Post by The Ambassador on Aug 25, 2019 0:09:42 GMT
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GOD
Chapter One
SECTION I:
IS GOD UNCARING AND HARD-HEARTED?
Many people think that the answer to that question is yes. ‘If God cared,’ they reason, would not the world be a very different place?’ We look around and see a world full of war, hatred, and misery.
And as individuals, we get sick, we suffer, we lose loved ones in death. Thus, many say, ‘If God cared about us and our problems, would he not prevent such things from happening?’
READ any newspaper. Look at television, or listen to the radio. There are so many stories of crime, war, and terrorism! Think about your own troubles. Perhaps illness or the death of a loved one is causing you great distress.
You may feel like the good man Job, who said that he was “filled with dishonor and affliction.”—Job 10:15.
Ask yourself:
- Is this what God purposed for me and for the rest of mankind?
- Where can I find help to cope with my problems?
- Is there any hope that we will ever see peace on the earth?
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT GOD WILL BRING ABOUT THESE CHANGES ON THE EARTH.
“He will wipe out every tear from their
eyes, and death will be no more, neither
will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any
more.”—Revelation 21:4
“The lame will leap like the
deer.”—Isaiah 35:6
“The eyes of the blind will be
opened.”—Isaiah 35:5
“All those in the memorial tombs will . . .
come out.”—John 5:28, 29
“No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’
”—Isaiah 33:24
“There will be an abundance of grain on
the earth.”—Psalm 72:16
God has not stopped humans when they have chosen to pursue a bad course, but he is not the cause of the problems that have resulted. —Luke 15:11-13
For example, think about a wise and loving father with a grown son who is still living at home with his parents. When the son becomes rebellious and decides to leave home, his father does not stop him. The son pursues a bad way of life and gets into trouble. Is the father
the cause of his son’s problems? No.
(Luke 15:11-13)
Similarly, God has not stopped humans when they have chosen to pursue a bad course, but he is not the cause of the problems that have resulted. Surely, then, it would be unfair to blame God for all the troubles of mankind.
HOW DOES GOD FEEL ABOUT INJUSTICES
WE FACE?
justice.” (Psalm 37:28)
God has not changed. (Malach
3:6, 1 Peter 5:7) The Bible says that God’s “heart was
saddened” when badness filled the world
in times past. (Genesis 6:5, 6)
SECTION II:
WHO IS GOD?
The Bible teaches that God has manytitles. “God” and “Lord” are among them. However, the Bible also teaches that God has a personal name: In Hebrew it is יְהוָֹה ( Jehovah in English).
Psalm 83:18 says: “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (KJV)
CAN YOU BE CLOSE TO GOD?
Reading about God’s awe-inspiring qualities makes some people feel a little uneasy. They fear that God is too high for them, that they could never get close to him or even matter to such a lofty God. But is this idea correct?
The Bible teaches just the opposite. It says of God: “In fact, he is not far off from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27) The Bible even urges us: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.”—James 4:8.
How can you draw close to God? To begin with, continue doing what you are doing now—learning about God. Jesus said: “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Yes, the Bible teaches that learning about God and Jesus leads to “everlasting life”!
As already noted, “God is love.” (1 John 4:16) God also has many other beautiful and appealing qualities. For example, the Bible says that God is “a God merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love and truth.” (Exodus 34:6)
He is “good and ready to forgive.”
(Psalm 86:5)
God is patient. (2 Peter 3:9)
He is loyal. (Revelation 15:4)
As you read more in the Bible, you will see how God has shown that he has these and many other appealing qualities.
The more you learn about God, the more real he will become to you and the more reason you will have to love him and feel close to him.
You will come to understand why the Bible teaches us to think of God as our Father. (Matthew 6:9) Not only does our life come from him
but he wants the best life possible for us—just as any loving father would want for his children. (Psalm 36:9) The Bible also teaches that humans can become God’s friends. (James 2:
Imagine—you can become a friend of the Creator of the universe!
SECTION III:
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is a gift from God, one forwhich we can be truly grateful. This unique book reveals things that we could never find out otherwise. For example, it tells us about the creation of the starry heavens, the earth, and the first man and woman.
The Bible contains reliable principles to help us cope with life’s problems and anxieties. It explains how God will fulfill his purpose and bring about better conditions on the earth. What an ex- citing gift the Bible is!
If you have a copy of the Bible, you are far from alone. In whole or in part, the Bible has been published in about 2,600 languages and thus is available to more
than 90 percent of the world’s population. On the average, more than a million Bibles are distributed each week! Billions of copies of either the whole Bible or part of it have been produced. Surely, there is no other book like the Bible.
Furthermore, the Bible is “inspired of God.” (Read 2 Timothy 3:16.) In what way? The Bible itself answers: “Men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
To illustrate: A businessman might have a secretary write a letter. That letter contains the businessman’s thoughts and instructions. Hence, it is really his letter, not the secretary’s.
In a similar way, the Bible contains God’s message, not that of the men who wrote it down. Thus, the entire Bible truthfully is “the word of God.”—1 Thessalonians 2:13
The Bible was written over a 1,600-year period. Its writers lived at different times and came from many walks of life. Some were farmers, fishermen, and shepherds. Others were prophets, judges, and kings. The Gospel writer Luke was a doctor. Despite the varied backgrounds of its writers, the Bible is harmonious from beginning to end. Although some people say that certain parts of the Bible contradict other parts of it, such claims are unfounded. Follow this link.
The Bible is scientifically accurate. It even contains information that was far ahead of its time. For example, the book of Leviticus contained laws for ancient Israel on quarantine and hygiene when surrounding nations knew nothing about such matters. At a time when there were wrong ideas about the shape of the earth, the Bible referred to it as a circle, or sphere. (Isaiah 40:22)
The Bible accurately said that the earth is suspended “upon nothing.” (Job 26:7) Of course, the Bible is not a science textbook. But when it touches on scientific matters, it is accurate. Is this not what we would expect of a book from God?
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