Whether we are aware or not, our
elements (our bodies) came from stars that form the universe that was
"created" by a Divine power or "energy" and that is God. We
are "Children of God".
Now at my
age of 61 and undergoing hemo-dialysis, I started to be aware that my outlook
in life has changed. Not that I have reached my sunset year of my life but let
us say that I have been more enlightened and mature. I may not write again an
article like this in the future, so let me take this opportunity to share with
you my thoughts and beliefs.
When I am alone and in moments of
reflection, I cannot avoid thinking of what has happened to my life. Have I
fulfilled my purpose of existence in this world? Reminiscent of the past,
sometimes I picture myself being born. I can imagine how happy my parents are
at that time. Cute, innocent and bundle of joy are the regular adjectives for a
baby. I wonder now if those definitions are really accurate for an “innocent”
baby is capable of expressing various emotions, and can manipulate his mother
through his simple wants and needs. However, his existence is limited to
the world of survival and his capacity to think is not yet significantly
developed and they say that his spirit is still “dead”.
As the years go by, he
will grow physically and mentally even spiritually until he is capable to know
what is right and wrong. In my younger years, society and school had taught me
how to behave “normally” but it came to a point that I want to think for myself
and explore my world on my own. I became curious and adventurous
even a pleasure seeker. Later in life, I found it strange but all these social
activities and worldly exploits seem to bore me. In sober moments I am thinking
that there has got to be a much higher ideal than all these trivial things
around me. I started asking questions such as: Is there really a God who is all
powerful that he created man according to his likeness? Why is it then that
suffering and pain continue to wreak havoc in the lives of decent men and
women? Does man really have a soul or spirit? Why is it then that wars and
bloody upheavals continue to devastate mankind? Is heaven and hell for real?
Then why are criminals seemingly not afraid to be burned in the eternal
fire? Is there salvation for sinners like me? I am not saying that I doubt the
beliefs that my religion has taught me; but after being taught in school of the
scientific method of thinking, I cannot help but satisfy myself to look for
clues and evidences.
Regrettably
wherever I look for scientific studies that will answer my questions, I come
across some theories like: man evolved from the ape through many years of
evolution as in Darwin’s Theory and the universe was formed through the Big
Bang Theory. This has aggravated my feelings of incompleteness and emptiness in
me that dragged for years as I tried to look for possible answers to my
queries. Eventually, I searched for and read articles about the dogmas and
beliefs of other religions. Then suddenly it came to my mind that practically
all religions have something in common: the good trying to overcome the forces
of evil by guiding man how to be good.
In trying to relate this concept of good
and bad with my everyday activity, I was reminded of the different laws that
govern not only people but the entire world and the universe. One example is
the law or principle of love and hate. There are definite consequences if you
follow either of the two. In physical science, there is the law of attraction
and repulsion, gravity and more. Lately, scientists have been studying the law
involving light and dark energy. It is like a tug of war between two opposing
forces which can either contribute to the development or destruction of
mankind.
With the
advent of modern technology and the launching of satellites with powerful
telescopes science have shown how vast the universe is with limitless number of
galaxies, stars and planets. On the micro side, quantum physicists have
encountered how weird a particle is behaving in its observed state. These
findings indicate that someone is behind this grandiose design -- an unseen
being or energy, a creator or God. I now realize that there are still many
things that are not yet seen or discovered and how miniscule our capability as
humans compared to the power of God. I also realized some things maybe are so
complex or so "evil" for a human being and are not meant to be
discovered or seen as in the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of
Eden or the Pandora’s Box.
In order to rectify my belief in God, I need to have
a strong faith anchored in God inspired and historical evidences and I found
them all in the Holy Bible. From the beginning, God has given man free will
because of His unconditional love for us. Free will is the freedom to choose
between right and wrong or between two choices and this resulted to our
original sin (Romans 5:12-21). Man become susceptible to death (physical and
spiritual) (Gen 2:17; Ecc 12:7) and must toil the earth in order to live. And
yet God continue to love us by sending his beloved son Jesus Christ (John 3:16)
who died in the cross to save mankind from sins. Despite of the death of Jesus,
man continued to sin and defy again and again the will of God which is love and
mercy (1 Jn 4:8; 1 Jn 4:16; Eph 3:18; Lk 11:5-13; Matt 18: 32-33). The issue of
salvation arises. Who can be saved? How can a person be saved?
