Saturday, April 26, 2008

# 247: An Intriguing Question

The question is this: Why is it in the complete Bible, many times, that God worked through His people with miracles, signs and wonders? Why is it that in our modern times, God through Jesus Christ does not use His disciples (you and I) to work miracles, sign and wonders?

We need them just as much now as ever, for several reasons: to confirm which churches are genuine and which are false. In Acts 14:3, it says, "Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly of the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous sign and wonders." Also, in Acts 11-12: "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul. Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." There are many more miraculous events that were done by not only Jesus, but also by the apostles and disciples.

Especially appalling is the visit of Pope Benedict XVI and all the attention he is getting. He represents the largest and most non-Christian church in the world. I heard it said that there are one about one billion Catholics in the world. How can so many people be so naively gullible? The Catholic Church is made up of 99% man-made rules, which have nothing to do with what the New Testament teaches. Why doesn’t God expose the garbage they teach and practice? Of course, they did a great job themselves with the pedophile scandal. And because of those crimes against the innocent, a large number wised up and left the church; still, the vast majority hang on to the ungodly Catholic traditions.

I don’t understand how an all-powerful God can let this ungodly religion continue for almost 2,000 years. Several extraordinary miracles performed by God’s disciples, pointing to all the false teachings they are wallowing in, could bring that church to its knees for good.

But when it comes to not having the ability to perform supernatural healings on demand to all in need, especially to the most severely afflicted, all the Christian churches are guilty, even this author. I don’t mean the "healings" performed in specific churches that no one but a few know about, which I believe are not healings when they are confined out of the public eye.

My question is this: What are we doing, or not doing, that is the reason why God through Christ is not working (or cannot work) miracles in all of Christianity? I am aware that this is an ungodly planet, with America leading the way. What about people who call themselves part of the Christian community? Well, it is sad to say, but they/we, with all our religious busybody works, are also ungodly according to the New Testament.

That seems to say that we must not be doing what we are supposed to be doing, and are doing what we are not supposed to be doing. If that is not the answer, then it must be that Christians are so overwhelmed by the complexity and businesses of modern life, that regardless of how much effort we put into our personal Christian lives, it is not enough to meet God’s minimum requirements. But you would think that of all/few of the dedicated Christians in the world, God would use some of them to display His supernatural qualities.

We must remember that He is a supernatural God. But still, we see the lives of many people who were worldly and sinners’ change into people who believe and live by Biblical standards. The only thing: Tthose changes do not prove that they are of supernatural origin. Even atheists could and do change from bad (unbelievers) to good (love of neighbor), without any supernatural help.

Could God have left this planet because of all the ungodly things we engage in (things which have nothing to do with God)? Well, that thought contradicts Hebrews 13:5, where God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." The question is, Did we leave Him and forsake Him by our having to keep up with our sophisticated culture? That seems to be the best answer of why there are no supernatural events, meaning events that can be captured on our video cameras for all to see.

Another possibility is that our faith is insignificant, thus not allowing God to work supernatural events through us. In Matthew 17:19-20, because Jesus’ disciples had little faith, they could not drive the epilepsy out of a boy. "Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’"

I have to tell myself that just because God is not currently working the supernatural in the same way He worked in the New Testament, because of our weak faith, it does not invalidate His existence. It only requires more blessed faith on our part to believe in God and His Christ. How do we alienate ourselves from the ways of our modern world to a degree where we can receive the proper faith? These facts and unanswered questions frustrate me to the point of writing this post, with no conclusive answer. I know there has to be a God, and I know there was a Jesus Christ who lived 2,000 years ago, but why there is no evidence of supernatural works is realistic fodder for nonbelievers to throw at us.

I don’t even know if this post is worth publishing, other than to make my frustration known. If anyone has any helpful feedback, please leave a comment.

Friday, April 18, 2008

# 246: New Testament Warnings

In the New Testament, there are hundreds of verses that give us encouragement and hope; many more tell us of all the good things Christians have in Christ Jesus, and all the love, faith and hope which are available. Also, there is a large number of verses that explain the way to be saved. Those verses and more are absolutely necessary to know and to claim as our own.

Since most traditional churches quite often preach on these make-us-feel-holy verses, and rightly so, this blog doesn’t center its focus on these verses because most church-going Christians are aware of them.

