Hi there,
So this is a simple truth which was discovered by someone, which helps keep our walk in the faith in perspective. The truth is, that when we are conceived, God examines us. We don't immediately have a full grown heart, but God examines what will become our heart. This is something that God keeps doing, throughout our life. What changes is that God examines us more and more deeply.
When we believe then, it is no longer a question of the flesh, only; God desires to examine our soul. To examine our soul, because of our belief, God must examine us more deeply. 1 John talks about how we can know that we love God, that it is evidenced in our obedience - this is true - what is interesting about this (in context with being examined) is that God becomes interested in a specific kind of obedience. If we have believed, our obedience will preferably reflect our belief. Once God examines us, God knows what sort of obedience to expect.
The power of this - examination - is that when we die and go to face judgment, God examines us more deeply again. This is the pattern - that as our Creation reaches important milestones, God addresses the need of our relationship to Him, to navigate the choices associated with those milestones. In Heaven, our choices and decisions matter more. God does not just take our faith from this life, and change it in the next, no, He draws us through the experience we have had, at the start of life, at the embrace of life, at the challenge of life, to mould us into something (someone) that is truly His Creation.
So if you have had a bad start to life, or you have questioned your belief in this life, take heart - God is not finished with you yet. Even if you stumble at belief, God will not visit your sins on you, while you are still trying to work it out. There is power in this, because there is room to confess, while the pressure is still not as great as it could be. Life in eternity is hard, especially when you are not ready for it - that is part of the purpose behind putting these things together. Be encouraged, everyone passes the tests associated with being examined, differently; what we are called to do, is be faithful to God, whatever His conclusions about us are.
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
So this is a simple truth which was discovered by someone, which helps keep our walk in the faith in perspective. The truth is, that when we are conceived, God examines us. We don't immediately have a full grown heart, but God examines what will become our heart. This is something that God keeps doing, throughout our life. What changes is that God examines us more and more deeply.
When we believe then, it is no longer a question of the flesh, only; God desires to examine our soul. To examine our soul, because of our belief, God must examine us more deeply. 1 John talks about how we can know that we love God, that it is evidenced in our obedience - this is true - what is interesting about this (in context with being examined) is that God becomes interested in a specific kind of obedience. If we have believed, our obedience will preferably reflect our belief. Once God examines us, God knows what sort of obedience to expect.
The power of this - examination - is that when we die and go to face judgment, God examines us more deeply again. This is the pattern - that as our Creation reaches important milestones, God addresses the need of our relationship to Him, to navigate the choices associated with those milestones. In Heaven, our choices and decisions matter more. God does not just take our faith from this life, and change it in the next, no, He draws us through the experience we have had, at the start of life, at the embrace of life, at the challenge of life, to mould us into something (someone) that is truly His Creation.
So if you have had a bad start to life, or you have questioned your belief in this life, take heart - God is not finished with you yet. Even if you stumble at belief, God will not visit your sins on you, while you are still trying to work it out. There is power in this, because there is room to confess, while the pressure is still not as great as it could be. Life in eternity is hard, especially when you are not ready for it - that is part of the purpose behind putting these things together. Be encouraged, everyone passes the tests associated with being examined, differently; what we are called to do, is be faithful to God, whatever His conclusions about us are.
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
