The Real Meaning of Life

Before I start with the controversial subject matter, let me reiterate that I am not a pastor, I’m not ordained, and I haven’t had one minute of theological training. I’m just your average Joe who reads the Bible, then puts my impression of the scripture on digital paper. You may not agree with me on the issues and that is fine; I’m not here to convert anyone, just to give everyone a different perspective of God’s word.

I don’t know if anyone is like me or not, but I tend to think of the Bible’s authors as perfect. Most were prophets or disciples of God who were handpicked by Him. But I have to remember they weren’t perfect, they were flawed, just as I am flawed.

Before I begin with the controversial stuff, today’s read talks about King Manasseh and his son, King Amon. Both were “evil in the sight of the Lord” and ruled contrary to God’s word. As scripture describes, …he rebuilt the high places, he built altars to the false god Baal (even making an altar inside God’s house, he built altars to the moon and stars and worshiped them, he practiced witchcraft and consulted mediums, and he even mmade his own son pass through the fire.

So ask yourself, how could someone, in Biblical times, be so far from God? Well, it’s no different than today. By now, thousands of years have passed since the days of Moses when the law was handed down, and we see where the children of Israel have strayed from God and are clinging to earthly things. We are extremely imperfect today, and they were extremely imperfect back then. And we can see where the majority of the Kings of Israel were bad.

Remember way back when the people of Israel wanted a king, but God warned against it? He gave them a king; King Saul to be exact. And that shows just how much God gives us free will to do what we please, good or bad. God knew setting kings over Israel wasn’t going to end well, He knew the majority of the kings were going to be bad and lead the children of Israel down the wrong road. But He still gave them a king.

Part of Mannaseh’s problem had to be that he became king at such a young age, 12 to be exact. Can you imagine a 12 year old making decisions that affect a nation? There were days past where the children were more mature, more devoted to God. Take Isaac for example, his father was leading him to slaughter, he was going to be sacrificed to God, and yet there is no indication that he resisted. He was young, but he was also devoted to his father Abraham and devoted to God as well, and was willing to die for God’s will. Now we see a young King Mannaseh doing foolish things, things you would expect from a teen or pre-teen. I’m just saying, God knew it was bad for Israel to have kings, and He was right as He always is.

Now to the controversial stuff. I hate it when scripture talks about God doing bad things. And in this chapter, they do it again. Scripture says God spoke to His servants and prophets (no specific names mentioned), and told them He was going to bring “calamity” on Israel for the sins of Judah. When did we ever see Jesus bring calamity on anyone? Did He bring calamity on the Pharisees that were persecuting Him? Peter even defended Jesus by attacking and injuring one of the Roman guards who had come to arrest Jesus, and Jesus not only told Peter to stop and scolded him for it, Jesus healed the guard!

As He hung on the cross, knowing the people had sinned against Him, did He bring calamity on anyone, or did He ask His Father to “forgive them for they know not what they do”? Wouldn’t He also asked forgiveness for Mannaseh because he knew not what he was doing? So every time I read something that portrays God as something other than loving and merciful, I question it, strongly question it. And I believe as I said in my last post, I won’t hear of it! If I start reading a chapter that talks about the “wrath of God”, I simply skip over it because one, I’m already skeptical about the Bible to begin with, and two, I know the authors were simply men who were subject to the same misinterpretations and misconceptions I am today.

God is good. God is love. God would not do anything to harm His children, despite what scripture might lead you to believe. When I see God painted in a bad light, I know Satan has had in hand in the writing, interpretations, and teaching of that scripture.

God = Love.