But—and a big BUT—these same churches neglect preaching on verses that give us warnings, for reasons that we could fall away from the truth of the gospel without even knowing it. These churches are walking on thin ice. They fail to preach on these vital, hard-edged verses because they are contrary to the easy life we are so accustomed to living, and for that reason, some of them (the laity) do not welcome this type of candid preaching, and thus seek a church/es that is/are more congenial and pleasant in their message.

Then there are several large denominations and a multitude of non-affiliated smaller churches that go one step further to keep up their membership and collections. I truly believe this theology could be the most damaging and deadly in all of Christendom. The name of this doctrine is “Once saved (initially accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior), always saved,” or more rightly called “eternal security,” regardless of how one lives. Baptist churches are one of the largest denominations who believe in this heresy. And guess who has been one of their leaders for many years? Billy Graham.

There are many holy and important verses these churches use to justify their pleasant but erroneous belief. Let me quote just a few of their first line of defense:

1) Romans 8:37-39. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Isn’t it strange that the apostle Paul doesn’t mention disobedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ as one of the powers that can’t separate us from the Love of Christ? Because it will, as this post will clearly show.

2) Also, John 10:27-29. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

3) 1st John 2:1. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin [did you notice the apostle John used the word “IF,” which means it may possibly happen, but didn’t use the word “WHEN,” which means it WILL happen in the future?], we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.”

4) Romans 11:20. “for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

5) 1st Corinthians 6:11. “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

6) Philippians 1:6. “Being confident of this, he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

7) Hebrews 13:5. “. . . because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

There are other similar verses which are not quite as poignant, which also give assurance of salvation.

Now, if a group of people didn’t know or neglected what else was taught in the New Testament concerning this topic, they could easily believe that once people first accept Christ as Lord and Savior, they would be saved for all time, regardless of how they lived; thus, obedience to Christ’s commands would not be a controlling factor.

But those wonderful assuring verses and more, which they hang on to, do not negate all the warnings we are given which tell us we must continue to be faithful/obedient until death to Him who loves us.

For that reason, this post, which is based on Biblical verses, will give undisputable evidence that Salvation is conditional, by displaying the eternal harm when these upcoming verses are not included side-by-side along with the verses which promise assurance of Salvation. It will present several dozen verses that will need no explanation, although I will make some eye-opening comments. Please, if anyone is a new Christian, don’t let these verses overwhelm you; take it slow. A holy life does not occur overnight, even though the holy desire may be there.

1) Acts 5:32. “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit , whom God has given to those who obey him.” Obedience to all of Christ’s teaching is an absolute in the Christian life.

2) 2nd Peter 1:10 “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do ‘these things,’ you will never fall.” Read 2nd Peter 1:5-9 to explain what ‘these things’ are.

3) Hebrews 2:10. “We must pay careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

4) Luke 7:23. Jesus speaking: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” This verse is emphatically implying that one is capable of falling away from being one of Jesus’ disciples.

5) John 14:15. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Obedience is stressed in at least four verses in the book of John in chapters 14 and 15. I will present only two.

6) John 15:9-10. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.”

7) James 1:12. “. . . he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

8) 1st John 5:3. “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” Therefore, if we just say we love God but do not obey His commands, we are deceiving ourselves.

9) 1st Corinthians 15:2. “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." Therefore, a person can believe in vain.

10) Hebrews 6:4-6. “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they have crucified the Son of God all over again and subjected him to public disgrace.” Could this be the unpardonable sin? This is the only time the word “impossible” is used in this context except in Hebrews 11:6. “And without faith it is impossible to please God . . . ” And, of course, the faith the writer is speaking of is faith that is displayed by the appropriate action.

11) 1st Corinthians 6:7. “The very fact you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.”

12) Hebrews 3:6. “And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and hope of which we boast.”

13) Hebrews 10:38-39. “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”

14) Ephesians 5:1. “Be imitators of God . . .” Do we really have to be imitators of God once we are saved? Absolutely.

15) 2nd Corinthians 13:11. “Aim for perfection.” Is aiming for perfection a quick and easy accomplishment, or is it our lifetime ambition?

16) Hebrews 5:9. “and, once made perfect, he [Jesus Christ] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

17) Hebrews 12:14. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

18) James 4: 4. “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

19) Hebrews 3:14. “We have come to share in Christ if we hold firm to the end the confidence we had at first.”

20) Hebrews 6:11. “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.”

21) Colossians 1:23. “. . . to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusations—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

22) 2nd Thessalonians 3:14. “If anyone does not obey our instructions in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

23) Colossians 2:4. “I tell you this so that no one [many distinguished church leaders] may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”

24) 2nd Timothy 2:17. “Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth.”

