'm praying these questions help me to stop--remind myself to "be still my soul" and listen to my Father say, "Tina, Can you trust me? Will you trust me?"

Questions

For several years I have been one of many who answer questions on Everystudent.com. It can be a challenge to give thoughtful, prayerful answers to people's honest and heartfelt questions. But it is a privilege and opportunity to guide students and others to God's word and into a relationship with Him.

I thought I'd share a question I recently received and answered. This comes from a gal I'll call "Terry" (that's not her real name).

Can God send people to hell who do have premarital sex? I believe in God although I do not go to church, I believe in him and that he has plans for his children. We all sin but is premarital sex one of the worst type of sinning aside from murder and suicide? Can I be sent to hell for having premarital sex? And is there an exception for premarital sex if I am only having it with one person, we use protection, and we are sure we are clear from STDs? We are 100% sure that we are going to be together for the rest of our lives and we plan to get married. Is it wrong that we are having sex and if so can God send us to Hell because of this? Can we be forgiven even though we still commit this sin?


Dear Terry,
Thanks for asking your question. It seems like you want to do the right thing and you are struggling a bit with something you might be feeling guilty about.

Here’s the bottom line...all people have sinned and are separated from God. There are no distinguishing levels of sin. We all sin. We all miss the mark of perfection. Sometimes we like to let ourselves off the hook by comparing our poor behavior or thinking with someone else who has carried out worse actions. But that doesn’t really help. Even the best, nicest person in the world has sinned. With that in mind, we would all go to hell. Sounds like bad news, doesn’t it?

But the really good news is that God provided us with the way to not go to hell. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is the only way to avoid hell. This is the only cure to being separated from God. Jesus came to earth and died as the payment for our sin so that we would not have to go to hell and be separated from God for eternity.

So, the answer to your question: “Can God send people to hell who have premarital sex?” is, yes. But, He has also provided a way to forgive you of this sin through Jesus. Each of us needs to decide what to do with this provision. Are we going to accept the gift of forgiveness by acknowledging our sin and trusting Jesus to forgive us? Or are we going to reject this gift? The only way to truly go to hell is to reject the gift of forgiveness.

Ok, so does this mean if I ask Jesus to forgive my sin I can just go on sinning? Well, here’s the thing about God. Relationship is very important to Him. He knows when we are sincere and when we are just trying to cover our bases. If we sincerely want to be forgiven then God sincerely wants us to grow in our relationship with Him.

Once we receive the gift of his forgiveness, He wants to give us even more. He wants to help us grow and have a good life. He has designed boundaries which are for our good. When we work within those boundaries, life works better because it’s the way He designed it. It doesn’t mean we will be perfect, but it does mean we will try to learn more about God and his ways. God’s design for sex is to be within the boundaries of marriage. He has good reasons for this. Life just works better for all concerned when we follow his design.

So, perhaps you might want to ask yourself a few of questions:
Do I want to accept the provision of God’s forgiveness?
Do I want a relationship with God?
Why can’t I wait until we get married for sex?
Do I love my boyfriend enough to wait to have sex from now on until we are married?
Does my boyfriend love me enough to wait?

And if you are ready to begin a relationship with God…here’s how: Knowing God Personally

Let me know what you think Terry.

Sincerely,
Tina

I never heard back from "Terry". Sometimes after answering questions, I often wonder...was I sensitive enough? Direct enough? Did I say too much? Say too little? Did I lead her to Jesus? Second guessing myself doesn't accomplish much. But I do pray that I continue to listen to the heart of God as I answer questions like these.

Shalom

I've never been to Israel, but I've heard people greet one another with "Shalom" like we great one another in the U.S. with "Hi". I knew that Shalom meant peace, and I like the idea of wishing a person "peace". But this week in my Old Testament class, I found out "Shalom" means so much more.

A word study of the Hebrew word "shalom" reveals more of its deeper meaning. Peace is a part of its meaning, but it also includes: "completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord." Wow, that's quite a word!

With this in mind, consider the blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace (Shalom)."

The blessing is wonderful all by itself. It's when God told Moses to have Aaron use it to bless His people. It's been put to music and is often heard in benedictions. But think of it with the more descriptive meaning of Shalom.

...May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord.

God wants to give us so much more than we can even imagine. He wants what's best for us. He is working Shalom in us though our Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace) both now and until we see Him face to face.

What better hello or goodbye could we give one another than "Shalom"...pronouncing God's best over each other.

Isn't that good news?

Shalom!

Not like the waves...

I'm a Florida gal. My childhood was spent around a lot of water...the New River and the Atlantic Ocean. Growing up, my dad would often take me to the beach on Saturday mornings. My favorite days would be the ones when he could say, "Ahh, look at that water, it's flatter than a platter." Calm, peaceful and reflective. That's how I still prefer bodies of water.

