Into Gale Force Winds
Writing essays and posting them often seems a futile exercise-like shouting into gale force winds. After all, there are a million posts available to read and hundreds of topics, and millions upon millions of opinions out there covering the whole expanse of the computerverse.
My particular writing theme surrounds Jesus, God, and the Bible-specifically encouraging readers to take a fresh look and consideration of the Gospel by clearing the air of misunderstandings of what the thrust of the Bible is and what it is supposed to be accomplishing.
Perhaps people have no clue who I am and so discard my thoughts out of hand. That’s okay. People should be intellectually discriminating-open minded, but not gullible. Throughout the Bible, individuals are encouraged to get knowledge, insights, and practicable wisdom and to think, not necessarily “outside the box,” but similarly, outside themselves, that is, to gain a broader view of the world and the needs of others-those principled views of righteousness, justice, and generosity.
As for myself, I have not always been a Believer. Quite the contrary, I was cynical. Certainly, there was no evidence of righteousness, justice, and generosity evident in my life.
Look at the Disciples, practical men, fisherman, and other such ordinary citizens. They were curious, interested, but hardly convinced that He was Immanuel (God in the flesh), let alone ready to die for, to stand up to the religious leaders and the Roman Empire in order to spread His teachings!
Yes, I was neither convinced nor a disciple. I was self centered, sometimes nice, sometimes cruel, sometimes happy, sometime miserable, never content, never truly happy. Addicted to cigarettes, never saw a bottle of booze I couldn’t binge drink, hurting myself and often hurting others. Withdrawn, depressed, suicidal. That was my life.
Long story short, until Jesus rescued me from myself, my life was going to end up in the garbage dump. I hoped that God of Biblical fame really did exist, and so I desperately called on Him. Please, get me our this mess!.
Jesus did rescue me from all that overwhelming darkness and gave me light and a new life. Do you think it is wrong of me to show my appreciation by writing and posting the essays that I do?
After all, Jesus has light and new life for everyone-everyone who seeks Him in earnest. Probably the proper way to express this idea is like this: If a person hopes God exists and who truly is seeking real answers to life’s conundrums, unfairness, injustices, and even the darkness slowly destroying themselves from within, Jesus never rejected anyone for asking or debating or challenging Him and His teaching…If you read the entire story recorded in the New Testament Gospel books-Matthew, Mark, John and Luke/Acts- you will see what I am saying is truth. Jesus came to save, not to condemn. He always gave answers-and still does!
We condemn ourselves when we do not consider seeking to ask Him.
Cynicism makes everyone blind to so many things!
I now believe. Therefore, I share-not just because I changed my mind and adopted some doctrinal regimen-but because Jesus changed my life-through and through, personal and true.
“…I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. So, please, read the Bible and seek a personal relationship with God and His actual presence in your life.
