I just discovered a new term recently — “Process Theology,” otherwise known as “Process Theism.” “Process theism does not deny that God is in some respects eternal, immutable, and impassible, but it contradicts the classical view by insisting that God is in some respects temporal, mutable, and passible” (1) “Specifically, process theism is a product of theorizing that takes the categories of becoming, change, and time as foundational for metaphysics. The metaphysical underpinning of process theism is often called process philosophy,” (1) “Process Theology departs from traditional Christian beliefs mainly because of its view of the nature of God and His relationship to the universe. Many critics relate this deviance to the low view of Scripture held by Process Theologians who by and large deny the divine inspiration of the Bible. Others critique Process Theology as panentheism which says that God is to the world as a soul is to a body. It is believed that God is not the universe as in pantheism, but that God is apart from the universe, yet also in it. As the world is in the process of changing, so is God, and he is in the process of becoming all that he can be.” (2) So I’m not even going to touch that yet. I ran into this new to me term from an article that blew my mind with what the person was saying about God and miracles. To each their own, but they used the word “christian” to describe themselves, and I do lower case that because this is not Christianity. Here’s what I started thinking. First — why? Why are so many people willing to do this? This isn’t a divide and conquer situation here, yes, we can absolutely disagree on some minor things in the Bible, but we should be united in God at the same time. But this labeling crap is just to much. We aren’t “like-minded” anymore; there is so much division, personal opinions, lack of even basic Bible reading, and satan galore taking advantage of all this division. The Harm. There is such harm to be had with these labels, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been asked what my religion is, and I answer “Christian,” “follower of Jesus” or “believer” only to be hounded with more questions and sometimes demands as to what denomination or belief system I adhere to. Why can’t I just be a Christian who reads the Bible? I don’t follow any doctrine, and I didn’t make up my own either; I simply read the Bible. More recently-ish, I commented on an article, and the person commented back, “With these sentiments, you might be a Baptist and not know it.” I was so confused. First, my profession is not baptizing people; second, my comment was Biblical, not an opinion; third, I know dang well what I am. I don’t need someone tossing a label at me. Isn’t that getting old by now? Too many times, I have encountered people who define themselves by one of the many definitions and labels out there and just sort of stay locked in that definition's dogma without wanting to venture further and have a full-blown relationship with God. Sad to see that, and the division it’s causing among Christians worldwide. You know who just loves division and can really do some work with it? Satan. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” Romans 16:17 Division creates deviation. These constant and increasing divisions/labels only cause further and further deviations away from the Bible, which means you get further and further away from God and the Truth. The further away you get from Biblical teachings, the more you are in the running for the next top false teaching, and can not lump yourself into the Christian category any longer. “deny the divine inspiration of the Bible” “As the world is in the process of changing, so is God, and he is in the process of becoming all that he can be.” That ☝🏻 is not following Christ; that is not Biblical. Period. Now I don’t claim to know everything in the Bible, and I definitely have stuff I’m still working out, I’m fine with, because that will come in due time when the Lord knows I’m ready. I also have no qualms about calling out stuff that is not Biblical, using common sense, and the Bible to do so. Not to cause division but to point out the obvious, call out loads of barnacles out there, and hopefully inspire searching out God and truth for yourself. But please, can we stop with the division already? When someone answers that they are a Christian, be happy that they found the Lord! You may have just met the next person you are both to learn from. We don’t need labels to feel special; we are already special and precious to God. © Jane Isley (1) Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Process Theism. (2) Theopedia: Process theology

Lori Wangler is a slightly mischievous disciple of Jesus, sharing the surprises she finds in her Bible with an occasional dash of humor and a challenge: “So now what?” She believes the role of the teacher is to leave the listener with more questions than pat answers, and a desire to seek them out. With no other qualifications than a desire to be like Jesus, she is not widely read and not always a welcome face in the crowd. But to know her is to love her. Aside from her studies, she loves to travel, try new things, and find and photograph the beauty of creation. You can find her Scripture-based essays, as well as several shots at humor, on Medium, and her entire “Isaiah for Dummies” series on her blog, Ponder.

