The Fundamental Question
Editors View
We’ve all heard and understood that there are basic questions about life related to the meaning of life
and the purpose of existence. For Christians, these questions are answered in the person of Jesus Christ who loved us enough to create us and to redeem us from our sins. However, as Job discovered, the human ability to hang onto these sometimes esoteric realities is challenged by pain and suffering of daily life. The fundamental question is not whether God is there, but is He there for me, not “Is God real?” but rather, “Is God real for me?”
Each of us must come to terms personally with the character of Christ. Is He who He says He is in His word? Revelation 14:7 commands us “Fear God, and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come, and worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all of springs of water.” This verse must be read in light of God’s character which is love. How do those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and who have made a decision to turn our will and lives over to Him interpret this verse? Too often our view of God’s character is that He is waiting to judge us when we step out of line or make a mistake or sin. Riddled with guilt and self-condemnation, we don’t really believe “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
I believe that I powerful reality of the three angels’ messages is not only that God judges us, but how we judge Him. It is the hour of “His judgment” that has come. As Sarah “judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11), we also need to come to terms with God’s faithfulness to His promises. The fundamental message that our addictions give God is that He is not strong enough or powerful enough to handle our lives, therefore, we believe that we need to manage our own lives.
When we have personally experienced Jesus healing touch and comfort in our addictive process, we will become settled in our hearts into the truth of who He is, we will be prepared for whatever the enemy has in store for us in the future. As the insightful article by Paul Coneff coveys below, Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and Jesus wants us to experience the truth about Jesus who sets us free.