Reasons

Being an avid admirer of Hugh Jackman's work, I had occasion to read through his filmography the other day. Awesome career. One title struck me; a documentary called "Oh My God", by Peter Rodger. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the film was put together over 2 years and 23 countries, in an effort to discover who/what God means to people. Hugh Jackman happens to be one of the folks interviewed. That's not the point of today's blog though.
As I watched the trailer for the film my heart began to break. Why? Many people don't "feel" the need for God because they don't have any idea who/what He is! I was appauled at the misconceptions people have about Him. What's even more disturbing is that people have these false concepts because the Church, the collective body of those who have acknowledged Jesus as the One who can forgive sins, has let society down. Forgive me. I apologize. As a Christian I'm responsible to a degree for the grave misconceptions many have about the Creator of all things and everyone.
God is not cruel. God is not unfair. God is not pushy. God is not hateful toward His creation. God does not force Himself on anyone.
People have tried and still attempt to control others in the name of God & religion. As I've blogged before, this Christianity thing is NOT about religion. I'm desparate for you to recognize that God is alive, that He loves you, that He created you to be the only YOU ever! I'm desparate for you to understand that you won't find God in a building or by adhereing to man-made doctrines. There IS a heaven and there IS a hell. You may ask 'why would I want to follow a god who sends people to hell, who hates homosexuals, who wants to control me?'. If those are some of the things you believe, then you truly don't know anything about my God. Please let me introduce Him to you.
God doesn't hate anyone. He hates some of the things we do. God doesn't send anyone to hell. People choose to go there. If I'm wrong about the exsistance of hell then you and I have no worries. If I'm right? You are beautiful! A masterpiece. Unique in every way. Are you a writer? God gave you that ability. Are you an actor? Who do you think enables you to perform and "become" the characters you portray? God. Do any of us truly realize how everything we know can change in an instant? Fame, money, health, the things we equate with security....all of it can be wisked away in a breathe. The plane crashes, the car slams into a tree or flies off a cliff, the chemotherapy doesn't work, we are so depressed we just can't see any other way but to end the life we weren't responsible for creating in the first place. Tradgedy can come to anyone. I remember believing I didn't need God. I figured I was a "good" person (see an earlier blog about good, etc.). That's not enough! What was I waiting for? What were my reasons for not acknowledging God for who He is? I didn't want to give up "good times". I felt I was just fine. Must be why my life was going so fabulously. Drunk, floating through one relationship after another, chasing the wind...chasing my tail. Nothing ever really filled the gap,the exsitance of which, I was always reminded of late at night when all was quiet. It eventually caught up with me. It will catch up with you, too.
"I don't want to give up my fun", you may say. God's not asking you to give it up. He's asking you to come to Him. Let Him handle the rest. I heard it put this way once:

"To say the addict must be clean, the homosexual must go straight, the liar must be truthful, the adulterer faithful, the thief honest, before coming to Jesus, is like saying one needs to take a bath beofre getting into the shower." Ridiculous, isn't it? We don't acknowledge Jesus Christ because we "get right" or "get religion". We get right with God and everyone else and don't need religion, because of Jesus Christ.

You could leave this life in a moment! You cannot worry about that when it happens. You won't step into eternity and get a chance to plead your case before God. Stop getting caught up in what you have heard God does/does not believe about things and just meet Him! This world will not go on forever, friend. If I didn't sincerely care I'd never say anything. I don't want to hurt or offend anyone. I have a dear cousin who doesn't believe Jesus is God, I have two best friends who are homosexual, and I know people who are addicts and I have a Muslim friend. I love them all and do not look at their choices. They have a God givce right to choose to live and do what they see fit. But I know God and I know He has a much better way/plan for each of us than we could ever pick for ourselves.

Time is short. The terrorism, child abductions/murders, kids killing kids and killing their parents, disease, increasing famine and war.....Regardless of who you currently believe Jesus to be, God to be, Jesus DID say while on this earth that the aforementioned things would happen just before His return to make things right forevermore. So if you at least believe He had a few good ideas, maybe you'll consider pondering those things a bit more.

A comment made by some one interviewed for "Oh My God" went along the lines of "if Buddah, Jesus Christ, Krishna... were at a dinner table, they wouldn't be arguing." I've paraphrased a bit. I agree with that statement. I believe everyone at the table, in the presence of Jesus, would recognize and acknowledge Him for who He is. The Pharisee's didn't but they had their own agenda. No-there would be no arguement. But was that statement a profession of Jesus Christ being Messiah? I urnestly pray so.

I don't know any of you yet I love each of you. I love you because you are precious to God Almighty...whether you ever give your life to Him, live for Him, or not. That doesn't change His love for you. I follow Jesus Christ. This Jesus who IS God in the flesh. Therefore I must love each and every one of those He has created. Please consider Him. Where will you go breathe your last in the next moment?

Love in Christ-T