"Connected With God"

 "Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had mana, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" (Hebrews 9:4 KJV)

  "Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. And after that had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: "The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, 'Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it."" (Acts 28:24-29 NLT)

 As much as I would like to fully understand all of the things that I should know by now, there is just no way for them to be completely understood, no matter how hard I try. If I think I have something figured out, the 'Swirling Eddey's' kick in, and I find myself more confused than I was before. Therefore, I must not try to go beyond simple! 

 This passage that Paul was sharing from Isaiah, however complex it might have seemed to be for those who listened, the simple thing they needed, was the need to be healed! Those that do not think they need to be saved, whether it because they do want to, or they don't believe it is real, they must be able to see and understand the reason that they need the salvation that God is offering them. 

 Not everyone that accepts God's free gift will fully comprehend what it is for and why were even given it, mostly because they either thought it would make their lives better, they would feel better, or that they would actually not sin anymore. In Ray's book, "Hell's Best Kept Secret," he illustrated the ways many people don't really know the reason they need to be saved, therefore the trials and torment that they might experience, causes them to fall away, not believing it is real or had badly they needed it.

 Some things we think are happening to us, because God is judging us, are just the things He wants to teach us, instruct in us, and be able to allow ourselves to trust Him more; and it is only by us being able to believe that He really loves us, even in our hurt and difficulties, that we know He never ever stops loving us! We were saved so that we could be connected with God, and He wants us to need Him...

""And judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All how do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:19-21 NLT)