I don't know what will happen after I die, so I will make the years I have the best I can.
I don't know what will happen after I die, so I will make the years I have the best I can.
"We walk by faith, not by sight" is often heard.Quote by: zynner
"long-term happiness"? You mean the 100+ years I have the potential of living here in this flesh, with many of those years being as a person incapable of getting around on my own and what have you?It is just made up stuff that you have made a choice to believe. And you do that because you think it will give you long-term happiness, which is my point.
Christians do not live for the flesh. When we get baptized we die. We are dieing to the flesh and seeking a life of spiritual fulfillment to serve God, who is Jesus Christ. We are no longer living our own lives. We have chosen a path whereby we voluntarily lay down our lives and follow His teachings.
Long-term happiness has a much longer-term ramification than nonbelievers realize. We are here but for a tick of the clock. What we do, all we gain, all we achieve, here in the Earth, all of it will pass away. There is nothing which will last here on Earth. Everything disintegrates and fades over time.We both have the same goal: a life long-term happiness. We just choose different paths.
The long-term goal of happiness is exactly what Christians (true Christians) are seeking. We want a life lived with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We want to never want for anything. We want to drink from the living waters and to never age or see decay.
What we are after is nothing short of the ultimate goal of everyone here on Earth (who is a nonbeliever) is seeking, that of eternal life without any enemies, without any pain, without ever growing old or weary. It is promised to us in the Bible and we have chosen to lay down our flesh and blood lives for this tick of the clock and, instead, turn toward the hope that Jesus Christ has offered us.
We walk by faith, not by sight. And we do so because we believe.
I am not trying to please my God, per se. I am trying to live the life He has commanded to us in the Bible. He has given us a "recipe" (if you will) on how to survive this life of sin and how to bypass what the Bible calls "the second death" where all nonbelievers will be cast into Hell. The Bible teaches that this "recipe" will insure that if it is followed precisely, eternal life will be ours. And, as a reinforcement to that "faith walk" of following the recipe, there is an internal feeling beyond description which comes over a believer as they are doing good works. It is a glimpse of what will come.
If you boil down the root of your arguments here you are suggesting that you know better than God, that your life should be lived the way you see fit and not the way God has commanded. You are denying the wisdom and teachings of the Bible and putting your personal viewpoints ahead of those which have been laid out before you. The Bible sums this up in the following way: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."This is one of the primary problems with religion.
Shouldn't your life be for YOUR own benefit?
I think it should, since you are the one who must take the actions (or not) and you are really the only one who can benefit.
To deny God is to deny all that is around you. Science today cannot explain why the universe is here. Science today cannot explain how life works. Science today cannot even explain how electricity works, we can simply use it.
To accept the fact that it works, and that it is beautiful, and that it is flawless, is to recognize that it must be created by God. To look at a tree, or a bumble bee, or a hummingbird and not see God is to deny the largest component of reality which encompasses those objects. To look at those things and to see only the life before you, only the flesh-enabled understanding (through your mind) of what's there, and to then place your hopes of eventually mankind knowing that which you are not able to know today (because mankind has not yet figured it out) is to act upon a type of faith, albeit misguided.
God has given us a way out of our sin (that is to say, He has given us a way out of our flesh and all of the destructive characteristics which exist therein--stemming from pride mostly). He has offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for all we have done to Him. All we have to do to be able to receive His free gift is believe.
The life of a Christian is a most difficult life. We walk by faith, not by sight. We believe in things not seen, and we do so with vehemence and passion. We are placing our hopes on things this world would just as soon kick down a ravene if it were possible. We stand in the day and we stand in the night. We stand against the teachings of this world because the Bible teaches us that they are falsehoods. We stand upon the rock of God, that is His teachings and the sacrificial, atoning offer of Himself to us upon the cross wherein ALL works were completed.
No longer do we HAVE to do things to attempt to achieve salvation. Now we have a free pass through His grace. He will extend to us an offering of eternal life in paradise with Him if we believe. And that belief is not a transient one time meeting at the cross. It is a lifetime devoted to service and to doing acts like that which I am doing here, spreading the word and explaining in a way whereby I can reach nonbelievers and convey to them the better life that exists in Jesus Christ.
And that desire does not come from haughty places. I am not doing it to make myself feel better, although I do feel better being obedient to God's word (the Bible). The natural desire bubbles up now from within me. I believe, I read the Bible, I pray, I fast, I do many things which the Bible says will increase my faith, and in so doing I have a feeling deep from within which impels me naturally to seek after these acts. I enjoy doing it, though I often find myself at the pointy side of this world's rod.
Jesus Christ, which is truth, came into this world and the world received Him not. This world does not know Jesus Christ, hence its outright, blanket condemnation. However, because He came into the world we now have a hope. All we have to do is believe, and in order to believe, all we have to do is earnestly seek. Jesus has promised us that. All who seek (earnestly) will find, and all that find will be saved.
Again, I will pray for you. I have actually added you to my prayer list. And whether you are able to see it (or not), or will now choose to chastize me for my beliefs and actions (or not), know that the act I do for you is in line with God's word and is very powerful, according to his word (the Bible).
We (each of us individually) have the capability of achieving so much more than this world offers. What we see before us is a lie from top to bottom. What we read in the Bible is truth from top to bottom. The two are in conflict, but there is a component of your existence which is already in line with the truth. When we put on this flesh and blood suit (by being born) we distanced ourselves greatly from that component, our spirit. It is there and if we begin to align ourselves with the teachings of the Bible, then all will begin to operate as it was intended and a world will open up, one which seemed previously impossible.
A better life awaits for believers, despite all outward appearances to the contrary from a nonbeliever's point of view.