One
afternoon while I was watching TV, I noticed that someone is standing at our
door. My wife let our visitor in and he began introducing himself as: a
customer of our pet shop, a friend of our friend and he is a pastor of a
Christian church here in Tagbilaran City. He told me that part of his
dedication to his church is to give Bible study to those who are willing to
listen to the word of God and in time effect healing of sickness through prayers
and strong faith. He asked our permission and we said yes for the sake of
courtesy. As we go on with our conversation, he told us that it is not religion
per se that can save us but our faith in the Holy Trinity and Jesus must be our
lord and savior. I thought that there is no conflict with that since our
Apostle’s Creed reaffirms our belief in the Triune God (Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20;
Colossians 2:2) and Jesus is the son of God who saved us from our sins; and I
have no plans in changing my religion. Man as the Holy Bible says is part body
and part spirit or soul (Jn 3:5-6; Jn 4:24; 1 Cor 2:11; Matt 10:28). When we
are born, we are born of the body but not yet of the spirit (John 3:1-7; Eph
2:1-2).
There will come a time in our life that we will grow in spirit when we
start to firmly believe in God and our lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:16; Rom 8:9).
It is stated in the Holy Bible that whoever believes in God the Father, the son
(Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit and recognizes Jesus Christ as his lord and
savior will be saved (Revelation 22:17; Matthew 19:25-26; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Romans
10:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:15; John 3:16). He cited an instance when he was giving a
bible study where he asked the person listening: “When you die where will your
spirit go, to heaven or hell?” He said that it took some time for the person to
answer and he was not sure. Then it struck me that in order to be a strong
believer, we must always reassure ourselves of our faith that we will be saved
and we should be able to answer quickly that we will go to heaven of course.
Later on we studied about the common expressions, modern song lyrics (Lady Gaga
and Madonna song lyrics which allegedly indicate devil worship), and lines in
the movies or shows that are forms of sacrilege to God (Exo 20:7). It is very
easy for some people to mention words like: Oh My God! Jesus Christ! He quoted
verses in the Bible about forgiveness (Col 3:13; Matt 18:21-22; Luke 6:37; Matt
6:14-16; Mark 11:25). The Bible says that we should forgive those who wronged
us before the sun sets (Eph 4:26). He said that forgiveness is not about
forgetting about the consequence or punishment for anyone that committed fault
or injustice to you. That forgiveness can be given by the grace of the Holy
Spirit through Christian believers because of their strong faith. If you
forgive someone, you must not dwell on the past anymore. What is important is
the moment you are in when you choose to start all over again as friends or
brothers and sisters. He then talked about avoiding temptations (Eph 6:10-18; 1
Cor 10-13; Matt 26:41; James 4:7; James 5:16) by the grace of the Holy Spirit
again and because of our strong faith, we are considered by God as His precious
children (John 1:12-13; Rom 8:16; Gal 4:4-5; Luke 18:16-17).
Consequently on
our next meeting, he discussed about dedication (Matt 28:19,20; Acts 1:8; John
14:12; John 16:14) which means that as Christians, we have the task to spread
our Lord Jesus Christ’s words and teachings as written in the Holy Bible and
reap its fruits(Gal 5:22) and avoid the sins against the Holy Spirit (Gal
5:19-21).
Honestly I admire the zeal of such persons who can spend their time
spreading the Good News not with the motive to defend their religion and to
force us to be converted to their religion but to show concern to people who
want or needed to be saved and healed. Most of the people today are living
their lives by satisfying the cravings of their senses; and whether they are
conscious or not they are committing sins constantly and letting the evil one
control their minds and bodies.
Now, I am trying to pass on to my family those
valuable teachings I obtained and how I wish I could also conduct such Bible
Study Module to my employee, friends or neighbors. It would be to our advantage
if our church could carry out basic Theology classes and preferred Bible study
modules to selected and dedicated Laymen who when certified can then
disseminate what they have learned to their fellow Christians not to debate
needlessly the differing views, translations and beliefs but to make clear the
importance of salvation and what to do to earn that salvation. Above all, to
demonstrate and practice what really is the will of God which is love and mercy
so that we can be rightfully called God’s children and definitely not blind
followers of wickedness.
Whether we are aware or not, our elements (our bodies) came from stars that form the universe that was "created" by a Divine power or "energy" and that is God. We are "Children of God".
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