Are people mean?
Do horses go to heaven?
Questions from Kids (3)
A Character story about diligence.
Are people mean?
We would like to believe that we are good people who make a mistake once in a while. If we do, we can believe that God will weigh my good deeds against my bad ones and, if the good is heavier, then I will go to heaven. However, the Bible teaches no such thing. It says we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and by nature the children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). Solomon said, "There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not." (Ecclesiastes 7:20). It says "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) In fact, Isaiah tells us that even our best deeds are like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). If we are trusting in our good works to get us to heaven, none of us has any hope at all!! We need a Saviour from sin.
How does Jesus come into my heart?
The phrase, "Ask Jesus to come into your heart," is not actually found in the Bible. One child did not want to be saved from sin because he thought he would burst if a grown man tried to get into his heart! When Jesus died on the cross, He was paying the full price demanded of the Father for sin. When we believe this, and personally accept Him as our Saviour, Jesus said He would give us the authority to become children of God! (John 1:12) Thus, it might be easier to understand what salvation is if I said that I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, and when I did, He took my sins away.
Why does God allow people to be born dead, or retarded etc.
Each person in the world has at least 10 unchangeable things about themselves (race, gender, size, family background, etc). God promises that He designed all these things about us for His special purposes (read Psalm 139:14-16). If a child goes immediately to heaven, or is born with special physical or mental problems, God has a special purpose in allowing this and He wants us to trust Him. This question about retarded children hits home to me for God allowed our family to have two retarded children. I do not know all the reasons God allowed this. However, I know that in taking care of them, all of the rest of us have learned many character qualities such as patience, love, initiative, diligence, contentment, and loyalty. Sometimes we think that the only thing that really counts is a good brain. My two boys have big hearts of love and that is, in the sight of God, at least as important as being smart, wouldn't you say?
Why does Jesus sit on God's right hand and not his left?
The position at the right hand is considered the place of greatest honor. We are told over a dozen times in the New Testament that Jesus is seated on the right hand of Father. It is the basis for living in obedience ( Romans 8:34), the assurance of salvation (Hebrews 1:3), the promise that His death paid the whole price for our sin (Hebrews 10:12) and the assurance of many other benefits. And do you know what? If you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, you are promised a place right next to Him (Ephesians 2:6)!
Why do we serve God on Sunday when Sat. is the seventh day (Sabboth day).
The Sabbath was a day of rest, designed by God for our benefit. He was our example for He rested on the 7th day of creation. Thus in a way we are recognising God as our Creator and Lord by resting one day in seven (instead of being greedy by working every day). Most Christians set aside the 1st day of the week to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, not just at Easter, but every week. Thus, in a way we are recognising that because of Jesus Christ, we are not just a creature, but also a new creature in Christ. (II Corinthians 5:17)
Do animals go to heaven? Do horses go to heaven?
Though white horses and fiery horses are mentioned in the Bible, they are not the same as the ones we love to ride here. God has given us animals for several purposes. Some animals are good for food (like a chicken), some are good for companionship (like a cat or dog), or work (like the ox). In heaven we will have none of these needs. It appears that God did not give animals an eternal soul. In the book of Job, we are told in chapter one that Job had 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and 10 children. Then Job lost all of this through a series of disasters. At the end of the book, God promised to give Job twice as much as he had before. The result: 14,000 sheep, 6000 camels, 1000 yoke of oxen, 1000 female donkeys, and 10 more children! Why did God not given him 20 children? Because the children will live forever. He would always have the first 10 children and now he would have 10 more, a total of 20 or twice as many. However, God gave him twice as many animals because the animals would not live forever in heaven.
Was Adam there when Eve ate the fruit. could he have stopped her?
Adam was not there. Satan made sure that she was alone when he tempted her. There is great strength in having a good friend to help you do right. Solomon told us, "Two are better than one, for if they fall the one will lift up his fellow." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) Eve was tempted and tricked into disobeying God. When she told Adam, he disobeyed without being tricked. Which is worse?