An Interesting Discussion

It's interesting to note what folks think about God. From what they think
He looks like, to how they think He reacts, many have differing ideas about
God. Of course, all we have to do is read His word and we will know what
He likes and what He dislikes. However, the following excerpt from a copy
of a text of the "Matt & B.A. in the morning" show on WKDD radio has some
merit to it. (Information provided by Harold Allen)

God smiled and said, "... What questions do you have to ask me?" "What
surprises you about mankind?" God answered: "That they get bored of being
children, are in a rush to grow up and then long to be children again. That
they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore
their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the
present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future. That
they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they never lived."

... then I asked ... "as a parent what are some of life's lessons you want
your children to learn?"

God replied with a smile: "To learn that they cannot make anyone love them.
What they can do is to let themselves be loved.  To learn that what is most
valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their
lives.  To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All
will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a
comparison basis!  To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the
most, but is one who needs the least.  To learn that it only takes a few
seconds to open wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to
heal them.  To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.  To learn that
there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to
express or show their feelings.  To learn that money can by everything but
happiness.  To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it
totally differently.  To learn that a true friend is someone who knows
everything about them ... and likes them anyway.  To learn that it is not
always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive
themselves ..."

As I said, there is a lot in here that is worth our consideration, but we
must be careful: this is a concept designed by men about what God thinks.

One such mistake the author of this "interview" makes is to contradict what
God says in His word about Love. Is it true that people can love us and not
show it? Consider the following two verses. "Hereby perceive we the love of
God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren." (1 John 3:16) "Open rebuke is better than secret love."
(Proverbs 27:5)  By these passages, God wants us to understand the importance
of communicating our love to others. Whether to brethren or family members,
there is no such thing as saying "I love you, but I just can't show it".  One
reading of 1 Corinthians 13 shows us that Love is alive. It is active, not
passive.

God showed His love for us by sacrificing His son. We know exactly how He
feels for us because He let us know. Don't fall for the idea that it is
possible to love people and not show it. True love is active love!  [JW]