Do you believe in God? I suppose this may be the same question as does God exist? I have to admit that I have pessimistically questioned this at times in my life, but usually at times when it was easier or more convenient to do so. But the truth is that I guess I have always known in my heart that God exists, even if I didn’t know why. (This knowing is an important aspect of one’s spirituality and I will touch on it later.) So it wasn’t difficult for me to reason that God does exist; aside from the knowing, there are too many unexplained events and well documented miracles to attribute to anything else—there must be some universal energy that moves through and around us.
Just thinking out loud; how does our soul, or life force, or the stirring energy that generates our cells into creation function? Where does that energy that creates our personalities and emotions come from when before we are conceived, nothing exists? These types of questions are the types I’ve considered and in doing so proven to myself that there is a universal energy and we call that energy God.
So the thing about this thing called knowing; there are things that we are taught and then there are things that we just know. I recall hearing Dr. Wayne Dyer address it confirming that no one taught us, we didn’t see it anywhere; it is something that you just know. It’s like we’ve always known.
I have thought about my initial questions: “Do you believe in God?” and “Does God exist?” I can now see that there is a subtle difference in these questions. I know God exists, however do I believe in God? To do this would mean that I have faith in what God believes, what God stands for. This is a tall order and nearly impossible without faith and knowing to say the least. I choose to work at my faith and trust in my knowing. This is going to be a great journey.
God speed!
3 comments:
I just saw that you made this new blog, it looks to be an interesting read, if only to see how you look at the world. It seems to me that anytime anyone opens a debate on religion or faith online it just creates a bunch of pointless arguing and hurt feelings.
I just read my above comment... it comes across as more harsh than I meant it to be. What I mean is: don't be shocked when people online start arguing with you, I've seen it happen a million times. Glad you made the site.
Are you sure nothing exists of us before we are conceived? Let’s take a scriptural journey and find out, and it’s going to be a lengthy one. In Revelations we can read about a war in Heaven that happened before the world was created:
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9).
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born (Revelation 12:4)
And also in Jude:
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Jude 6).
And also in Isaiah of the Old Testament:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms? (Isaiah 14:12, 16).
These verses tell us that Satan and his followers were cast down to the earth and that they were formerly angels but failed to keep “their first estate,” (meaning they failed to be faithful in their pre-existent state to earn further rewards from our Heavenly Father) so they became devils; that Satan was just as much a man in the spirit world, as were those spirits (us) who have been given bodies through birth (our second estate, a reward earned through our faithfulness in our first, or pre-existent, estate) into this world.
The apostle Peter also understood this great truth:
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2 Peter 2:4).
Now let’s go to the book of Job and see one of the things we did in our pre-existent state. When God was speaking to Job, He gave Job to understand that “all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7), when the foundations of the earth were laid. These sons must have had the ability to understand, to shout, and experience joy, while yet only experiencing a spiritual existence.
THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:1-7)
The apostle Paul understood this principle and the fact that the Lord was acquainted with all the spirits of men before they dwelt upon the earth. Therefore, he could wisely and justly appoint “the bounds of their habitation” upon the earth.
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (Acts 17:26).
Now let’s consider that many leaders were chosen, such as prophets, before they were born to carry out a specific purpose in this mortal life. This thought gives purpose to life and indicates that the Lord chose His leaders from those that were strong and faithful. In essence, each prophet may have an appointed time to come upon the earth to perform the work or mission to which they have been called or assigned in the spirit world, as, for example, the prophet Jeremiah, who was chosen before he was born.
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:4-5).
Now let’s consider the antemortal calling and ordination of Jesus Christ.
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you… (1 Peter 1:19-20).
Here we read that Jesus was called and ordained before the foundation of the world. It was then that the gospel was prepared and accepted, even before man was placed upon the earth: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).
Here we have the reason why the gospel is called “the everlasting gospel” (see Revelation 14:6): because it was prepared “before the world began.” This is also the reason we read of “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (See Revelation 13:8.) Not that Jesus was actually “slain from the foundation of the world,” but in the gospel plan then prepared, this was a part of the plan; and when Jesus plan was accepted and Lucifer’s plan was rejected, he freely offered himself to be slain.
Now let’s consider the fact that Christ was the creator of this world before he was born in the flesh.
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5, 9-10,14)
It is difficult for us to realize that when the Only Begotten of the Father took upon himself a body of flesh and bones, notwithstanding the fact that he was the creator of this world, he had to learn to walk and talk as do all other children who are born into this world. This is no doubt what Paul had in mind when he said:
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-12).
When we are born into this world, we only have a vague recollection of our preexistent life. By the inspiration of the Spirit “we see through a glass darkly” and we “know in part.” Ultimately our previous knowledge will be restored to us, when that which is perfect comes, and then we shall know even as also we are known. Here we have the reason why the world did not recognize Jesus when he came in the flesh: “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” (John 1:10).
Ultimately the veil of darkness, or forgetfulness, which deprives us of the recollection of our existence in the spirit world before this earth was made and of the acquaintances we had there, will be lifted. Then we will see as we are seen and know as we are known and as we were known before earth life. This experience came to Jesus while yet in the flesh. At the age of twelve he was reasoning with the doctors in the temple when Joseph and Mary found him:
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:51-52.)
We should remember that before Jesus was born he created this world. Had he brought with him the knowledge and wisdom he had then, it would have been impossible for him to increase in wisdom. Yet God added unto him as he increased in years, and removed the veil of darkness that hid from him a recollection of his experiences in the spirit world:
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was (John 17:4-5).
He sought no reward for his work in this world except the place of glory he had with the Father “before the world was.”
With the knowledge of his experiences in the spirit world restored, Jesus recalled seeing “Satan as lightening fall from heaven.” (See Luke 10:18).
It should be remembered that Satan and his angels, when cast down to this earth, were not deprived of the knowledge they had while in the spirit world because they did not take upon themselves bodies of flesh and blood. Therefore they seek to possess the bodies of those who “kept their first estate” and who are privileged to come upon the earth and take upon themselves bodies.
Consider the experience Jesus had with the man possessed by unclean spirits, whom no man could bind with chains:
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. (Mark 5:6-9)
We learn from this that the unclean spirits needed no introduction to Jesus. They knew him and they called him by name: “Jesus, thou Son of the most high God.”
Because the spirits cast out of heaven with Satan have retained their knowledge and recollection of what happened there before they were cast out, they knew Jesus and the power given to him. Therefore, they not only obey his commands, but the commands of those sent by him, who bear his priesthood; for instance, the seventy whom Jesus sent into every land whither he himself should come: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” (Luke 10:17)
It is because of this knowledge and acquaintance that these spirits brought with them that they moved upon Herod to issue an order that all children “from two years old and under’ should be slain (see Matthew 2:16). Jesus had done nothing to justify such an order being issued, since he was yet only an infant in the flesh. However, Satan knew what his mission was to be, and from the day of his birth he sought in every possible manner to prevent him from its accomplishment.
The same is true for all of us. Satan knows us from our preexistence and knows how noble and faithful we were when we were there, and what our callings in this life should be, so he seeks to destroy our efforts in accomplishing what God has sent us here to do. God is with us always and will strengthen us against the powers and temptations of Satan if we will only to turn to Him and be willing to follow Him.
So we can see that we all led very eventful lives as spirit children of our Father in heaven, and we grew spiritually and developed our personalities long before we ever arrived on this earth, and our spiritual growth can and should continue while we are on this earth, but we all have our free agency and Satan does persuade many of us to stray from the path we began so long ago.
God bless us all.
Daisy
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