Why, God? Why??

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Why does God only speak now through the Bible for people to know His will? Why did the ancient peoples get to see miracles and we don't? Why did they all get to have Jesus around and we don't?? It isn't the same thing to have the Holy Spirit here instead of Jesus. Its not the same at all! Why did Jesus come to earth 2000 years ago instead of now? I didn't need him then - I need him NOW! I need to see him NOW! I need to talk FACE TO FACE with him NOW!!!! Not later. Not in heaven. NOW!!!!!!

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Pam

God knows what we need, when we need it and how we need it. We are alive today because we need to be alive now. We would all love to see Jesus now, but that is not our gift or calling.

Jesus came here to reveal His Father to those who were alive then. They did not see the Father and we can't see Him either. But the interesting thing that Jesus did for us was to give us the Holy Spirit so we can know the Father as did the disciples.

Jesus is supposed to be in us and we are to be Jesus to each other. So what you're looking for is Jesus in me and all the others who claim to be His followers. That's it, no more than that. So when we fail in our spiritual life, we are failing each other more than we can imagine.

Norman

[Pockey]

Why did the ancient peoples get to see miracles and we don't?

There are miracles occurring everyday!

[cricket]

I HEAR YOU PAM, LOUD AND CLEAR! YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

[Gerr]

Why does God only speak now through the Bible for people to know His will? Why did the ancient peoples get to see miracles and we don't? Why did they all get to have Jesus around and we don't?? It isn't the same thing to have the Holy Spirit here instead of Jesus. Its not the same at all! Why did Jesus come to earth 2000 years ago instead of now? I didn't need him then - I need him NOW! I need to see him NOW! I need to talk FACE TO FACE with him NOW!!!! Not later. Not in heaven. NOW!!!!!!

Many 3,000, 2,000, 1000, 500, 100 yrs ago said the same thing. To answer that question to everyone's satisfaction would have required Jesus to be incarnated over & over & over again! God, through the prophets showed exactly when Jesus would come. And, "in the fullness of time", He did come, "once for all". And when He left He did not leave us orphans. He is here today, in the person of His Representative.

"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' "(that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?' "(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Rom 10:6-9 NKJ

Gerry

[Naomi]

Hi Pam, good to see you here.

I have often wondered, do we know that God spoke to them in words ... or were they somehow in tune with God's non-verbal voice?

IMO, As for miracles, there are big and little miracles which happen every day. Often we don't recognize it as a miracle. We just accept the fact that the accident didn't happen, etc. Or we take credit for making it happen ...yet, we fail to understand that we could not have made them happen were it not for God's guidance.

So often I say a quick "thank you God" and really don't think about what he really did to make it happen.

In my life many, many miracles have happened yet I took credit for them (or just thought that is they way it worked out) and said a quick “Thank you God”. It was not until I began to understand the works of God, and give God real credit that I began to see and appreciate the daily miracles.

I’ll share this with you because it has been documented and witnessed by many people.

Coincidence or Miracle: You decide.

When I began a evangelistic series in Romania the first night I had 4 adults and 1 child. My interrupter did not understand english well and did not enjoy being a public speaker. he was 14 years old and the only person available.

I prayed and prayed for God to use us as a blessing to the people of Simeria. I begged that he would send children and adults to the hurch.

God answered my/our prayers. The numbers grew and by Sunday night (the 4th meeting) we had 42 children and about 25 adults. The majority who attended were not SDA's. After that, PTL, the small Church was full every night.

After coming to the site and seeing that was happening, Benny Moore sent a young pastor to interrupt for me. It was wonderful to watch the Holy Spirit at work.

Every night our children faithfully attended. A young lady, Laura. would travel 28 km via bus on dangerous roads to arrive at the church around 5pm … the children would be waiting outside in the cold.

I was impressed and soon it became a burden to give the Children Bibles. However it was a very long, dangerous drive to a location which we could buy Christian materials. On the last Wednesday of the meetings I took money from the bank to pay for 50 Bibles and for the gasoline for the journey. Emillian, my interrupter, had an almost new "God Car" (another story of a very special miracle) which broke-down and we were unable to make the trip.

