As children, when we fall down and scrape our knee, what do we do? We cry for our parents. In school when we can’t figure out a math problem, what do we do? Well, we don’t cry like babies anymore, but we still ask for help, in this case the math teacher. As a ceramic researcher when I don’t know I don’t understand my data, I go and ask my boss or one of my co-workers. I hope everyone sees the trend I am getting at. As people when we have problems we ask for help or advice. It’s simple human nature.
Recently I have been going through some problems and hardships in my life, and where did I go for answers? Well, I went to God. However, you may agree with Friedrich Nietzsche, who said “God is Dead,” if so, how can I go to God if he is dead?
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 timothy 3:16 NIV
Even though the physical being of God is dead, he left us with his Word, his scripture. Therefore, the answer is simple, seek God through scripture, the Bible. I want to mention a few of the problems I have been having in my life and the answers I have found for them: life, power, and joy.
It all started about 2 months ago, in early September, when I decided to get baptized, and boldly declare my love for Christ; however, my parents don’t believe the same things as me. Despite this fact, I still asked my parents to attend my baptism. To my dismay, my parents refused and told me I needed to look for an apartment and move out. In hindsight, this was a turning point for a rapid decline of communication and civility in my relationship with my parents.
Over the next two months I had various encounters with my family, and in some instances I lost my temper and acted ungodly, through my anger, with them. Anger has always been one of my weaknesses. Some of these encounters include: emails, phone calls, letters, live personal meetings, and most recently a protest in front of the place where our weekly Bible teaching is held. Simply put, the objective of my family is to not allow me to have my free will or freedom of religion.
I am reminded of a song by Powerman 5000, entitled “Free”, which beautifully illustrates this concept of Freedom.
“Let’s go!
Everybody needs to start their own fire
Everybody needs a riot of their own
Everybody needs to be something that they are not
Everybody needs to go it alone
Because!
Living so free is a tragedy
When you can’t be what you want to be
Living so free is a tragedy
When you can’t see what you need to see”
The concept of freedom is a huge biblical concept as well.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NIV
“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12 NIV
Jesus Christ loves us with all His heart and, therefore, He gives every person free will. However, with the sinful nature of man, and all the evil we do, why did Christ give man freedom? So we would be able to love him and others by our own choice. When discussing this concept, I always like to think about what if God didn’t give man free will? And in answering this question, I like to think of robots. If God didn’t give us free will every person would essentially be a robot. I would much rather some one chose to love me, instead of me making them love me, like I would a robot.
As I mentioned before I have a problem in dealing with my anger; thus, I have a problem loving and showing grace. In dealing with these problems I must seek refuge in The Word of God, The Bible.
8To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
1 peter 3:8-9 NASB
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19,21 NASB
The bible says instead of returning evil and insults I need to give blessings and show love instead. The answers for my hardships and problems are all right in front of me, in the most popular book ever written, The Bible. It is because of this, that I find my life with Christ so amazing. Knowing that I can find the answer to anything I need help with.
I, personally, love my life, and will never give up my life with Christ for any reason. Some must be asking, why continue serving the Lord even after some people have persecuted and turned away from me? The reason is simple…
16″For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 NASB
Christ has given me the gift of eternal life, through the death of his son on the cross. I am compelled to share this with every person I meet and live as a servant to Christ Jesus, so that others may know the love he has given me. More than anything I pray that my family would see the love Christ as given me and let him enter their heart.
