Our story continues. In Lesson 3, your wise character has discussed salvation. In this lesson, your main character will ask some serious questions.
Write Your Story
13. Your wise character has said that God must punish sin, and that’s why He sent His son to take the punishment for us. What will your main character ask now? For example: Why didn’t God just fix things in an easy way? Why did God have to make His son suffer? And why do we suffer?
14. How does your wise character respond? For example: When the devil, who is called a liar and a thief, caused the first animals to disobey God, God chose to make his creations strong and even more wonderful. But to become the amazingly strong children of God, He allows us to see how evil works in this world and bear it and put our faith in Him. We have to see, through experience, that we can only be strong when we stay with God. Then, in eternity, we will be children of God and stay with Him always.
15. What’s another serious question your main character might ask? For example: What about other religions? What about those who do not believe?
16. How does your wise character respond? For example: Just as in the generation of Jesus, people in different towns believed different things, so the same is true in every generation. People are born in different places with various beliefs. It is hard to have an unpopular understanding of life, death and eternity as compared to others around you. That’s why God promises everyone who leaves behind family or lands that they will receive a hundredfold and eternal life in heaven. God also gave us the Bible. Ours is the only faith in which we can access God’s word directly. God is not distant or only made known through other people; He is directly available to each of us right here and right now.
17. What’s one last serious question your main character might ask? For example: But why can’t I just enjoy my life? Why do I have to think about sin and punishment or any of this? Why not just be happy?
And how does your wise character respond? For example: Well, can you really be happy if you don’t know the truth about your eternal life? God has designed our lives so that we will seek him. And remember, God is love! Being with God as often as you can now and forever in eternity is a wonderful, amazing promise of hope and salvation. Jesus says that he wants us to feel joy and life.
18. Scripture Page: Please choose one or more of the scriptures below or choose your own.
Scripture for Study
On Why We Suffer
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tries hearts. Proverbs 17:3
On Other Religions
Jesus said, “And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:29
(Peter speaking) “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
On How Happy We Are When We Know God
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
(Jesus speaking) The Thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
Commentary
We certainly should ask questions about our faith. Here are some common ones.
Why does a loving God let people suffer? Though suffering feels terrible, by definition, and can often seem unfair, it does not last long on the eternal scale. Through suffering God tests our hearts and helps us grow. Also, we can consider the opposite: what happens when we are spoiled? When people receive everything they want, they tend toward meanness, not kindness. It is suffering which produces perseverance and compassion.
What about other religions? Many people want to accept all world religions in the name of tolerance, but is this actually compassionate if the other religions are not the truth? If we study the New Testament, we will find that the apostles never forced anyone to believe; they simply told people what they had witnessed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We can ask others about what they believe and why they believe it, and we can share what we believe and why. Together, we can all seek the truth. In the book of Acts, we read about how the apostles stayed in towns and talked to people for months at a time.
Why not just be happy? So many people avoid sickness and death, as if avoiding these things will somehow make them go away. True happiness is resting in the assurance that we have a loving Creator and Father who will help us while we are here and who will give us an eternal life free from confusion and pain.
What about Christians who seem fake or disappointing? Or Christian kings and queens who did terrible things? If we read the New Testament, we will find that Jesus constantly rebuked the church leaders of his time. He also told the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 in which he says, definitely, that many people will think they are going to heaven even though they never actually believed. Certainly, there will always be insincere people who claim to be Christian.
What about the desire for social changes, such as new gender roles, that seem to run counter to the Bible? Popular culture calls us to take sides on many issues, but can we develop wise thinking about these before we know the truth about life, death and eternity? Our first priority must be to seek the truth regarding our mortal existence, the real truth, and to do that, we cannot turn away from Jesus on the cross. We must stop and ask–can it be true? Did God come to earth as a man to die for the salvation of our immortal souls? That question precedes all others for people who know that they will die one day, but do not know when. Check out this response from Jesus when he was asked about resurrection and given an intellectual puzzle regarding a woman who had been married to multiple husbands:
You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:29-32
In this response, Jesus showed that when we pursue the truth of certain ideas without knowing fundamental truths, we will not be able to think clearly.
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