Today, I am looking out at the Pacific Ocean in Depoe Bay, Oregon. It's far from calm and peaceful. A storm last night still has the waves tossing about in the cove like an agitated washing machine.

So, this morning I was reminded of James 1:5-6. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." With the view in front of me, I can easily imagine what it would be like to toss about in an angry sea of doubt driven by the wind of uncertainty in circumstances. And, I don't want to be there. I don't want to doubt that He gives us what He says He will give us...in this case wisdom.

As I look at the world today...the election, the economy, the things that produce anxiety, I ask God for wisdom. And in my asking, I trust in who He is...the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the One who gives good gifts to His children (including wisdom), the One who holds all things together. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. And when the temptation comes to doubt, I say, Lord give me wisdom to understand my doubts...so that I can believe you continuously.

I'm believing God...

Who do you say that I AM?

I am currently going through Beth Moore's study, Beloved Disciple, The Life and Ministry of John. Did you know John tells us more about the self-proclaimed identity of Christ than the other Gospels?

This morning I was reminded afresh (especially as we are bombarded by the uncertainties of the economy) how Jesus is more than capable of holding it all together.

Check out who Jesus said He was just in the Gospel of John alone...

6:35 ~ I AM the bread of life – go to Him and never hunger or thirst again.

8:12 ~ I AM the light of the world – go to Him and never walk in darkness.

10:7-9 ~ I AM the gate – go to Him to be saved and find pasture.

10:11-14 ~ I AM the good shepherd – go to Him to be safe and provided for.

11:25 ~ I AM the resurrection and the life – go to Him to live.

14:6 ~ I AM the way, the truth and the life – go to Him because He is the only reliable source.

15:1,5 ~ I AM the true vine – go to Him in order to bear much fruit.

These claims give further reason for me to take Him at His word and trust one of my very favorite verses, Colossians 1:17 ~ He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

I needed this reminder.

Thoughts on Work in general

"In the beginning, the purpose of work was not survival, nor greed, nor ambition, nor obsession. God intended work to be a great adventure; a mirroring of His own great acts of creation. The capacity of our contribution means nothing; it is the act of contributing itself that is divine."
(Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Journey to Spiritual Maturity, Finding Our Purpose)

This morning, I read this quote today in the daily devotional from Northland. Wow, what if I thought about work this way every morning? What if the world thought about work this way? Would my day go any different as a result? Would I view the tasks before me as an adventure instead of a list of what needed to be accomplished? Hmmm, something to think about.

Hurricanes - what's up?

As I write this, Hurricane Rita is heading for the Texas and Louisiana coast, a mere three weeks after Katrina devastated the area just east of there.

Why this increase in fierce, destructive storms? Theories abound and I have no new theories. But, I was reminded of a couple of passages of scripture to help me keep my perspective.

Colossians 1:17-20 encourages me to know Christ is still in control: “He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body….all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe--people and things, animals and atoms--get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.” (The Message Bible)

In Philippians 2:1-3 Paul gives direction on what to do next: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” (New Living Translation)

We can be buoyed by the fact He is still in control. Having been encouraged by His comfort and love, we can then trust in His character and work together to show His love and compassion to others.

As part of the body of Christ, the ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ
have partnered with churches and other organizations to provide relief and support to those affected by the storms. Here are some ways we are working together to help.

The U.S. Campus Ministry is sending hundreds of college students to the disaster zones on weekends to help provide the manpower for both immediate relief and longer recovery efforts. http://www.blogger.com/www.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/katrina

Global Aid Network (GAIN) the humanitarian aid ministry of CCC has already shipped 34 truck loads of supplies including nearly a quarter million bottles each of water, orange juice and ice tea, 52,000 Bibles, 35,000 personal care kits to the disaster zone, 88,000 pounds of dried fruit, cleaning supplies and other items. http://www.blogger.com/www.gainusa.org

Here's Life Inner City, the urban ministry of CCC, has diverted to the Gulf Coast three tractor-trailer loads of relief supplies that had been intended for other fall outreaches. The shipment includes 4,800 wool blankets and 30,000 pounds of food valued at $80,000. http://www.blogger.com/www.hlic.org

Evacuee Relocation PartnershipWith millions displaced and an estimated 400,000 jobs lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina, Campus Crusade for Christ is working with the other ministries to create a model program for churches around the country to help hurricane victims relocate and provide housing, food and job-placement assistance. To find out more information about how your church can get involved, visit http://www.foundationforhope.org/ .

In the midst of the devastation there is hope. The body of Christ is providing His love to those who need support.