I just finished reading Michael J. Fox's book titled Always Looking Up, The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. I have always been a big fan of his, and have enjoyed his movies and TV shows. He made the Puente Hills Mall, in Hacienda Heights, famous when it was used in a scene in the blockbuster movie Back to the Future. A little trivia for you.
Micheal writes about work, faith, and love in his book. Micheal was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease over ten years ago, and he has formed a foundation who's goal is to find a cure. He has been on a quite a journey, and I was very interested in what he had to say, but especially on how he defined faith.
Micheal is a spiritual man who recounts how a good friend took him to church as they were growing up. When he was young, Micheal went to a local fair. This particular year, there was a Partridge Family like bus put there by a church. When Micheal went inside, he saw a man with a lit match talking to the kids about hell. The man was told them, "imagine thousands of these burning every part of your body, every inch of your skin. You would just be screaming in pain. Well, kids, that's what hell's like. But, there is good news... Micheal did not wait around to hear the good news. And this effected him greatly in his future outlook on God. Thankfully, Micheal did not walk completely away from God. He married, and took on his wife's Jewish faith, but he has very different feelings about God that are not necessarily Biblical because of his experience as a child.
It often saddens me that God gets represented wrong by those of us who consider ourselves "Christians." We can be bad examples, and have harsh things come out of our mouths that don't express the real message of God. While I think the minister was trying to make an impression on the kids for all the right reasons, the "Hell and Brimstone" approach usually is not effective in someone coming to know God.
Micheal decided to throw out the door that there is a place called Hell, and that is not Biblical. We are told that we not puppets, and out of love for us all, we are given free choice. Hell is separation from God due to a choice of not accepting God's love and forgiveness. Instead of focusing on the place called Hell, we need to focus on our choice on who to follow.
Satan is a liar (John 8:44), and God never breaks his promises (Psalm 119.50). Satan tells us that treasures on earth are important. God tells us nothing materialistic is important on earth. Satan whispers fear and doubt into our ears. God tells us to fear not, and that He will carry our burdens. When hard times come, Satan makes us doubt God's goodness. God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us, and to keep our eyes fixed on Him and he can make all things turn out for the good.
When we believe Satan's lies, we compromise our loyalty to God. We have to keep up our guard and be knowledgeable about God's Word so we can keep our eyes fixed on the one who loves us. God does not want any of us to succumb to Satan's tricks. Satan even tried to trick Jesus, as is written in the Gospels. Jesus, God's Son, paid the price for us already. Now we have the choice to accept His free gift.
Keep your eyes on the God who loves you, and trust that He is a just God who deals with us fairly. He promises that he is patient, and that He pursues us, but He is also not one to force us into anything.
Blessings,
Sandy