You owe it to yourself to find out. There are resources everywhere. Study all religions and every foundational principle the various people of the Earth stand upon and choose for yourself which one you will believe in or follow. And if you disagree with all of them, then make up your own. But be absolutely certain you are making the correct decision and are choosing truly.
The Bible teaches that if Jesus Christ be lifted up, then all men will be drawn unto Him. What does it mean to be lifted up? It's a metaphor explaining the act on the cross, but also it is the revelation in ones own mind about what His life meant, why we needed Him, what His truth is, why we are here, and all of the rest He has explained to us.
And why does this work? Simple, He created the system. He holds its keys. He knows a man. He knows a man's heart, and His way is the true way despite all "evidence" (which is really "appearance") to the contrary. The bottom line: you cannot come to the foot of the cross, look into His eyes, behold an understanding and walk away from Him without knowingly walking away from the truth. And if you choose to do so, you are choosing a life lived apart from God (apart from Jesus Christ), and that is the very definition of what it means to be "damned."
The life lived here in the flesh is not our final destiny and it is not all there is. The Bible describes us seeing things as "through a glass, darkly", meaning it's not close to what will be there in eternity. There is no doubt, there are rewards and riches and pleasures and reasons why it is desirable to seek after much here in the flesh. Sin feels good. Pleasure feels right. All of our flesh and blood senses tell us that we are okay. But all of it, all of it is transient, fleeting and it does not last. In the tick of a clock it will be over and there will be nothing left except our choices and the decisions we made as a result of those choices.
What Christians seek is an ever-lasting, forever-loving, never-wanting, always-caring life lived with Jesus Christ (which is to say, with "truth") forever, and therein lies the greater "prize".
Jesus Christ Rick Calm down!
I'm just a fool caught in the rat race of life (Nathan Struth)
please help me solve world hunger, It's hard to do it alone.
life has to matter to some extent but not too much. Don't take it too seriously.
WE are Life, and we are a part of that Life.
No idea what Life is all about.
(I PM you, in case I would have found it out.
But, do not tell that anybody : let them suffer :-) )
So life does matter to you, but reality scares you (especially death) so you made up a story to make you feel better. That's understandable.What Christians seek is an ever-lasting, forever-loving, never-wanting, always-caring life lived with Jesus Christ (which is to say, with "truth") forever, and therein lies the greater "prize".
The Forum Rules
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
[John F. Kennedy]
The principal value of debate lies in the development of logical thought processes, and the ability to articulate your positions publicly.
[Senator Dick Clark of Iowa]
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
[Terry Pratchett]
Completely ignoring Rick's blurb....
Well, with no God in mind, i still believe life "matters." The concept of mattering, if you think about it, is completely subject to the person: Your grandmother dieing matters to you (for the sake of argument) but doesnt matter to me. Life, on the other hand, is somewhat universal. So yeah, it matters to all humans because it concerns all humans. If you are relating it in comparison to the entire universe and whether we will make an effect on it, mehhhh it think not. But hey, thats just me.
But, then again, if you only care in relating us to the entire universe, you must at least think somewhat highely of humans if you have a yearning hope for them to be great among the cosmos. Thus, by default, you care about human s and thus life matters. That was a nice little loophole rested on the assumption that you are asking the question because you care about the outcome.
I opened a thread "Ultimate purpose of Life " sometime back which enjoyed lot of response from the members concluding peace of mind and satisfaction is the ultimate purpose of life. My answers to the questions posed are:
Yes, it matters to every living being!
It depends upon who lives or dies! But with the passage of time everything is forgotten, But as long as I am living a happy and satisfied life everything is fine in the world.Do you care what lives or dies in this world?
No we have not forgotten. We always strive to achieve peace of mind and satisfaction in life but due to our shortcomings we always remain short of ultimate satisfaction. Yes, my life means source of peace and happiness to me.Have we all forgot what we are here for? what do you think life was given to use for? Do you think your life means anything?
Yes, definitely life lasts for ever! No never, I think life continues ever after my death, which actually continues on and on as when any other person dies but life on earth goes on. Even, I too am attracted to my body so much so I get another body in some womb later on as reincarnation (hypothetically)Do you think life lasts for ever? Do you think life ends the day you die? If life does not end when you die, what do you think is next in your life?
Life is created purely due to my own desire of enjoying it. Life has many many definitions but to me life is source of enjoyment and pleasure. My aim is to enjoy it to the fullest, but not at the cost of other's happiness.what do you as a person think life was created for? What do you think life is?.
only when it's theirs.Does life realy matter to anybody?
if it dies before I do.Do you care what lives or dies in this world?
Assuming our being here has a definite and lasting resultHave we all forgot what we are here for?
God wanted a bigger antfarm.what do you think life was given to use for?
dictionary definition is 'to live'.Do you think your life means anything?
Nothing is forever except whatever/whoever began the concept of time.Do you think life lasts for ever?
Physical life yes.Do you think life ends the day you die?
Don't know, don't care. If it's what we are going to end up with anyway then there isn't any real point in knowing.If life does not end when you die, what do you think is next in your life
Life has always existed in some form (I believe)what do you as a person think life was created for?
'a series of unfortunate events' ;-)What do you think life is?
~communication is the problem to the answer~
Life is alot like an exam we must complete! When you are performing an exam in school do you really care about it? Of course you do!!! Its the same concept here, as a Muslim there are 2 parts to my religion, Worship, and Life. To be a complete Muslim I must complete the second half which is live my life to the absolute fullest, enjoy what is around me through the permission of God! Although, we can also say that when you would die life would obviously not matter, we are here for 80 years, we endure through so much humanitarian suffering and emotional distress so can we really say life matters when we die? I like to think that life is just the first part of existence, its the beginning of a complicated journey to wherever the will of God wants you to be.
"To fear death is an insult to life"
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