Hey Quest! I was in Sojo, session 6, and I had the most amazing week ever. I learned so much.
I was in Quest last year, and I've been posting on this blog for a while now...it's great to see some new people posting! Keep it up! Anyway, I've had a few questions here and there, most of them were related to my dad, who is an atheist.
Today he asked me why God "allows" suffering to exist in our world. He asks me this question constantly...but he never likes the answers I give him. I've asked this question so many times on here, but I thought I should post it again to see what all of the new people to Quest have to say. I would love to hear what you think.
When my dad asks me why God allows suffering, I say this:
If we lived in a perfect world, then there would be no need for God. But we live in a world full of sin and evil...and this sin and evil forces us to turn to something greater: God. We realize how much we truly need Him when we realize just how fallen our world is. Also, the world can't be perfect because only Heaven is perfect, and Heaven is not of this world. (Thanks to cameron and whitley for helping me with this answer...I definitely couldn't have thought of this myself.)
Well everytime I tell him this he doesn't understand it...today he brought up a new question. He said if we lived in a perfect world were there was no need for God, then why is God present in Heaven, if that is a "perfect world?" I tried to explain to him that Heaven can't be considered a "world" because it's really not of this world. But then he said I was contradicting myself, and he didn't get it.
Let me know what you think of all this! Or if you have a totally different explanation I'd love to hear it.
-Haley
The big difference between heaven and earth is this: Earth is where we come to God. This world full of trials and sin is where we put our faith in God. Not everyone on earth is saved. Heaven is our REWARD. It is what those who have put their faith in God have to look forward too. If there were no heaven, there would be no need for salvation,
ReplyDeleteBut in heaven, everyone has already trusted in God. They have already made that choice. All those in heaven have chosen God in an imperfect world, and their reward is to live with him in a perfect world.
So basically, there is suffering in the world so we have to CHOOSE God and faith, but there doesn't need to be suffering in heaven because everyone who goes to heaven has already CHOSEN to lean on God.
I hope this makes sence, and I encourage you to never give up talking with and praying for your dad.
Hey Haley! I just love how you are trying to help share the joy of Christ with your dad; it encourages me so much! Alright, i don't know if this will help at all, but here's one thing i thought of. Maybe your dad would appeal to the completely and utterly positive aspects of Heaven that are obvious and undeniable. SO here we go...:
ReplyDeletethe following are just good things about Heaven in general:
-God dwells there (1 Kings 8:30)
-Christ also dwells there, at God' right hand (Ephesians 1:20)
-Christ intercedes for us there (Heb, 9:24)
-Joy is there (Luke 15:7,10)
-comfort is there (Luke 16:22-25)
-Satan has been cast out (Rev. 12:7-9)
And here are some others, but... These things ONLY apply to believers, which may draw him in, i honestly don't know at all but here they are. Heaven is:
-Eternal (2 Corinthians 5:1)
-a place of eternal LIGHT (Rev. 22:5)
-the home of all righteousness (2 Peter 3:13)
-the place of harmony and unity (Isaiah 65:25)
-the place of eternal praise to God (Rev. 7:15)
-the place of exquisite beauty (Rev. 21:10-21)
-place of purity (Rev. 21:27)
-the place of the tree of life (Rev. 22:1-2)
Remember, the second group is exclusively for believers who will be there after death on Earth.
I hope at least part of this helps a little; to be honest I didn't exactly know how to go about looking for a response but i tried haha. Also, i REALLY REALLY like what Hannah said about Heaven being our reward. that is so true! I will be praying for you and your dad Haley; i know he can do amazing things just through prayer :)
All I have to say is that trials were made by God to make us stronger in Him. Love this story!
ReplyDeleteHaley all I can say is that you are So STRONG!! I love all of the answers that you gave your dad and I also like what Alexa and Hannah said. I'll be praying for God to give you the words to say to convince your dad that what you hold in your heart is 100 percent true. Love you girl!
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much! Hannah, I think what you said about Heaven being our reward is so awesome, and it all makes so much sense now...if we lived in a perfect world on earth, then there would be no need for God, but Heaven is a perfect place AND God is there because that's our reward for choosing and following God while we are on this imperfect earth right now. That's so cool. Alexa, what you said really helped too! I don't think my dad really understands what Heaven will be like since he doesn't believe in Heaven at all, but it will be really cool to share what you told me with him, and explain to him how we can only reach Heaven, our reward, if we come to know Christ on earth.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone! I loooooove hearing what you all have to say!