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Wondering About God?
 

Plenty of us say we believe in God, and even say a prayer or two if the situation calls for it. But we may wonder if faith in something so abstract is rational. "How can I know if God really exists, and if He does… does He really have time for me and my problems?"

Most of us have, at some time or another, felt that there must be something more to life than just getting more money, a nicer car, a bigger house. Or, perhaps we’ve felt that if we could only experience this or that, we would have a sense of purpose. But then, after climbing the mountain, so to speak, we look back and say, “Is that all there is? Isn’t there a purpose to life, something that will give me meaning?”

Others of us might have been brought to the end of our rope by the stresses of life. It could be marital or family responsibilities, illness, infertility, money woes, the loss of a loved one, or something else out of our control. We try to put up a good front. But on the inside we know that, as strong as we may try to be, we really feel helpless. We long for strength beyond ourselves to help us cope.

Still others realize that the problems in their life are of their own doing. Whatever it might be, we can look back and see that we are living with the consequences of our own choices, and may feel we deserve the misery we’re living in.
 
These feelings of wanting help, strength, and purpose are all part of a natural longing for God and the desire to know Him.  When we have these feelings and look for these answers, it is a truly spiritual seeking. As you seek, consider the following: we believe that every human being is on a spiritual journey. We believe that you matter to God, and that the answers to your questions are within reach.

“But I go to church regularly… Doesn’t that make me a Christian?”

It may help to make a distinction between having a relationship with God and practicing the religious aspects of Christianity. There is also a difference between an intellectual knowledge of Christ and having a relationship with God. Many of us seek God through a process of inquiry, and that may include church attendance. But at some point in our spiritual seeking, we come to a decision: will we trust in Jesus Christ? Faith is personalizing the message of Christ. It is trusting in what He did for us personally by dying for our sins.

The outcome of our faith is sometimes referred to as spiritual birth. Just as physical growth follows physical birth, spiritual growth follows spiritual birth. The learning environment found in church is an important part of the spiritual growth process. But spiritual growth follows a decision to trust Christ, and Him alone, as our means of forgiveness and relationship with God. It is this faith decision that makes us a Christian.

“Would you like to know God personally?”

You can, you know, know Him personally.  In fact, God is so eager to establish a personal, loving relationship with you that He has already made all the arrangements.  The major barrier to knowing Him is us.  Yes, Pogo is right again.  “We’ve met the enemy and he is us!”
 
The following four principles will help you discover how to know God personally and to experience the abundant life He has promised.
  1. God loves you and has a plan for your life.  In the Bible it says, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  So if this is true, why aren’t I experiencing this life?
  2. Because Man is sinful and thus separated from God, we can’t know Him personally or experience His love.  Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken.  This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  A great gulf separates man from God since man is sinful and God is holy.  Man continues to try to reach Him by doing good works, giving money, not hurting anyone, leading a good life, etc., but nothing man does can bridge the gulf.  It’s too wide.
  3. But God in His love and mercy, created a way to cross the gulf and reach Him.  He sent is own son, Jesus Christ, to show the way.  It is through Him alone that we can know God personally and experience His love and peace.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) God bridged the gulf by sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.  “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father , but through Me’” (John 14:6)
  4. It is not enough to know these truths, we must individually (God has no grandchildren!) receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  When we do, we can know God personally and experience His abundant love and life.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).  We receive Christ by faith, not by anything we do or can ever do.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no none should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

How do you invite Jesus Christ into your life and put your trust in Him?  Through a simple prayer of faith, like the one below.  Just say,

Jesus, I don’t fully understand everything about you, and I still have unanswered questions, but I ask you to help me believe.  Please forgive all the bad things I have done in my life and help me not do them anymore.  Send some strong Christians to help me learn more about you. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, you are now by, by faith, a child of God (John 1:12-13).  If you still are not ready know God personally, don’t stop seeking and searching for the answers.  Jesus said, “Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.”  We at Creative Seeding are available to answer any questions that you have about God, Jesus, the Bible or about any question of faith that is troubling you.  Please call us at 908-766-7736 or send an email to info@creativeseeding.com.  We would be glad to send you a book, at no cost that provides answers to many questions about the Christian faith.