Knocking on Death's Door!

So have you ever been so close to death that you saw a light, or even just had a feeling you were close to the end of your life as you know it? Yeah well, me neither! However, I have always tried to live my life one day at a time, although there have been times where the world swept me off this track, sometimes for years at a time. This has been my general philosophy about life though. Today's note isn't so much about my life as it is about my philisophical ideation as to why we live in such an entitled world today. Take it or leave it, these are my beleifs and I hope that you may be able to take something away from my post today!

If I had a dime for every time I have heard," Well I don't think that God expects us to completely uproot our lives, as long as we are doing what is right!" I would be a very rich man today. The simple fact is that he does. After all, I have a hard time believing that God doesn't have a problem with us living in a $200,000 house, when there are not only people, but children who wonder where there next meal is coming from. Agree or disagree, how many people would have the faith to sacrifice their child, as God asked Abraham to do? So my thinking is, that if God expects us to sacrifice our children for him, why wouldn't he expect us to sacrifice our luxuries for him? I have been at the low where I had no place to stay, although I was fortunate to have a vehicle to shelter me. Granted this was my own doing, however, I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything. You see, when life has you that low the world takes on a whole different perspective. Things are revealed that would not have otherwise have been revealed to you had you not been able to look up from the bottom of the barrel. This is why I sometimes have to bite my tongue, although thinking about it maybe I shouldn't, when people say they deserve something!

I think, in America especially, we have become a world of people that expect God to do things from us, rather than wondering what we can do to show God our appreciation for what he has already done for us, even if we are living in a car! There are probably going to be some feathers ruffled over what I have to say next, however, it is my true conviction and I feel like it needs to be said. When I was younger I remember when the church switched from their "Hell, fire, and brimstone" teaching to preaching the "Good News", and I do not necessarily think that was a bad thing. I do feel as if along the field of time it has lost it's balance though. We seem to only teach of what God is going to do for us, and try to steer away from teaching us as believers our many responsibilities. This I believe is the reason we feel entitled to so much from God. After all, how many times do you here of  preachers telling how if you only have faith you can live debt free, and live the good life God intended. I don't think I have heard of any preachers lately teaching if you only have faith, God will take care of you, if you only obey him and give away all your posessions, or God will take care of you if you take your family from your comfort zone and move to Africa to feed the needy. It is no wonder there are so many Christians today, if they can get all of this and do nothing in return who wouldn't sign up for that gig?

I completely understand that I am no where near the point I need to be in my walk with God, I just can't help but wonder how many more aren't either, but don't realize it because of the twisted truth they have been fed. I hope you do not read this and take it as a sign from God to move to Africa, in my opinion that isn't his call for everyone. My simple hope for those who read this post is to question if they would have the faith to do so if God asked them to. I know it would be hard for me, probably more because of the concern for my family more than anything, it makes it extremely evident why Paul said it is better to remain single. It definitely does make following God's will a lot easier of a decision! I hope no one took offense to this post, it was merely intended to make you think about what a relationship with God is really about. May you have a light heart, and God's richest blessings!