The latest coming out from Christianity is the Old Testament God vs the New Testament God argument. That somehow they are different, and people are now declaring they are following the “God of Love,” not the “God of Wrath,” to get away with their wants. Well, here's the thing you’ll never be able to argue your way out of: "I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 (That’s OT and NT, by the way, just to cover my bases.) How do you think you’re going to argue your way out of that one? Your “God of the New Testament” is telling you He doesn’t change. You either accept all of Him or none of Him. There is no room between those two options. If you can’t accept all of Him, then you can not call yourself a Christian, because you are removing vital parts of God that are necessary for your understanding, salvation, and heaven. Once you start cherry-picking the parts you like, then you are guilty of creating a false religion; it is no longer Christianity. Society might have you duped into thinking you can make changes to the natural order of things, but an apple is still an apple even if you call it an orange. You may think you are strong for believing in yourself and deciding your own religion by declaring which Biblical God you’re following, but I say it is weakness and laziness. The loving Jesus you follow, and cling to certain teachings of, said this about the Old Testament: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 Additionally, Jesus also stated, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30. Then in Hebrews 13:8 we see, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” You can’t get around that one, or the next one either. Your God of Love is also that God of wrath you don’t want to follow. Just read Revelation, you’ll be quite surprised. “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:15 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 Here’s the link to look at the original Greek translation of Revelation 21:8, and here for Revelation 22:15, just in case you’re going with a translation error defense. If you do not know God, He will not know you. You know deep down I speak the truth, you just don’t want to hear it. You know what is real strength? Your willingness to obey God. And part of that is reading the Bible, learning the ins and outs because there is no contradiction of God’s character; to learn requires work, willingness, acceptance of new information, and being committed to following Him. When you follow Him, truly follow Him, something beautiful happens: you get a new heart. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 When you obey God, you start changing and growing, and the fruits of the Spirit naturally begin to come out of you. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22–23 Most people are familiar with these verses, or at least the gist of it —  But you want to see the first part for full context? The part that people conveniently ignore. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5 Think that pretty much covers it. ©Jane Isley You might also like: 📖 Can I get a slice of God to go, please? 📖 Is the Bible a Masterpiece? 📖 Are you ready for what is coming our way?

My name is Larry Thompson. I’m am simply a pen that prayerfully writes what God inspires me to think and share. It is my sincere prayer that none be lost and that all should accept the saving grace of God in the gift offered to all of us through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Peace and Blessings be with you. Medium

Many only want one piece of God’s character, saying they choose the “loving God”, but then ignore the rest of Him in an effort to justify their belief system. Let me provide an example. My husband: he is sweet, kind, loving, happy, crabby, serious, annoying, stubborn, cheerful, fun, defensive, smart, etc… I can’t just choose one or even two of his characteristics to love and converse with for the rest of my life; I have to choose all of him or none because he’s a package deal, and they are all equally a part of him. That would lead to a rather dull and disappointing relationship if I only interacted with one or two of his characteristics for the rest of my life. I believe most sane people can agree that to love someone is to accept all of their characteristics, even the ones you aren’t particularly fond of. It’s All-Or-Nothing This idea that you can pick and choose what characteristics of God you want to believe in and focus on is disastrous for your faith. You can’t select, elevate, and revere one above the others and expect a rich and abundant relationship with Him. www.studocu.com It really is an all-or-nothing situation. To cut God’s characteristics up like a pizza, then pick one piece to eat for the rest of your life, will leave you starving. I Do Not Change Here’s the thing: God does not change, and in turn, you can not change God either and expect Him to go along with that nonsense. You have to accept all of Him, even the “God of the Old Testament” that so many have an issue with. Some will call as defense that the Old Testament God is not the same God of the New Testament and that they simply can not believe in that kind of God, yet they happily say they believe in “The God of the New Testament.” Which is quite oxymoronic because they are one and the same. Additionally, we have Jesus stating, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30. Then in Hebrews 13:8 we see, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” Your God Of Love Is Also The God Of Wrath Attempting to separate the two, or any of the characteristics of God, leaves you at a disadvantage where you begin to adjust your thinking to the ways of man and not the ways of God. When you remove a characteristic(s) you don’t like or understand, then you simply do not know God. It would be an impossibly, because you are removing key elements and pressing the mute button on both yourself and God. You, and only you, are responsible for that. If you are capable of accepting your spouse, parents, siblings, child, best friend, etc, as a whole, then you are fully capable of doing that with the God of both the Old and New Testament because they are indeed one and the same, whether you want to accept that or not. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22–25 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 Acceptance is and always will be your choice. But it goes both ways; acceptance into Heaven is also God’s choice as well, if you turn from Him, He will not let you enter. Understanding the attributes of God in the Bible reminds us that knowing Him means embracing His whole character, not just the parts that feel comfortable. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:20–24 © Jane Isley Sources, References & Recommended Reads: Malachi 3:6, James 1:17 & Romans 8:13 GotQuestions.org: Why is God so different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament? Overemphasizing One Attribute of God by: David Norczyk Bible Study Tools: The Attributes of God: What They Mean and Why They Matter

