Christian poetry – Inspirational Messages of God’s Greatness And Compassion

Where Is God

I once read an article entitled Where is God. As I was reading it, I reminisced on how I never had to ask that question. Since I met God decades ago, He was always in my life. I mean I not only felt His presence, but He has shown His miraculous ability to solve problems just in the nick of time, again and again. He’s been very merciful and forgiving.

I couldn’t help but just meditate and give Him Thanks and praise for His faithfulness and His attention to me. I also wondered like Psalmist, whom am I that God is mindful of me. Why did God take such good care of me? All I could think of is because I’m His child and He loves me. He loves me so much that I never had to ask “Where is God”.

Scripture references:

Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Is This Hell?

My initial learning about Hell was that it was a place where you go to after you die if you have not been saved meaning you had not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior or repented of your sins. Hell was a place of eternal fire and permanent separation from God.¹ Just the thought of that makes me cringe as that is such misery and the thought of being in a fire is just unbearable. But at one time things were really going bad for me. It seemed to be no end in sight and time was just slowly creeping by. And the thought came to my mind was; is this Hell? Perhaps Hell is more than just fire? Maybe it’s unbearable conditions on earth and one can be placed there even if they are not dead.

After a few days things got better. So I know my thoughts were just that and I was not in real hell. But I never want to be. I don’t know if real hell is only fire but one thing for sure, is that it is permanent.(Luke 16:26) On earth, God’s mercy can change the conditions of a righteous praying person.² But once one is condemned to hell, there’s no hope of suffering getting better³ That’s enough to scare me into staying in the grace of the Lord and to do my best to live according to His words and principles. Because I sure don’t want to have to ask again-is this Hell?

Scripture references:

¹Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

² Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

³ Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Sustainment Without Sustenance

I reflect on the beginning of the 2020 pandemic when most recreational events were starting to close and I asked myself how am I going to keep my sanity when the very things that keep me going are no longer in existence? As bad as I thought my situation was, I saw others that had it much worse. Businesses in all industries had to close leaving employees suddenly without jobs. I’m sure it was devastating to think how they were going to sustain their families and housing without any income. When what we are depending on to keep us is gone we ask; how do I sustain something with no sustenance?

I’ve seen so many instances and wonder how was that possible when it wasn’t possible. How you walk through a dangerous neighborhood often and not be attacked? How do you continue to live in a place in spite of not being able to pay rent? Why your body didn’t break down when pharmacy ran out of medicine? Why you don’t feel lonely even though you are alone? And so on. How is sustainment without sustenance possible? Jesus gave us the answer in Mark 10:27, basically what’s not possible with man is possible with God.

And God sustained me in 2020 and beyond. He showed me new ways to relax and clear my mind outside of the typical activities. I saw His other sustenance at work like giving business owners new ways to make sales via delivery apps. The government assisted people with income and rental assistance to sustain their families and so on. My lesson learned was that it wasn’t those activities that were sustaining my mind. It was God’s grace and mercy. He renewed them daily by sustaining me.

Scripture references:

Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.