Hey everybody, i'm jim and i'meighteen years old.this is the first time i've ever gotten on the religion forum, and i have a question that until now i've been too embarrassed to ask. i've been saved, and asked the Lord to come into my life. this is my problem. i know in my heart i believe that Jesus died on the cross and was risen from the dead for me, but sometimes my faithis shakenwhen i see all the bad things in the world. things like a friend of mine being shot and killed three years ago, and seeing young people around me dying in car crashes in the prime of their life, and all these young kids being struck down by cancer and similar diseases. i don't want it to, but sometimes my faith wavers and it sickens me because i want to be a good Christian so bad. do these occasional doubts mean i'm a bad Christian destined for hell, or are they natural? someone please help me because this is worrying me sick.
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The gobbles are getting louder.....in my mind, anyway.
Hey Brother, glad to see you posting here. I don't think it means your a bad christian at all. Like you say, your a young christian and your naturally going to question things. The Lord can speak to you thru His Word and to your heart a lot better than I can reply to your question. God originally created everything to be good. But He created us with the freedom to choose. Man quickley decided to dis obey God and sin and death was brought into His creation. Sometimes sinful choices bring about consequences that affect other people as well as ourselves. . .sometimes innocent people that don't deserve it. Sometimes, just because.
I can wonder still why some things have happened in my life as well. Some things have just happened that were hard to understand because it seemed totally unconnected to any wrong - doing. I believe that to simply trust God and know that He is just is our only recourse. I can honestly say that looking back , I can see where His hand was on things that I could'nt understand 30 yrs ago.
Anyway, it's late . .I'm old . .way past my bedtime.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
I am 60 one foot in the Grave and I have weak moments also.
Do you remember Jesus on the Cross? He said My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me. Had God Forsaken Him? No Way! Even the perfect man who had no Sin was Shaken!
You have two very good answers here.. I would just like to add these three verses..
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV.
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wayne
"There's room at the cross for you."
Hey everybody, i'm jim and i'meighteen years old.this is the first time i've ever gotten on the religion forum, and i have a question that until now i've been too embarrassed to ask. i've been saved, and asked the Lord to come into my life. this is my problem. i know in my heart i believe that Jesus died on the cross and was risen from the dead for me, but sometimes my faithis shakenwhen i see all the bad things in the world. things like a friend of mine being shot and killed three years ago, and seeing young people around me dying in car crashes in the prime of their life, and all these young kids being struck down by cancer and similar diseases. i don't want it to, but sometimes my faith wavers and it sickens me because i want to be a good Christian so bad. do these occasional doubts mean i'm a bad Christian destined for hell, or are they natural? someone please help me because this is worrying me sick.
Remember that in this world we are a slave to the laws of nature. Things happen because of certain consequences. If you don't believe we are a slave to nature, jump off a tall building with all the faith in the world, and see if the law of nature doesn't kick in (gravity).
God is the ruler of spirit and spritual things, Yes, sometimes He does intervene in situations here on earth, but He gives us a free will and a mind to make our own judgements.
The other day a friend of mine was involved in a car wreck in which his six year old daughter was killled, I was asked how God allowed this to happen. My reply was God was not the one in control of the car! I know this sounds brash, however we must take certain responsibility for our actions. My wife died of cancer, she smoked, she never blamed God for her mistake.
Take care God bless.
Hey, guys, sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'm still in Atlanta ( working and stress too hard)and I pray God allows me to go home this week. I've been here since April 12th.
Hey everybody, i'm jim and i'meighteen years old.this is the first time i've ever gotten on the religion forum, and i have a question that until now i've been too embarrassed to ask. i've been saved, and asked the Lord to come into my life. this is my problem. i know in my heart i believe that Jesus died on the cross and was risen from the dead for me, but sometimes my faithis shakenwhen i see all the bad things in the world. things like a friend of mine being shot and killed three years ago, and seeing young people around me dying in car crashes in the prime of their life, and all these young kids being struck down by cancer and similar diseases. i don't want it to, but sometimes my faith wavers and it sickens me because i want to be a good Christian so bad. do these occasional doubts mean i'm a bad Christian destined for hell, or are they natural? someone please help me because this is worrying me sick.
I don't have a lot to add as everyone had done a pretty good job of answering. One thing I will add is Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I don't even try to understand what God's plans are. All I know is that they are better than mine are. Shoot everytime I try and do something on my own w/out trusting God I just jack it up some how. Just know that all the things that are happening in this world are happening for a reason. You may not understand it now, but God does. That's part of giving your life to Christ is saying God, you have control of my life now, so use me as you see fit. Not easy to do I know. But man is it worth it when you do. Proverbs 20:24 "A man's steps are directed by the LORD.How then can anyone understand his own way?"
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"Yes, well, I’m polymerized tree sap and you’re an inorganic adhesive, so whatever verbal projectile you launch in my direction is reflected off of me, returns to its original trajectory and adheres to you." - Sheldon Cooper
I believe it to be normal for all of us to experience times of uncertainty, especially when terrible things happen inour lives. But I also believe it necessary to point out for us to remember that until His return, Jesus does not rule this world. Satan is the ruler of this fallen world, and He can make bad things happen, with the approval of God , for testing , trials and in an attempt to cause us to forsake our Lord. Though bad things may happen, at the hand of Satan, God can and does take those bad things and use them for good,for those that love Him. God can take the worst that the devil has to offer, and make us better people and stronger Christians.
But as long as Satan rules this world, bad things will continue to affect us all. Perhaps not directly, every time, but we are all, Christians included, affected. Our trials come in how we react in those bad times.
But one day, Jesus Christ, Our Savior, will come and reclaim His world and people, and Satan will no longer be able to cause anyone to doubt or wonder. For every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Welcome to the Forum, and don't be a stranger. Visit anytime, and may God bless you and give you strength, wisdom, and confidence in your walk with Him.