Not at all. The individual through their own eyes must come to a decision that God already knows you will make. Do you think He was surprised by you pulling away? That being said, me not being God, am I not allowed to sorrow for those who seemingly had Him and now reject him?
Even your testimony to the difficulties in your life, does not diminish my sorrow, but rather increase it! For I sorrow for myself and rejection of the call He would have me do as well. Yet, where would I go? The words of Peter resonate throughout my very soul to this day…."Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." John 6:68-69
Because things have not turned out as "I" would have desired them to, would that mean I have to reject the truth I still know is in Christ Jesus?
My own brother died violently in a mental hospital during a time that it was little more than a warehouse. A tender soul, caught in a world that had no love for him as he was. He had already lost the faculties to function in the society of that time due to the cruelties of others, but still believed even though by then many concepts that are discussed here at Talk Jesus would be beyond him to comprehend. Because this happened to my brother who I loved. Should I then reject the truth I know is in Christ Jesus?
I take a young man (37), to church on Wednesday nights for a few years now. I guess not so young being 37, (perspective), who stands barely 4 ft. something, only sees changing light shadows to get around. Should have been according to the doctors dead as a teenager. Who stumbled over his mother’s dead body who he could not see or help and then was forced to leave with family who were ungodly and introduced him to the darkness that is prevalent in our society. Even still, he has grown in the love of the Lord over these passing years. Not without bumps and bruises that we all have and many continue to live with.
The point of these is that everyone, I mean everyone undergoes trials and tribulations in life. Be they rich, poor, healthy, sick, you name it. The difference is in how we come to terms with the conditions we live in. Besides Peter, Paul also said something that also resonates with me, because it really took a while for me to come to not only understand it intellectually, but to get past the worldliness that was telling me that it was impossible, and to finally see it/apply it in my own life. Don't get me wrong, I've been on my knees and had tears running down checks before God, and the words of Paul, were the last things on my mind. Still, the truth is not so easily cast aside when one knows that it is “Truth”! With this realization, then one can come to understand, how a man in prison could be writing these words. Who had also faced many more trials and tribulations, than I could talk of or imagine. Eyes wide open, that we too could do and be as was written.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Even as I sorrow, I also rejoice that there is always hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and that my prayers and those of others, may reach heavenward that our intercessor will intercede for us on your behalf and also of those many others. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
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