That evening when we arrived at the church, Gabriel, our pastor was wearing the biggest, brightest smile I've ever seen! It seems that a man unknown to Pastor Gabriel came to the church and said that he had heard about all of the children we had coming to the church. Could we use some children's Bibles???? Could We??!!!

The man opened his trunk and had 20 new Bibles, still in the wrappers. He wouldn't take money for them. We were soooooooo happy (if it were proper to cry in public, in that region, I would have cried) Then we looked out and realized we still need 30 more Bibles. What to do, what to do.???

After many additional prayers and tears it was decided to make the trip after the meeting. If we drove all night and the next day we could have the additional Bibles and be there in time for the Friday evening's meetings. All the children should have their own Bible!!

Somehow, from somewhere, I am unclear about the details but the man returned and said he understood that we did not have enough Bibles for all the children. Pastor Gabriel said, "Well, no ... we still need at least 25 additional Bibles." The man opened his trunk and had ALL the Bibles we needed.

And, still wouldn't take money for them!!

Isn't the Holy Spirit awesome?

As a footnote, a year later almost all of the children still come to church with their Bibles. As we presented each child with his/her personal Bible we asked for a pledge that, "I ____ promise to continue to come to the church and will bring my Bible with me!"

At least 40 have kept their pledge.

[Gail]

Pam, you yourself have witnessed God's comforting power. Hang on to that!

You always have such good questions!

I think it is good that we relate to each other the ways that the Lord has worked out our lives. Some indeed have had miracles happen to them

The trouble is that the Bible predicts that in the last days Satan would also work miracles and wonders. It is at this time that we must journey on in faith in God's word, which will not fail us. During this time in earth's history, our eyes will see things that are real but we are not to follow.

Hang on to how God has led you in the past, and He will continue to do so. He will not forsake you in your time of need!!! I've never known Him to do so to me and I believe that He will also be faithful to you

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I'm sorry... I was not very clear in my first post.

It isn't about miracles.

It isn't about the span of time and the numbers of people between creation and now.

It isn't even about the Bible.

It is about the need to see, to hear, to touch Christ. Not through long dead people's words and thoughts and experiences - though that is helpful...but it does not seem very *fulfilling*.. at least not to me. Perhaps it is as Norman said, it is people - LIVING PEOPLE - who are now to be as Christ to others..

Maybe I do not have enough faith. ::snorts:: I KNOW I do not have much. But it is all I have atm.

I would like to think that God is able to do what He knows I need... Perhaps it is not what *I* think I need. I don't know. Maybe what I have is all I'll get. I hope not...

I keep wondering if people do not give God enough room to do what we ask and/or what we need. Have they *forgotten* what He can do? Does anyone today really understand what God can do?? Do people only pay *lip service* to His power? How can there be a going back to the experiences of the early christian church when people dont even give God acknowledgement of Who and What He is????

Perhaps I shouldn't have spun my thoughts out. I don't know that I'm making much sense to anyone.. Please forgive me. I am at a rather stark crossroad in my life right now.

[Gail]

Pam, you've got good questions!

Have you ever read the book George Mueller's book about his experience on starting his orphanages in England without asking for any donations at all? When he had a need, the only tool he relied on was prayer. The money came through, food came through, everything his staff needed to house those children

[Robert]

I can guarantee you that God isn't going come and make Himself visible to you. I just don't see that happening. There should be enough evidence in the Bible to uphold your faith. Hence you have 3 choices:

1] Have faith in our humanity

2] Have faith in yourself

3] Have faith in the God of the Bible

Humanity will fail you. You will fail yourself. That leaves God as your only hope. Your faith in God, Pam, is all that you have. Don't leave home without it!