25) 2nd Timothy 4:10. “For Demas, because he loved the world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.”

26) 1st Peter 5:8. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith . . .” Does anyone think Peter would have given his brothers and sister this warning if it wasn’t possible for the devil to gobble up Christians without their knowledge?

27) James 4:17. “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” This sin of omission is by all means the most prolific sin that will condemn mainly those who don’t feel it is necessary to continue to do good when it is appropriately needed, since they are already saved and can’t lose their Salvation.

28) 1st John 2:24-26. “See that what you heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you will remain in the Son and the Father . . . I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.” Some believe it is impossible to be led astray, especially when they believe their connection to Christ is secure for all times, regardless, because they say God is not an Indian-giver.

29) 2nd Peter 2:15. “They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.”

30) 2nd Peter 2:20. “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were in the beginning.”

31) Revelation 2:26. “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authorities over the nations.” The Will of God is to obey all the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles as presented in the New Testament.

32) Matthew 10: verse 1 and 8. “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to cure every kind of disease and sickness . . . [verse 8]: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Now here is one of the most intriguing questions of the ages: Was Judas Iscariot also given authority to perform these healings and miracles? The question is a resounding yes. Being keeper of the money bag (John 12:6), a noble and trustworthy responsibility, he, most likely, was second in line after Peter of the twelve. This man was as much a man of God at that time as any of the twelve, and yet, he gave up it all up for the sake of money. This example vividly tells that all one has with God can be lost if one does not continue to the end in the ways of The Lord.

The book of 1st Timothy has much compelling evidence of this heresy, displayed in the next eight verses, warning us what can happen when we are lax in our study of Scripture and depend mainly on church doctrine to tell us the correct way.

33) 1st Timothy 1:19. “Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”

34) 1st Timothy 2:15. “But women will be kept safe through childbirth, if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.”

35) 1st Timothy 3:9. “They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.”

36) 1st Timothy 4:1. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” The way things look, we are in that time frame at the present.

37) 1st Timothy 5:6. “But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead while she still lives.” I know several who live just to have a good time.

38) 1st Timothy 5:15. "Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan."

39) 1st Timothy 6:10. “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

40) 1st Timothy 6:21. “Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.”

41) Matthew 24:10-13. “At that time many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. . . . Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Who said Christians/disciples can’t unknowingly turn away from the faith, once they have been saved?

42) Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ The second is like it; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” To be obedient toit these commands is a lifetime challenge which will continually affect one’s complete life. There can be no slacking off; Godly love is that demanding. These two commands hold up all that is taught in the complete New Testament. There is no Christian life without an active obedience to these two most important commands. There can be no higher goal. We will be continually aiming for perfection. This paragraph displays Christianity at its best.

43) Philemon 1:6. “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” When certain people who claim to be Christians are not sharing their faith, it is clear evidence of only one thing: They have little or nothing of spiritual value to share with those without Christ. This is an unpopular axiom, but nevertheless is true. Think about the depth of this unspoken though common-sense principle.

If you know any people, family members or friends, who are caught up in this “once saved, always saved” heresy, please—for their sake and yours—tell them about this Biblical blog. If your parents or whoever do not have access to the Internet, send me an email requesting a copy of this post. I will email it back to you the same day. This could be the most important good deed you will ever do in your life: hopefully showing someone or many a way of freeing themselves from the clutches of the great deceiver. May God bless you and yours. JC

Friday, April 11, 2008

# 245: Contentment

Living a contented life is what most of us seek. And that is understandable. However, though we may not be aware of it, real contentment can become an elusive butterfly. Several of the New Testament writers tell us to be content with what we have. Well, that won’t fly with most of us in our modern society. We like to keep up with the Joneses, often without being conscious of it.

The main commodity that can give us contentment, generally, is some sort of security against future needs, even though there are many material things and activities that can give us some degree of less permanent/transient contentment.

When people find contentment, regardless of where it stems from, they have the most sought-after feeling of satisfaction in the world. Actually, it is priceless, as it were. Contentment is the one thing that can delete most, if not all, disagreeable and stressful situations. But being content can have a negative side. For instance, some may be so engrossed with contentment due to having financial security that; they unknowingly may neglect their physical or mental health. Once physical health, etc. is jeopardized, all else will go downhill.

