Originally Posted by Allheart
Hi Sky,
Warm greetings, Allheart.
If I may ask, how long ago did you learn about God and what was it that you learned? The very first ideals about God and having him in your life.
Like you, it was as a baby that I can recall seeing Christian pictures on the walls of the house which I later recognized as being Jesus and His Holy Family and I was even younger than the little boy in the picture to the left of your posting who is praying. Indeed, even as a baby, I was taken to church by my mother. I recall the church music and choir which I liked to hear as it was very soothing and beautiful. No harsh tones but only loving, angelic music. I have incredible recollection, by the way, of when I was a baby. Some people seem to not remember those times but I do and can even recall drinking my baby formula and seeing my relatives come over to visit.
When I got a little older, I learned that God was the most important person in my life. That without Him, I would not be able to go to Heaven when I passed on. I learned that He came to this world to Save us through His great sacrifice of being nailed to the cross and that He died, but then Resurrected after the third day and appeared to His apostles and others and stayed with them for forty days and nights before ascending into Heaven. I also learned of the many miracles He did which no other person has ever been able to do. Things like feeding the thousands with just a few loaves of bread and a few fish; walking on the waters; healing the sick; driving out demons; and even raising the dead. These are just a few of the things that any other prophet or idol cannot do and has never done or could do. It is the Only Begotten Son of God Jesus Christ who can do these things and so much more! I knew then that I wanted Him in my life forever! Especially, after learning that I would be Saved by merely accepting Him as my Lord and Savior. That is indeed a very small price to pay (as far as time is concerned and physical capacity which it takes none) but the rewards in doing that are awesome and guarantee my Salvation which is what makes it all so worth while!
For me, it was probably as soon as I was born and my ears popped open. Follwing my faith and being a good Catholic ( and a good girl ) was my Mom's number 1 priority and it was her Mom's #1 priority. I am indebted to both my Mom and Grandma for the gift of faith. How fortuante I was. It was an understood part of my upbringing, just like learning to walk and talk, just was a part of me.
I am very happy to learn that they helped to instill the most wonderful and prized possession of all, Faith in God!
Some grow up the same way, and some don't. One I first learned about God, it was how he loved me and I guess I was fortuante that the lessons didn't rush to damnation.
Indeed, when one is with God and has accepted Him, they do not have to worry about damnation. It is when one does not know God or has no interest in knowing God and His word that Christian Believers try to help them by letting them know, early on, the consequences of not Believing. This is due to our Love for each and every person whom God has made because He desires that ALL be Saved-- and yes, He made the infidels and un-Believers and anti-Christians too whether they want to believe that or not! He is their Heavenly Father who wants them to return to Him professing their acceptance of Him as their true Father.
So for those who may just be learning, or already know, but for some reason have turned away, I would think it would be a harsh thrust to their chest to only hear, unless you accept Jesus Christ, you are going to hell. I had the benefit of loving Our Lord.
But please understand that telling them anything else by side-stepping this most important issue is literally worthless to their soul as nothing can help Save them except Jesus Christ in their life. This revelation should not come as such a tremendous shock to them, it should make them feel very happy that they will not need to suffer once they die if they accept Him into their life. So many passages alert us to the fact that we should Believe in Him. They do not force it upon us because we all have free will, but the words do guide us, like a kind shepherd, to walk with God as He is so good, and our Loving Father in Heaven who cares and Loves us and is quick to forgive us of sin if we come to Him with contrite heart and ask for forgiveness. Accepting Jesus should not be a hard thing for those who already feel Him in their heart without even knowing Him. They just know that is the right thing to do. For others, unfortunately, it may take longer to accept Him and still others never may. Those latter two are the ones who may need to learn more about Him in order to make the choice between having eternal Spiritual LIFE and being spiritually dead without God's Light and His eternal Love to rescue them.
You say you don't understand, because it is so easy. Yes, it is for you. You know Our Loving Lord, but there are those who don't and have a blind spot to it all.
There are none so blind as those who will not see. But they can be led to See the Light, thereby, being blind no more! In this country, especially, literally everyone has heard about Jesus Christ. Therefore, while they may not know enough about Him, they know of Him and what He stands for. That is a good start. The rest can be taught to them.
It would be like someone coming up to you, and asking you to trust and believe a perfect stranger whom you never have met before and trust no other.
Does that make any sense. I am not defending by no means. I am just explaining why it would be difficult for some.
Yes, I understand what you are trying to say. It is because people are not perfect that many have difficulties making the Right Decision in their life. The difference between believing a perfect stranger whom I have never met before and trusting no other, and Believing in Jesus is vast. A stranger is a mere human who could perhaps help me in some way if I needed help at the time. Therefore, he or she could become a friend during my time of need. But Jesus is a most powerful friend and He can do so much more than just help one in some way because He is our Heavenly Father. He can literally SAVE your soul and spirit so that you do not have to worry about suffering eternally when you pass on (just consider the ramifications of not Believing). And for those who don't believe they will suffer without accepting God, what if they were to find out differently when they die? What then? By then it is too late and God would not want to infringe on that person's free will choice to have not accepted Him in life, thus, they may well end up in the appropriate place completely devoid of God and His mercy, Love and Salvation. But then, that is what non-Believers surely prefer isn't it? Of course they do! They don't want God's Love or His Light, otherwise, they would make haste to become Believers since it costs nothing to Believe, thereby guaranteeing Salvation to their soul.
God can grant me things I pray for no matter how difficult they may be (and He has!), He can give me great Inspiration, Happiness, Joy, Freedom, Love, Confidence, Compassion, Peace, Hope, Healing, Lead me to the right path, and most important of all Save Me, and give me so many other virtues that a mere mortal could not. He has literally created miracles in my life I am most happy to say! That is why I could not completely believe in mortal men when I have God through Jesus Christ in my life. Man, if honorable, could help me in certain ways for a short while, but God will ALWAYS be there for me as close as my prayers! And He can give me so much MORE such as Salvation, the one thing that counts for so much in my life and especially in my Spiritual Life when I leave this world! Do you understand the importance of God in a person's life now?
I feel so blessed to have been taught at such a young age and the lessons never stopped and still don't. I shutter to think if Mom didn't give me that gift of faith. I'd have to feel my way around as an adult and we all know, it so much easier learning when we are younger.
Does any of this make sense?
Thank you.
