I’m going to start a new “piece” to A World Between… in hopes to draw some of you in and create good conversations, either designed to make us all think, or just have fun chatting, or even occasionally try to answer some really tough questions and ponderments in life.  Hope you enjoy!

Conversations: An Angels Sin

Before I begin, let me just state, that I haven’t done any extensive homework on these issues, so I have no one sided opinion at this point.  I am simply raising the questions, and seeing what answers you can give, and myself as well.  So please chime in.

I was thinking today about the story of when Lucifer chose to go against God.  In short, the story goes, “Satan fell because of pride. He desired to be God, not to be a servant of God… Satan was likely the highest of all angels, the most beautiful of all of God’s creations, but he was not content in his position. Instead, Satan desired to be God, to essentially “kick God off His throne” and take over the rule of the universe. Satan wanted to be God, and interestingly enough, that is what Satan tempted Adam and Eve with in the Garden of Eden
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The Trials [part 3]

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

In this third and final part, I want to just wrap up…

In the book of Matthew it says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.  (11)  “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me.  (12)  Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12 HCSB)

As Christians, sometimes we expect things to get easier for us, since we are on God’s side…  We face Trials…  Besides persecution, I’m sure you can think of 100 other examples of types of trials we might face in life…  Why do we have to go through them in the first place?!

I dealt with that question a little bit previously in a post called The Suffering, but perhaps that is a question left to God.  Perhaps each time, there is a different reason with each person.  Perhaps there is only one reason.  I do not know exactly.  But what I do know is that there is a reason.  There is a hope at the end of all the trials, the suffering and the pain.  A true hope.  One that will not fail us.  One who knows and has felt all that we have been through…

At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on the vast plain before God’s Throne. Some shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But many other groups talked heatedly, not cringing with shame, but with belligerence.

“Can God judge us? How can He know about suffering?”, snapped a pert brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. “We endured terror … beating … torture … death!”

 
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The Trials, Part 2

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Let’s look at one story…  The Persecuted…

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar has ordered a decree that all people must bow down and worship a golden statue that he has built.  Whoever does not will be cast in to the furnace of blazing fire.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to do this, in spite of King Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship a god.  The King vows to kill them if they do not obey him, giving them a second chance…

Daniel 3:15-28 (HCSB/(JKP edit)) says, “Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the (music), fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire–and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”  (16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.  (17) If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king.”

But notice what else they say…
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The Trials, Part 1

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

As a Christian, Trials will come

2 Timothy 3:12 (HCSB) says, “In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (emphasis mine).

Also, in James 1:2-3 (HCSB) it says, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

So now, just because we have become Christians, does this mean that life will get easy now?  No more hardships, trials, bad things happening?  No!  Bad things happen.  Bad things happen to good people and bad people alike.  Bad things even happen to the best of people.

In India in 2008, over 50,000 Christians were displace, and lost their homes for the sole purpose that they were Christians!
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Several months back, I saw someone talking about having 100 trillion dollars.  They proceeded to pull it out of their wallet, and show it.  Sure enough, it was a 100 Trillion Dollar bill… from Zimbabwe.  So, I decided to search out where I might be able to get my hands on one of these, and sure enough, a few days ago, I found someone online, and purchased my first 100 Trillion Dollar bill…
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At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on the vast plain before God’s Throne. Some shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But many other groups talked heatedly, not cringing with shame, but with belligerence.
“Can God judge us? How can He know about suffering?”, snapped a pert brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. “We endured terror … beating … torture … death!”

In another group a Negro boy lowered his collar. “What about this?” he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. “Lynched, for no crime but being black.”
In another crowd there was a pregnant schoolgirl with sullen eyes: “Why should I suffer?” she murmured. “It wasn’t my fault.”

Far out across the plain were thousands of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for all the evil and suffering He had permitted in His world.
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I don’t normally use my blog for causes, but I think this is a good one…

North East India Project has recently partnered with Smile Train; a non profit helping children with cleft palates. NEIP has recently sent two children in India, Alum and Tsuti, to a Smile Train doctor who has performed the first part of their cleft palate surgery; closing up the palate. Their second and final surgery, fixing their upper lip, will most likely be in 4-6 weeks, and will provide them with a new smile. The Smile Train doctor is located in Shillong, Meghalaya, which is over 300 miles from the children’s village. Word is beginning to spread around the state of Nagaland, and NEIP is already receiving more requests to help other children…

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

We want
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