Also, contentment which is derived from the basic principles of this world is detrimental to one’s spiritual health. How so? In most civilized countries, life is extremely easy in comparison to how tough life was 2,000 years ago. We now have countless conveniences which make life just about effortless, even though most of us take them for granted. Even in bad conditions, this easy life in America gives us a degree of contentment which makes spiritual values not as important as they were meant to be.

These various degrees of physical contentment which most of us have are destroyers of faith and love, which are required in the Christian life. What I mean is, the more worldly contentment, the less faith and Godly love. That seems to say that the, contentment the material world gives is an enemy of God, whereas contentment in spiritual matters builds up the necessary faith and love for God and neighbor.

If the aforementioned is true, and it is, that would dispel the age-old argument concerning how beneficial wealth can be for the cause of Jesus Christ. Regardless of how much anyone defends their wealth as being a blessing from God, it cannot stand up to the Godly argument that wealth gives them security for the future. And that security is the very thing that steals (does not allow) the security and trust in God, other than with empty words. Throughout the New Testament, wealth is condemned, because wealth makes it impossible for anyone to put all their eggs (whatever is highly valued by humanity) in God’s basket. And one of the reasons is that the contentment and security wealth gives stand in anyone’s way from desiring the contentment and eternal security God alone gives, thus compromising their devotion to God.

Here is where the problem starts: In this world, it is stressed that everyone should get an education, even a higher education, so that they will get a good-paying job and not have to get menial employment, or depend on handouts from government and others. And that is understandable. But the drawback is that with this college education, young people will get higher-paying jobs that will give them contentment. Therefore, this basic principle of modern life is at odds with the way of faith and love in God. That is the paradox that makes faith, love and obedience miserably weak in the lives of the majority of Christians. This principle also is included in my life, even though my major contentment comes from knowing Jesus Christ and what He has waiting for all who love and obey Him. I truly believe that our modern life—which, to a large degree, replaces a need for God—is one of the reasons why the faith of many is either nonexistent or so puny in that it has no effect on how we live and believe.

This is a sad situation for us who have so much in this modern world which gives us contentment, thus making our spiritual life empty of any meaning that brings Christ to life through how we live. Is there an answer to this oxymoron? I usually am given the answer to most difficult situations by Christ’s Spirit, but to this one there is no apparent logical answer, other than the Biblical answer that seems totally unreasonable, and that is to sell whatever that gives us contentment and is highly valued, then give it to the poor.

For Christians to strive for that type of life would be to turn the basic principle of life upside down. That basic principle is to get all we can, while we can, in whatever way we can, so we can live a comfortable life which gives us contentment and security.

This fact tells me that modern religion is an illusion of holiness which may disqualify us for the prize. I wish I never started writing this post. It is so pessimistic. The question comes up: Could we have worldly contentment and still have contentment in our spiritual lives? I am certain the answer is yes, but it would be a comprised contentment. For when God has to compete with worldly niceties/conveniences, guess what? The world usually wins. The problem is this: If those who think they have spiritual contentment and at the same time are not making every effort to be obedient to all that the New Testament commands, their contentment is resting on a false and demonic premise.

I can guarantee no one will ever find another blog or website on the Internet as truthful as this Biblical blog. This blog tells of many difficult situations we will encounter in our quest to please God in every way possible, which most churches don’t dare preach. And quite often the truth gets us where it hurts, and this post is one of them. To avoid telling the truth is not the answer. In this situation, I don’t know what to say, since I may be, in a way, in the same situation as the majority of conventional Christians, although I am far from conventional.

You see, God commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This type of devotion that God commands allows no compromise. Denying that truth is not a way to heaven. But if I didn’t write it, I would be a hypocrite. And God can accuse me of many crimes against Him, but not being a hypocrite.

I am sure many of us can manage to wiggle our way out of this disagreeable situation by telling ourselves how good and holy we are, and I am certain there are a few who are good and holy.

The only thing I can hope and pray for is that the world situation changes so that we won’t have life so easy, and thus will be able to get our contentment exclusively from all that God gives through Christ. The way things seem to be heading, that type of world might not be so far off. I do know God is in control, although it may not seem that way most of the time. And if our worldly contentment is standing in the way of His purpose, hopefully He will make things happen in our favor, regardless of how much it hurts.

----------------------------------------------------------------- This next short section is an email I received and my response; I thought it would be informative to many readers.

Keith wrote:

Your frequent references to god suggest that you have access to the supernatural world. I am more than a wee bit skeptical. It would be helpful if you would identify the specific god you are writing about.....there are at least 190 gods.

