I've seen that perspective too... I spent 6 weeks straight in India two or three years ago and 2 weeks straight in the Philippines this year, so I do understand people needing that hope. I also understand that our strongest "Apostolic" generation came through the depression and WWII so they were looking for hope as well.
Maybe God does more for people who have less... that would be understanding to me... Blessed are the Poor for theirs is the Kingdom of God..
Maybe some are not "sure" which way they would be going?
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Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
I want to go to heaven and I'm looking forward to it; but I don't want to die first. I'd rather wait until the Lord returns. That is because I want to finish raising my children - I don't want to die while they're young. Nor do I want them to die; although all three of my kids tell me that they can't wait until they get to heaven.
I guess I'm looking forward to Jesus returning for us. Heaven sounds wonderful - dying does not... it would bring pain to my kids (and husband, but I worry more about my young kids).
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Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
1Pe 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Maybe some are not "sure" which way they would be going?
Bingo! Nobody can convince me, no matter how loudly they say it, that they are truly 100% sure that they are going to Heaven when they die. Nobody! How can they be? For one thing, there is so much argument about how to get there, that nobody can be sure that they have the right answer, and all the other answers are wrong. For another thing, they cannot see their future with 100% accuracy. Some people backslide. Even some people who thought they never would.
Even then, supposing you won't actually backslide (per se), and supposing you do know the right formula: how do you know you correctly followed every single step in your formula? Maybe your repentance wasn't 100% genuine. Maybe your faith wasn't quite up to snuff (is it always strong enough to work for other things, like healing, e.g.?) Maybe you slipped up somewhere, without even knowing it. Maybe when you were baptized, you weren't completely immersed! (You don't want to leave your left hand behind, do ya?) There are so many things that could have gone wrong!
You scared yet?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Bingo! Nobody can convince me, no matter how loudly they say it, that they are truly 100% sure that they are going to Heaven when they die. Nobody! How can they be? For one thing, there is so much argument about how to get there, that nobody can be sure that they have the right answer, and all the other answers are wrong. For another thing, they cannot see their future with 100% accuracy. Some people backslide. Even some people who thought they never would.
Even then, supposing you won't actually backslide (per se), and supposing you do know the right formula: how do you know you correctly followed every single step in your formula? Maybe your repentance wasn't 100% genuine. Maybe your faith wasn't quite up to snuff (is it always strong enough to work for other things, like healing, e.g.?) Maybe you slipped up somewhere, without even knowing it. Maybe when you were baptized, you weren't completely immersed! (You don't want to leave your left hand behind, do ya?) There are so many things that could have gone wrong!
You scared yet?
Nope! Not at all.
__________________
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
1Pe 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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