One God
By Andrea Marino Arguments against God range from the basic: why He put a forbidden tree in the Garden and why He did not destroy the devil to the complex, such as found in 2 Kings 8:12: Elisha’s foretelling of horrific killing to happen to the Israelites by Hazael, king of Syria. A chilling account and yet, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJ). It is a matter of our own free will to believe or not believe God, to trust or not trust Him, to love or not love Him. Without faith, the natural inclination is to reject God, blaming Him for every terrible thing that happens in our world. The aforementioned consequence, befalling the ancient Israelites is explained in 1 Kings 19:18. They had bowed down to Baal. As any loving father, God sets a precedent. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have We could all have a ‘bone to pick’ with Adam and Eve other gods besides Me.” (Exodus 20:2.3 HCS). for what they did and were cast out of paradise for. If only they hadn’t disobeyed God. If only we could The entire Bible is full of accounts of death and debe good enough - able enough - to reach heaven on struction for those forsaking God. The book of Reveour own. Unfortunately, possessing the same nature lation foretells this same fate of doom to those alive as the first parents is something all people need to today who remain without a ‘circumcise of heart’, come to grips with, and God wants us to know. De- one that takes responsibility for personal sin, which ception abounds in the world, but greater is the One is against God. He will not dwell with evil men. (Psalm of compassion and mercy able to keep us from being 5:4) Isn’t God good for wanting us to know? We dare consumed. (Lamentations 3:22,23). not miss the entire Bible story, all about Jesus. God’s promise to His children is of a new heaven and earth. The Bible provides a necessary distinction between God in the Old Testament and God in the New Testament. Nonetheless, the Lord God is One. (Deuteronomy 6:4). I can’t tell you how many times I come across people rejecting God based on Old Testament accounts. These accounts are to alert us to the consequences of living our own way. It is appointed for all men to die and then be judged. (Hebrews 9:27). That should alarm everyone. But to assume God is only harsh and demanding is tragic because He is love. In fact, God so loved that He emptied Himself and took on a body of flesh to identify with the people He created. (1 John 4:8, Philippians 2:7). Such an astounding thought is the Creator of everything willing to put Himself on a level with fallen man. No greater love is there. (John 15:13). Jesus laid down His life to make a way back to the Father.
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