(September 20, 2016 at 11:19 am)mh.brewer Wrote:(September 20, 2016 at 9:48 am)Drich Wrote: ... and if one does not fear those things? Do you assume that their can be no other motivation?
I don't fear any of those things, and never considered any of them to ever be a motivating factor for what I believe. Truthfully there is only one Denomination that depends heavily on fear, and if you are not taught to fear few do. Rather We are all designed for a purpose and to find and full fill that purpose far outweighs any fear based motivation. Now some think they have found their purpose in work, family, the accumulation of things, or in substance abuse/drugs etc... But truthfully, nothing compares to playing out the role God has set up for you. There is a completeness and a sense of contentment In finding God and knowing beyond all doubt that he is with you in your day to day.
I do not follow God because I fear hell or being alone. I follow because I am made whole, and simply do not want to be 1/2 of what I am with Him.
Fear that you can't be your own guiding force. Fear that you can't be happy on your own. Fear of not having a leader.
But, I was on my own for more than 1/2 my life. I didn't fear it. I just found myself being happier not on my own. when I was on my own I set out to accumulate everything i wanted and got most of it. However after I got what i wanted i found it was never enough. I always wanted more had to have the I phone 7, and when I got it I wanted to know when the 7s was going to be released. I was never content, never happy. While one has to have some what of a strong driving for to cut his own path in life, I (with God) simply know a contentment I never knew before. I know level of joy and happiness that I did not think was possible. Not that I did not experience these things on my own, but the difference I'm trying to explain is the difference between watching black and white tv show of the grand canyon, and being there surrounded by the canyon, seeing it smelling the air, hearing all the little subttal things you would miss.
Saying I fear being without God is the same as saying I fear returning home to my black and white TV. It is foolishness because I no sooner fear returning to my life from a vacation. why? because I am still me and especially after this experience I know I can still experience contentment whether or not I get to experience things like the grand can again or not.
-But, here's the thing..
It's my choice whether or not I return to my black and white TV or If I get to spend the rest of my life experiencing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. on the level I currently do or not.
For me I simply do not want to live a live devoid of what God has shown me because He has ALWAYS given the things that are Best for me even if I would not choose them at first for myself. Never (in this last 20+ years) once have I looked back and said, man i wish I this would have worked out my way.
Can you imagine coming out better in the end in every single instance that what you had planned for yourself? So why then spend a life time trying to figure out what is best when you can literally spend a life doing what you were designed to do.
