seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Good morning. I read the commentary this morning but I'm not posting any of it here. These verses are preached so much it doesn't seem necessary.Do you think bugs go to Heaven? Do you think ants have a special place at the table? Do you think dinosaurs will roam Heaven? What about ducks or fish? Do you think the translucent river that winds through Heaven is stocked with Rainbow Trout who play tag with the ducks to gather there? What about slugs... are those gooey ugly seemingly useless slugs going to Heaven? Do you think slugs have a particular path they have to slither to be picked to go to Heaven?
What makes humans so special? Why us?
In the Bible we read that we are created in His Image. So, does God like us because we look like Him?
Humans are nasty. They hump whomever they choose. They bite without warning or cause. Humans dominate. Humans are cunning, and God gave humans the ability to choose doing right from wrong.
If an ant crawls up your leg and bites the fire out of you.... it's not something the ant decided to do... they don't have the gene that allows them to choose to be a biting bum.... They just do what comes naturally. Ants run on instinct.
Slugs don't decide to slither up the side of the building because it looks so slick. Slugs go where nature takes them. Slugs run on instinct.
Do you think the trout "decided" to follow Jesus and got to play in that translucent river? Did the ducks use a rocket to get to the riverside in Heaven?
What makes humans so special? Why us?
Humans "choose". God gave us the ability to make up our own mind.
If an animal attacks... it's instinct. If a human attacks... it's choice.
Humans can decide to do what is right.... and a lot of the time they get it right. On the other hand, humans can decide that they don't really care what is right or what is wrong... They want more of everything. Some of the time they are lucky and doing it wrong doesn't hurt too many. Watching what choices we make must give God some enjoyment. It must be like watching a human game of Plinko.
God knew what kind of trouble "choice" could cause, but He decided to give humans a brain that knows choice. It made humans more interesting.
Those of us who choose God... get Heaven. Those who do not choose God... don't.
Why us? Because we can choose Him!
Will you choose right?