Rob

[Toni]

Hi Pam. I really hear you. I long for that too. Every now and then (maybe a handful of times in my life), I can really, truly feel God's presence. I mean, in a very different way than if I had an answer to prayer. I mean, I just feel overwhlmed by his presence. I hang onto those times. I long for them. I really can't wait until the Earth is new. Then I worry, there are so many people! I'll never get a chance to be with Jesus. I think that is why I long so much to be around people who really seem to have a strong connection to God..to see Jesus in them. I hope I can be that kind of person to others. Personally, my prayer life isn't what it should be. Almost every time that I have felt really close to God, is when I have been having consistent prayer time. I've got to get on that. :-)

[CaseyButler]

Why does God only speak now through the Bible for people to know His will? Why did the ancient peoples get to see miracles and we don't? Why did they all get to have Jesus around and we don't?? It isn't the same thing to have the Holy Spirit here instead of Jesus. Its not the same at all! Why did Jesus come to earth 2000 years ago instead of now? I didn't need him then - I need him NOW! I need to see him NOW! I need to talk FACE TO FACE with him NOW!!!! Not later. Not in heaven. NOW!!!!!!

Here's what Jesus said:

"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed (is) he that cometh in the name of the Lord." [KJV-Bible: Matthew 23:38-39]

Confirmed when He said at the end of the Parable of the unjust judge:

"And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" [KJV-Bible: Luke 18:6-8]

So why the delay when millions pray for His return daily?

"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" [KJV-Bible: Matthew 18:11-12]

James:

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." [KJV-Bible: James 5:7]

Mrs. White wrote:

"The gospel is to be presented, not as a lifeless theory, but as a living force to change the life. God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be witnesses to it's power. Those whose course has been most offensive to Him He freely accepts; when they repent, He imparts to them His divine Spirit, places them in the highest positions of trust, and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His boundless mercy.

"He would have His servants bear testimony to the fact that through His grace men may possess Christ-likeness of character, and may rejoice in the assurance of His great love.

"He would have us bear testimony to the fact that He cannot be satisfied until the human race are reclaimed and reinstated in their holy privileges as His Sons and daughters." - DA 826.

There is another parable, perhaps from the "hidden manna", that might help to answer your question:

"Suppose... that there is a skilled physician who is wise and understanding and knows how to compound medicines to effectively cure all kinds of diseases. He has many sons, perhaps ten, twenty, or even a hundred. He goes off to some other land far away to see about a certain affair. After he has gone, the children drink some kind of poison that make them distraught with pain and they fall writhing to the ground.

"At that time the father returns to his home and finds that his children have drunk poison. Some are completely out of their minds, while others are not. Seeing their father from far off, all are overjoyed and kneel down and entreat him, saying: `How fine that you have returned safely. We were stupid and by mistake drank some poison. We beg you to cure us and let us live out our lives!´

"The father, seeing his children suffering like this, follows various prescriptions. Gathering fine medicinal herbs that meet all the requirements of color, fragrance and flavor, he grinds, sifts and mixes them together. Giving a dose of these to his children, he tells them: `This is a highly effective medicine, meeting all the requirements of color, fragrance and flavor. Take it and you will quickly be relieved of your sufferings and will be free of all illness.´

"Those children who have not lost their senses can see that this is good medicine, outstanding in both color and fragrance, so they take it immediately and are completely cured of their sickness. Those who are out of their minds are equally delighted to see their father return and beg him to cure their sickness, but when they are given the medicine, they refuse to take it. Why? Because the poison has penetrated deeply and their minds no longer function as before. So although the medicine is of excellent color and fragrance, they do not perceive it as good.

"The father thinks to himself: My poor children! Because of the poison in them, their minds are completely befuddled. Although they are happy to see me and ask me to cure them, they refuse to take this excellent medicine. I must now resort to some expedient means to induce them to take the medicine. So he says to them: `You should know that I am now old and worn out, and the time of my death has come. I will leave this good medicine here. You should take it and not worry that it will not cure you.´ Having given these instructions, he then goes off to another land where he sends a messenger home to announce, `Your father is dead.´

"At that time the children, hearing that their father has deserted them and died, are filled with great grief and consternation and think to themselves: If our father were alive he would have pity on us and see that we are protected. But now he has abandoned us and died in some other country far away. We are shelter-less orphans with no one to rely on!

"Constantly harboring such feelings of grief, they at last come to their senses and realize that the medicine is in fact excellent in color and fragrance and flavor, and so they take it and are healed of all the effects of the poison. The father, hearing that his children are all cured, immediately returns home and appears to them all once more." [bRT-Lotus: Chapter 16:17-24]

Could it be as simple as this: That when those who claim the name of Jesus are ready to accept God's love and mercy for all peoples of the earth whom He has created and promised to save...