One would think the answer is no, but alas, why should it be a surprise that I even have a reason to be writing this article? Some churches are known for requiring or specifying specific prayer postures. I, however, do not believe a church has the right to dictate a person’s prayer position, for any reason. I consider it quite rude and controlling to do so. As well as it limits the Holy Spirit from being able to engage with that person fully if there is a demand or script to go along with prayer. When I am praying, I do what my body tells me is right. By that I mean I might be in my office chilling and praying out loud to God, and something deep comes over me and I want to go to Him differently. I’ll move, and either bow my head, clasp my hands while sitting, lift my arms up to Him, go for a walk, or get on my knees. I do what I feel is needed in my prayers to God. It is a personal and intimate moment that is between just God and me, not a man. I walked into a discussion about “how are we supposed to pray?” Well, that was soon followed up by being told (during a sermon) we were now being expected to pray a certain way, and anything less meant we were not doing it right according to the gospel of that pastor. No explanations, and no verses to support doing just that one specific posture all the time. It was forced on us within the matter of a few seconds, and I watched as 97% of the congregation went along with it, like the pastor's word was God’s word. This forced situation confused me to no end, and no, I did not comply. The Bible gives us examples of many positions people have prayed in to God, He didn’t care what their body position was; He just cared about where their heart was positioned. King David went and sat down. The Levites said stand up and praise God. Elijah paced back and forth. Nehemiah praised the Lord, and then they bowed down. Men lifting up their Holy hands in prayer. Peter got down on his knees. Moses prostrated himself before God. You can even keep your eyes open and look up when praying, Jesus did. Then here, I spotted that Solomon stood at an altar with his arms spread out, and then he changed positions. All sorts of positions are listed above, not one mentioned as superior to the other. Next, we have Jesus teaching us how to pray. (who btw, prayed in a variety of different postures Himself) When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, it was words he taught them, not a posture. I don't read anywhere where He leads with “first you have to get in xxxx position, only then can you pray. No, He starts by saying, “This, then, is how you should pray,” and “When you pray, say:” In fact, Jesus doesn’t specify any particular position. I believe this is done for a reason — to stop churches and leaders from dictating how we are “supposed” to “pray properly.” Let’s not forget: We are created in God’s image, He gave us abundant ways to communicate. You're really going to unbiblically try and tell me I’m supposed to pray a certain way? I think not. It’s the position of the heart that matters when praying to God, do not let any person or church control how you pray. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 © Jane Isley

I’ve been plagued lately with sadness at what I see happening within many churches. To me, they are no longer churches, just fancy buildings full of people who have not just lost their way, but purposely go their own way, and think they can convince God to go along with it. Many debates have already happened, and even more will continue as people pursue themselves and increasingly push God aside in pursuit of life, liberty, and the lies they want to hear. The same people who can quote Psalm 23 without a moment's hesitation with a faithful adoration are willingly choosing to ignore other parts of the Bible. Both the leaders and the congregants are equally guilty. “This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).” “But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?” “You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.” “You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.” “[…]But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:” I don’t need to elaborate, explain, or break down the language. God couldn’t be clearer. If you can not bear this, you are not of Him. If you are angered, you are not of Him. If you cannot hear Him, you are not of Him. Ignorance is not bliss. No one is stopping anyone from reading their Bible and having courage in God to stand faithfully to His words. © Jane Isley Reference Verses and recommended reads: Bible Gateway; NIV Psalm 49 & Bible Gateway; NIV Psalm 50

