Tonight's Blog for April 18, 2013

One of my dear friends has a way of asking me good, tough questions. She emailed me a simple question that

started me thinking about some much deeper issues. This is her question: 

"I have a theological question for you. I have a kid's Christian song stuck in my head. It goes: Without faith it's impossible, it's what? It's impossible, it's what? It's impossible to please God...(I forget the next part) and He rewards those who seek him.

So where in the Bible does it talk about it being impossible to please God without faith? " 

Dear readers, you might know that this quote comes from Hebrews 11:1 and 6… the beginning of the "faith chapter". "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see  …  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Upon hearing the full verse, my friend asked me a tougher question, "Does this also mean that if someone does something to help humanity but does not know God, that God is not pleased--that he doesn't care?" My answer back was a little more evasive than I wanted it to be, as I wrote back, "Hi, love counts & to love people is to love like GOD, moving us toward HIM. If you google the poem "Abou Ben Adhem" you will find a poem that has something to say about the answer. 

So, anyway here is the poem. It certainly had a serious impact on me at a formative time in my life. I "had" to memorize in the 6th grade. Parts of this poem have stuck with me and help to formulate my ideas about people. 

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,

And saw, within the moonlight in his room,

Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,

An angel writing in a book of gold:—

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,

And to the Presence in the room he said

"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,

And with a look made of all sweet accord,

Answered "The names of those who love the Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,

But cheerly still, and said "I pray thee, then,

Write me as one that loves his fellow men."

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night

It came again with a great wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

So, in the interest of being absolutely "un-evasive" if that is a word, ha… We can't love GOD without loving people, because Jesus seems to make a lot about our loving others (in HIS name) by giving water, clothes, grace or forgiveness. Conversely, we can't love people without showing some love for GOD. Is that enough? Should we seek to find other ways to love GOD and to love people? My thoughts for anyone reading these words, "make sure that you love GOD and that HE loves you. Every other question will be changed by our love for HIM. GOD Bless you, dear saints. big marv