BEING GOD'S FRIEND.

I have been following the news daily on the fight a small town  is having about the cross on their water tower. So sad, a group of atheist in another state is demanding they remove a cross. It has been a part of their town for many years. I am yet again saddened at the thought that we are losing so many of our Christian freedoms. It makes me want to speak out in anger that a small group has the right to take away our Christian rights and freedoms. But, I don’t think anger is the right way to handle things. 

 When we argue the existence of God with a non-believer, we usually end up angry and feeling like we have failed to hold God up to the highest level. We may be very interesting intellectuals and have a wonderful debate with an atheist, but I wonder, is God really pleased with our clever argument. I have not found any place in the Bible where Jesus debated or argued with anyone the existence of God. Instead, He continually explained in clear and simple terms the way for His children to come closer to Him.  We humans love to find loopholes, to seek contradictions, and to try out elegant arguments to win. But all too often, we wind up where we began. We cannot force anyone to change his or her views. And one thing for sure, if we do find ourselves in a debate with a non-believer, we better have our schoolwork done and be well educated. Otherwise, they will stomp us in the mud.


When Jesus talked to His disciples one day, He talked about the vine and its branches and about how to remain close to Him. In a simple sentence He said, “If we would love each other the way He loves us, we would be His friend always.”


Imagine that! Being God’s friend is the most important thing of all. We don’t have to live in isolation and confusion. We don’t even have to defend God by arguing His existence. We just have to copy Him, and He promises He will be with us and be our friend. How do we do that?  Well, I think for starters we forgive others who have wronged us, giving up our rights to seek revenge and seek peace instead of confrontation; listen with our hearts, not just our ears.


Yes, there are times when we need to stand strong for God and we must let our heart lead us. Jesus warned us that there would always be those who hate us for our belief because they hated Him first. They will scoff at us, mock us, make fun, and call us names, but that will not keep a true believer from following God.


The atheist may win the battle over the cross in Wilmore, and the town may be forced to remove it from the water tower. But the atheist will not be the real winners.  Because forcing the removal of crosses, Ten Commandments, Nativity scenes, or Bibles, will never kill off Jesus Christ and His followers. We will live on because we have all these things, and more, buried deep within our heart and no man will ever remove them, and Satan cannot touch them, or us, as long as we hold strong to the hand of God.  How wonderful to know there will be no such thing as non-belief in Heaven.