Inquiring minds... want to know...

I’ll attempt to answer your 38 questions in the order asked:

1. “Do not test the LORD your God…” Deuteronomy 6:16 (New International Version)

2. Yes.

3. Yes.

4. No.

5. Yes. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

6. Christ is the answer to our every need.

7. Your life was treasured by an eternal God even before you were born. God created you lovingly, thoughtfully, and perfectly for a loving and meaningful relationship with Him.

8. Everyone is born with a tendency to rebel against their Creator (God). This rebellion results in guilt, spiritual unrest, broken relationships, and despair. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

9. There was a bird hovering near a rear window on our car, just fluttering back and forth, running into the glass over and over again. Now, he was obviously confused and disoriented, he was going nowhere, just fluttering, chattering, and crashing into the window. My wife said, “You know, I’ll bet he sees himself in the glass - and that’s what’s got him acting crazy.”

Poor bird. When he just kept looking at himself, he got confused and disoriented - and he kept running into things. Just like us - when we get all focused on ourselves, that is. And maybe that’s where you are right now - the stress, the hurt, the load has gotten you all focusing on yourself, maybe without you’re even realizing it. And you may actually be fluttering around emotionally, feeling disoriented and discouraged, even crashing sometimes.

God’s given us a picture of what this looks in our word for today from the Word of God in 1 Kings 19, beginning with verse 3. The great prophet Elijah has just come off the most powerful spiritual victory of his life - his showdown with 450 prophets of the idol Baal, where God proved who is Lord by consuming the sacrifice on the altar with fire from heaven. But now the wicked queen Jezebel has ordered a ‘hit’ on the prophet - and, man, has he changed.

The Bible says, “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba…he went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.” Now, how does such a strong spiritual leader get so low so fast? Here’s a clue in what he says to God: “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have…put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” Suddenly, it’s all about me.

This is in sharp contrast to Elijah’s focus when he prayed on the day of his showdown with the false prophets. There he said, “O Lord … let it be known today that You are God … that I am Your servant … so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God.” See, when it’s all about God, I’m on top of things. When it’s all about me, things are on top of me.

Fear, discouragement, being all stressed - those aren’t signs of being focused on your Lord. That’s a bird who’s looking at himself or herself and fluttering all over the place, crashing into things. Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep in “perfect peace” the one who is “stayed on” Him.

Self-pity, self-centeredness, self-promoting, self-reliance - the harder it gets, the more that “self” stuff starts to take over and the more out of control we become. If you’ve been looking at yourself too much, it’s time to fly to a higher place where you can get your perspective back - to refocus your eyes away from your great load and back to your great Lord.

10. See answer #9.

11. See answer #5.

12. The Bible–the Word of God.

13. Read the Word.

14. The Word of God.

15. You can purchase a Bible just about anywhere these days. There are probably some places that will simply give you one if you ask.

16. See answer #14.

17. “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:9-10 (New International Version)

18. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV) says, “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” So ponder that and consider whether we’re doomed or not. I can tell you that me and my family are NOT doomed. :)

19. No, but we are all put on this earth to be good stewards of it. That means doing everything we can to keep our planet healthy for us, our neighbors, and future generations.

20. Yes. Read the Word!

21. I’m not a fortune teller, but I can say that unless you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, this planet is pretty much all you’re going to see. Also, read the book of Revelation.

22. Not everyone–just the non-believers. But this is why we have been commanded to spread the Good News to every nation. I’m pretty sure we can’t win everyone over to Christ, but save yourself and everyone else that you can and together we can keep that number as close to zero as we can!

23. Yes! People need the Lord. God loves us so much that He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, to take our spiritual death sentence and die on a cross. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

24. All man can do is obey God’s command and have faith to see it through.

25. Somewhat. Christ has promised that He is coming back to take his people home. Problem is, no one knows when that day will arrive. So in the meanwhile, we need to continue to do the work of God, ministering to everyone we can!

26. I’m not sure about this question, so I’m going to pass :)

27. Man only ‘thinks’ he is great. There is only ONE who is infinitely perfect; the creator, preserver, and governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship. That person being Jesus Christ.

28. Why is “trouble” all around us? Because Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth.

29. This “trouble” is the devil’s handywork. Satan does not want any of us to succeed. He hates God that much. He knows that God loves humans more than any other of His creation, so we’re perfect targets for Satan. Just look at Hollywood, for example. There’s practically an entire industry that is firmly in Satan’s grip right now.

30. By putting our trust in God.

31. The Bible, the Word of God, is and will always BE man’s answer for everything. Christ is the answer!

32. God gave mankind the gift of a free will. Sure, He could probably end all of the earth’s conflicts, but because He gave each of us a free will, He allows us to make our own choices. Of course, we will all be held to account for the decisions we make on Judgment Day, after we all die.

33. Since the days of Cain and Able, man has been inhumane towards his fellow man. Jesus commands us to love one another. Obviously, a LOT of people are not following His command. If we all did, there wouldn’t be any wars today.

34. With God, all things are possible, but I would encourage you to read the book of Revelation. There are many things foretold there that talk about things such as viruses, new world orders, etc.

35. Again I say, with God, ALL things are possible!

36. Yes.

37. No. He is the alpha and the omega; the beginning and the end. In Him there are no limits!

38. The Almighty God.

(Did I pass the quiz?) :)

Seriously, I hope your questions were as sincere as the answers I have shared with you today.