That when those who claim His name are ready to accept unconditionally the entire world whom Jesus said He laid down His life to save...

Is it possible that at that time Jesus will return to teach us God's righteousness and Love, to change us in the twinkling of an eye because of our own free will we ask Him to?

Listen to your dreams and what God tells you in the morning, that's what the Bible tells us to do.

He is there, He's just not here yet.

Every prayer prayed in every Adventist church should end with "BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD" as the people cried as He rode into Jerusalem while the people waved palm branches...

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" [KJV-Bible: Revelation 7:9]

We have those White Robes, He bought them for us with His blood. Hear Him... Just hear Him, He is there, still waiting for the precious fruit of the earth.

Casey

[Raphael]

I keep wondering if people do not give God enough room to do what we ask and/or what we need. Have they *forgotten* what He can do? Does anyone today really understand what God can do?? Do people only pay *lip service* to His power? How can there be a going back to the experiences of the early christian church when people dont even give God acknowledgement of Who and What He is????

Perhaps I shouldn't have spun my thoughts out. I don't know that I'm making much sense to anyone.. Please forgive me. I am at a rather stark crossroad in my life right now.

I wished if we could all visit our cherished rudywoofs and sing her blues away and pray that rudywoofs may always be in His care..

..sending a prayer for you from around the globe..

God loves,

Raphael

[Naomi]

Quote:

I wished if we could all visit our cherished rudywoofs and sing her blues away and pray that rudywoofs may always be in His care..

..sending a prayer for you from around the globe..

God loves,

Raphael

Amen!

Thank you Raphael for expressing the feelings of many ... our feelings, desires and prayers.

Pam you are loved much and many prayers are said on your behalf.

[Clio]

I wonder how many people, just like you Pam, in the preceding 5000 years looked forward to Jesus' birth and wondered the same thing...

Why haven't there been miracles in the last 3000 years? Why hasn't the Messiah come? I need Him NOW, not later, NOW!!!

Miracles through the prophets are recorded, but how many years were between the prophets? I wonder how many of the children of Israel thought much the same thing for the 400 years of captivity in Egypt?

What about the time period between the Old and New Testaments?

It has ever been thus, that the salvation of the lost human soul is through faith and faith alone in True Jesus. It is a gift received in faith even when all human wisdom says that faith is foolish.

Abba our gentle, loving Father hears you, Pam. He hears your cry and will speak to your heart. Pray, and then let Him know you want to hear His Voice... and then wait in the silence of your room and heart and listen for His still, small Voice.

Elijah wanted to hear, and even to see, his Creator. Elijah wanted reassurance that his God existed. He was so discouraged. The story is found in 1 Kings 19... starting in verse 10.

Elijah cried out to the Lord in anguish. He tells God how hardhe (Elijah) has worked for Him. How the children of Israel not only haven't listened, but have taken all those who really were prophets of God and put them to the sword.

Dying by the sword was a messy death at best, and Elijah was quite clear on what happened to these other faithful servants of God. He says to God, "I, I aloneam left, and now they want to kill me too!".

So Elijah is impressed to go out on a mountain top and stand before God. The Bible says he was "told", but I would bet Elijah found himself wandering in the wilderness, and stood upon a mountain top. A great storm blew up... so strong it tossed rocks around and broke them in pieces, but God wasn't in the storm.

Then an earthquake. Can you imagine standing on a mountaintop as the earth ripples, shakes, and twists? Still no God in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire... and still, no God in the fire.

And then, in the silence in his heart after his anguished prayer, he hears a still, small voice.

"What are you doing here Elijah?"

And Elijah tells Abba the whole sad story again. He's the only left, all the other obedient servants of Abba have been put to the sword, and Elijah has worked hard.... only this time, Abba tells him words of encouragement.

Elijah is to anoint his own replacement, as well as a king for Israel. And not only that.... Abba tells him that there are 7000 left in Israel who have not bowed the knee or kissed Ba'al.

And yet, Elijah was so upset, so discouraged, so anguished... he wanted to see Abba NOW...

Listen for the still, small voice Pam. Abba is personal... intimate... and He speaks to us in that way.