Many people do not seek God because they cannot believe that a good God would allow suffering and hate in the world.
However, not because we cannot understand God's purpose, we can believe that God is not good.
There is danger in believing the lies about God.
25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
What Is the Lie That People Exchanged for God?
Scholars say that it is idols.
I believe that the lie is also about concepts of God that are not true. There are many lies about God going around. I will talk about some of them in this piece.
However, I do not think it will be productive to discuss all of them. I will focus on the truth about God instead. I believe these verses tell us what God is about:
John 10:10-11
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.
11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.
Here are the truths about God that we should focus on based on the verses above:
#Truth 1- Jesus Loves You More Than His Life.
Romans 5:8
English Standard Version
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus sacrificed his life for us so we can live abundantly on the earth and in heaven.
This act of God means that God loves us and wants us to live a happy and prosperous life.
It is good to note that Jesus died for us even before we knew Him. That is how much he loves us.
He did not wait for us to be good before He made the sacrifice. He chose to die for us regardless of the decisions that we would make in life.
#Truth 2- You Are Heaven-Bound.
Matthew 16:19
English Standard Version
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
God wants us to be with Him in heaven. Now, we need to choose to have a relationship with God because He gave us free will.
If we want to be with God in heaven, all we need to do is believe that Jesus is Lord and Saviour.
God does not want mankind to rot in hell. He wants us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. He would not have sent Jesus to save us if He did not care if we go to hell.
#Truth 3- You Are Supposed to Live Fully.
Others say that God wants us to suffer, and that is not the truth. God allows obstacles and challenges to help us go to the next level, but He does not intend us to live in suffering.
Like what the verses above say, Jesus died to give us abundant life.
Abundant life could mean anything. It can be in the form of worldly assets, or it could be in the form of emotional stability. Prosperity will mean differently for each one of us, but one thing is for sure, God wants us to live life fully.
What Happens When We Believe the Lies About God?
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
We become slaves to our sinful nature if we do not believe the truth about God.
When we become slaves to our flesh, we will go through a destructive path. There is temporary pleasure in sin. However, they can have life-long consequences. Only Jesus can save us when that happens.
Let Us Sum It Up
Idolatry and believing lies about God can lead us to the path of destruction.
We should focus on God's truth, promises and blessings in the Bible.
After all, it is the goodness of God that drives people into repentance.
Prayer of Salvation
Friend, if you want to know Jesus, but you are unsure of your standing in faith, say this prayer. God sees your heart, so say the words with conviction and faith.
"Father, I am a sinner. Forgive my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross so I could live fully on earth and in heaven. Change my heart and mind according to your will. This I pray, in the mighty Name of Jesus, amen."
Friend, if you prayed this prayer in faith, I believe you have set things right with God.
If you want to grow in faith, find a Bible-based church. You can also reach out to me through my social media platforms and this website, www.high3r.com. I would love to hear from you.
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