Can I tell you a bit about my past?
Question:
You have given me insight into my life and that I appreciate it a lot. I would like to tell you more about my life's story now that you know some things about me. I want to show how great God is -- not me or how good I am, but God's love for us. I am sometimes scared to share it and cannot always do it. It brings me to choices in my life which are confusing. I have to learn to forgive. Before I say anything wrong, I have to think about the right words. I always say things as they came up in my head and don't spend enough time thinking about it. I have to first write it to get the right words and not cause confusion.
Thanks for your amazing patient with my hard head. My God bless you forever and, yes, I would like to stay in touch for advice
Answer:
You are welcome to talk with me about anything that is on your mind. So long as you understand that my purpose is to get you and others to heaven. I'm willing to listen but expect me to scold you when you do wrong along with praises when you do right. Word things as best you can and if I don't understand, be sure that I will ask. And if I did not understand correctly, just let me know. I know working in other languages is difficult.
Looking at the past to learn from our mistakes is good. We should never forget that we are vulnerable to Satan's tricks. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (I John 1:8-10). But even here we can get trapped. Some people spend all their time focusing on what they have done wrong in the past. As a result:
- They rarely spend time doing what is right in the future.
- Since they are keeping their past sins fresh in their minds by thinking about them, they end up causing themselves to be tempted more often to repeat those sins.
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14).
Question:
Thank you for taking the time to help me. I really appreciate your patient and kindness in my story. I am still young and have so much to learn. Sometimes I feel so small and wonder why God would still love me.
I try to follow His Son's ways, but I find from time to time that I fail. I just wish to be in heaven one day. We live in a world with so much pain. I don't know why, but I see it. The devil knows that too and is trying to turn me against people and God. This may sound weird but even in my dreams.
Answer:
I would like you to read an answer that I wrote to another young man, "If God knew men would sin, why did He create the world?" I too long to go home, but I know that the journey there is for my benefit and, if I am faithful, for the benefit of others because I can encourage them to hold on until the end.
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don't make known what I will choose. But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again" (Philippians 1:21-26).
Question:
I need to confess something that is weighing on my heart: When I was a student I put drops into a friend's drink to make him drunk. I was curious to see if he looked the same as me when naked. Please forgive me. I saw in the passage you sent to me earlier how wrong I was and now I feel really bad. In the end, we went to sleep, but I still did wrong. It is so hard to admit. Why are we so weak and do things we regret?
Thanks for listening. I just needed to confess this. I don't know if this will end our conversation.
Answer:
I'm glad you realize that what you had done was wrong. You're not the first to have tried this. God charged people in ancient Israel of doing the same thing. "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness!" (Habakkuk 2:15). But it is not me who needs to forgive you. You did not sin against me, but against the friend and against God. So tell your friend in some private moment that you did him wrong and now that you have learned you would like to apologize to him. And go to the heavenly Father and confess to Him your sin as well. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).
I don't know if done all that God requires of you to become one of His children. Far too many only teach a part of God's will and not the whole of it. See "Things that Accompany Salvation" for more details. Please look up all the passages so that you can see what is required for yourself. If you would like to talk to a preacher in your area, let me know and I will try to locate someone I trust.