> Page 11/ Jesus was a perfect man.

> He flunked botany by cursing the fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season.

------------------------------------------------------ Keith, thanks for your criticism. You seem to be correct concerning Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, I have diligently studied and still continue to study the New Testament. There are many, many errors and contradictions in this ancient book. The writers were not perfect, and some of those whose hands it went through might have had nefarious motives to discredit its accuracy. It is a crying shame that many Christian denominations claim that holy book to be inerrant. Above and beyond all the contradictions, the main message is true and holy. That message is a message of love for each other and for Jehovah God. He is the only true God. Also, don't forget, there were no spell-check, proof-reading or other means of correcting mistakes 2,000 years ago. If anyone is looking for the correct way to live, they must be content with the holiness and love of God, mistakes and all, as presented by the Christian Bible. There is nothing better. JC

Monday, April 07, 2008

# 244: A Faint Glimpse into Eternity

Has anyone ever noticed that not much, if anything, is mentioned in the New Testament as to what eternity in heaven will be like? The reason could be that heaven’s enormity and complexity would seem almost unbelievable to us earthlings. Interestingly, there are several subtle clues which can help us understand the greatness of eternity, even though the Apostle Paul does tell us of its grandeur, in 1st Corinthians 2:9: "However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.’"

Basically, this post will take us into the outer limits of belief; belief that can easily satisfy the cravings of any inquisitive, spiritual thinker; and at the same time, this post will be the most novel to date.

According to our laws of physics, a physical object, regardless of its size, cannot create itself out of nothing, as we understand the word “nothing.” This is a basic law that has never been, and can never be, violated.

Therefore, our gigantic physical universe as we know it could not have created itself out of something physical, be it an unknown force, energy, any other physical whatever, or even a densely packed, extremely minute object, as many physicists, astronomers, etc. would have us believe. Although they all may deny it, their hypotheses as to the genesis of the universe—their Big Bang theory—violate the most basic of all the laws of physics.

That blatantly tells us there must have been a limitless metaphysical force to which physical matter is subservient. That limitless metaphysical force must have been what we call the spiritual realm, or more rightly, God’s domain.

Does that extremely simple explanation make any sense as to the genesis of our universe, which has no boundaries, such as time, space, distance, size, etc.? Or is the aforementioned exegesis a nonsensical theory made up by nonscientific religious morons—as we are called—who rely on one archaic book (the Bible) to guide us through life, because we can’t make it through the hard knocks and hurdles of life without depending on an invisible crutch we call Almighty God?

Interestingly, the next question that comes to mind is, Why did this Godly force create the universe? Was there a specific plan and reason for this vast, limitless creation? Or was the universe made for no special rhyme or reason, except—as some religious people believe—to facilitate the only planet (earth) that is capable of sustaining intelligent life? If that religious theory is true, that would be a most nonsensical/assured action, to create a universe that has approximately 200 billion galaxies, according to our latest technology of peering into space, not to mention the approximately 50 billion solar systems in our own Milky Way galaxy alone, and all of that just for planet earth.

Here is a better example. Imagine this: If the size (infinity) of the complete universe could be scaled down, our gigantic Milky Way galaxy might be seen as less than a faint dot on that scale, if even that. Repeating, all that for just one planet (earth) in our galaxy. Absolute stupidity! This above example should be a wake-up call to all the people who believe that we humans are the only intelligent beings in the universe. Come on now; put some common-sense logic in your religion and give Christ a break.

Let us put some Godly reasoning into the reason for the vastness of our—I say, infinite—universe. With an infinite number of galaxies made up of solar systems which, most likely, have planets circling their particular suns, there would also be an infinite number of planets that could possibly have an environment with the ability to sustain life. The reason I use the term “infinite” is because since God is eternal/infinite, it seems logical that His creation would also be endless. I think I made my point. If anyone can poke any holes in my hypothesis, please let us all know by leaving a comment.

There is much said throughout the Bible about angels (holy angels of God, and evil angels belonging to the devil). Matthew 25:41. "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." We are told some angels are powerful, as in 2nd Thessalonians 1:7. "This will happen when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels." Some are human helpers—even though this verse uses the word “all” in Hebrews 1:14. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Also in Acts 12:14-15. When Peter was released from jail by an angel, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of James, and knocked on her door. "When she [Rhoda] recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door.’ ‘You’re out of your mind,’ they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, ‘It must be his angel.’" That verse illustrates the belief that God’s people have guardian angels. Regardless, it sounds like the angels have different powers, abilities and duties with a variety of tasks.

I am certain some will ask where these angels came from. The answer is simple. They came from another/other planet or planets after they finished their duties of helping God in teaching, judging and saving intelligent beings, along with sending the unbelievers, hypocrites, and the unholy, etc. into hell. Mark this: The intelligent life in other worlds, most likely has no physical similarities to us humans, except the spiritual ability to love God and be Godlike in their beliefs and actions toward each other.

Now, getting back to the reality of Earth, we know there will be many considered worthy to enter heaven with God, Christ and all their holy ones, even though Scripture says in Matthew 22:14, "For many are invited (called) but few are chosen." The question of all ages is, What will these holy ones be doing in heaven for all eternity?

Clue: In Matthew 18:4, Jesus says, "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." There are several more verses which teach essentially the same principle. These verses are emphatically teaching that there will be different classes of saints in heaven. Those who were truly humble and did the most for the cause of Christ will have higher positions, while those who got to heaven just by the skin of their teeth, as it were, will have the lesser positions. And that is understandable.

Clue: Here is a Biblical example: Luke 19:16-19. "The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’" Those cities could just as easily imply planets.

Again, the question comes up: What will we, God’s chosen, do in heaven for all eternity? At this time, these are my own inspired thoughts: Since it is spiritual logic that there are or will be an infinite number of worlds/planets throughout the universe which can/will be able to sustain life, there will be a need for God to create, govern and instruct those alien beings via the process of God-guided evolution until they get to the point when they have the ability to love and believe in an invisible, all-loving God. These planets are where we will be sent, via instant travel, as Gods and angels. Clue: 2nd Peter 3:13. "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." Also, Revelation 21:1. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away . . ." Also, to give us the confidence that will be needed, we will acquire the foreknowledge of all that will happen in the entire future of our personal planets. This paragraph may need to be read a second time.

Of course, God/ Gods will need helpers on these planets; that is where other, lesser saints will be sent by the thousands/millions or more to act as angels and messengers, etc. Some might say at this time, "You mean we will be Gods and angels." “Excuse me, I say, what’s wrong with that?" Clues: If the Scripture says we are gods with a lower case “g”, when made perfect, what is wrong with using an uppercase “G”? John 10:34. "Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I have said you are gods"?’” Also, concerning angels, Matthew 22:30 says, "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven."

At this time, some might be thinking, "Why wasn’t this information given to us in the Bible?" The answer is simple: If God tried to teach His saints two thousand years ago—who believed the earth was flat, that the stars were just small lights hovering in the night sky—how large the universe was with all its galaxies, and that the earth was a round ball floating in space, along with the laws of gravity, it would have been impossible and would have confused everyone, thinking that God was an unreasoning aberration and would have nothing to do with Christ. It could be that even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, didn’t know these facts.

Since God is one, no matter where we go as a God, God will still be one as He continually fills the universe with Himself through the lives of His holy ones. Clue: Also concerning God filling the universe, check Ephesians 4:10. "He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the universe."

Honestly, could there be a higher calling? Absolutely not! This process will go on and on; God will continue to expand for all eternity where time does not exist, and still maintain all His God-type qualities, characteristics and virtues, while sharing them with His offspring. Even the word “eternity” is not sufficient where time does not exist. The way God expands through the lives of His holy ones, while they continue to maintain all His qualities, could be compared to an enlarged version of how a single bacterium divides billions, even trillions, of times, and its offspring still preserve all the parent’s original traits.

I know this is a completely radical theory to believe, but tell me the truth: Is there anything offensive or demeaning about it? In fact, this type of future for God’s people—eventually dominating all the planets in the universe where those we now call aliens will be able to believe in God—may be just the incentive for nonbelievers to change their ways and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. This theory may have more reality to it than eternity being a place where we will float around on clouds—as it is sometimes depicted—bored with nothing constructive to do. Thus, being a God or even a powerful angel for eternity, with specific duties, is by all means the most meaningful and grandeur of any existence.

Remember, only God knows what is best and the most satisfying for us. The nice thing about this type of existence is that we will always know the outcome. We will have control of all situations and will always have the last say.

Now our opening verse may sound more realistic. Clue: 1st Corinthians 2:9: "However, it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him—but God [at this time] has revealed it to us by his Spirit.’" I pray God will bless all who read this post and take it to heart.