Psalms 23 was written in the Hebrew language. A language I have fallen in love with, because one word can have so many meanings, and it’s those other meanings that need to be known sometimes to really feel and understand what the Holy Spirit was saying to us. That’s what I brought to the surface here, or at least attempted to the best of my ability: I took the words, researched their roots, and wrote Psalms 23 using the expansive meanings of these words. I wanted to write it in a way so that when people read it, they see the beauty and meaning behind every translated word chosen for this prayer. And when they pray it next, it is not the mindless chant that it has become in churches. Father, you are my vigilant Shepherd who tends to my every need and constant companion who keeps my company. Never am I without, or in need, nor do I find myself left wanting because You have created and provided for me a beautiful place. It is rich with fragrant blooms, savory herbs, and tender grasses to lie down and rest, I nestle against waters so still and tranquil that my soul is at ease. I am restored and refreshed as I repent, and You build in me a renewed mind. Thank you, Father, for I know you continue to lead before me, always directing every course of my life, through deep or shallow trenches, waysides, and hardened paths You are always there. Moreover, even when I go through those valleys and gorges that are shaded by ruin and death, never will I be frightened by the unpleasant, or wicked because, indeed, You continue to walk alongside me, staying my ever present companion, using your rod to correct my path and providing me your staff for support and rest when I grow weary. You have set a standing reservation in my name at your table. You have honored me greatly with your invitation, Father. Just as a shepherd provides and protects his flock, You continue to welcome, nurture, and protect me in the face of adversity at your table. Honoring and anointing me just like the kings and priests of old. I openly sit before adversaries, overflowing with blessings and joy, honored with your grace and generosity. Thank you, Father. I do not fear life or death because of You. Your joyful favor, precious mercy, and steadfast love are always with me. I anticipate the moment we meet upon my death, when I dwell forever eternal in Your house. © Jane Isley

Caregiver burnout, boundaries, and God You will stumble, you will fail at times, you will cry and grieve what you once had. But you will also excel in something so complex that only you are the expert. You will soar and sing praises when mountains are moved, you see their smiles, and have those precious good days. And you will become the advocate you never knew you were. From me to you, you are doing the hardest job in the world. I am a parent and a caregiver to my disabled adult daughter. There is a difference between the struggles and frustrations that come with being a parent versus those of a parent caregiver. At some point, we all believe our children will leave the nest. They will go their own way independently of their parents and make a life in this world. No more scheduling their doctor’s appointments, making sure their homework is done, or doing their laundry. Being a caregiver can be a whole other type of hell. If you’ve been one or are one, you know exactly what I mean. Your life is forever intertwined with the person you are caring for. Your mind does not rest because it’s always in caregiver mode. Even if you get the chance to get away for the evening, your role never clocks out; you’re either keeping an eye on your phone, having random thoughts of them throughout your evening, and inevitably, at some point, the person you’re caring for is brought up in conversation. This Role Never Leaves You I have been my daughter's primary (and for a long time, only) caregiver for 12 years, when everything changed for her in an instant when she was 11. I have no career to speak of, no finished college degree, a very sad 401(k) that I try to contribute to, no sick days, vacation days, weekends off, and not even earned credits towards my social security if I get the chance to retire. Man, Do I Miss Fridays When I knew I had two full days to sleep in, chill, and take a break. I get sad over that when I think about it. I haven’t had a Friday in 12 years. I know I could have stepped away from this role and not taken it on. I’ve seen it done before, but I love my daughter with everything I have; those job perks above I leave to the Lord. He put us together for a reason, and I trust His reasoning for that, but wow, some days I do get frustrated, sad, and exhausted. I am forever thankful for God’s grace and patience, and knowing He goes beyond just loving me on my worst days, to carrying the burden of this role that can weigh me down, and providing me the restful peace I need amongst the darkness of compassion fatigue and overstimulation. Many people surround me, and I’m sure you’ve had the same throughout your time as a caregiver. However, as caregivers, we also understand that the ones who surround us do not understand those weights in the same way as we do. It is an experience that is uniquely ours. You know it’s ok not to be ok at times, right? At one point, the stress of being a caregiver got so bad that I broke down. Everyone around me seemed so willing to “help,” but all they wanted was to stay and chat, then they’d leave the moment something happened with my daughter. Leaving me crushed, hurt, and broken. Everyone who was with me when things started to get bad for my daughter did this. They left everything on my shoulders and a few loved to toot their horn about being a caregiver when in fact they did nothing. When I say I broke, I mean I broke. I sought out medical help and was admitted to the hospital. I lashed out at people after that, not cruelly or maliciously, but I did chew some serious butt. I started calling them out for what they were doing, I fought back, and I demanded better. I also distanced myself from the ones who saw no wrong in their behavior and only brought their drama over to our home. No one saw me. They saw what they wanted, which was the person who took care of everything for my daughter. It was easy peasy for them because they didn’t have to lift a finger. I wasn’t a person anymore, I was a handy commodity. I still feel that way sometimes now, when certain situations arise, but I’ve since fought back and have been starting to reclaim parts of my life again. How do you reclaim your life when it’s intertwined with another’s? The answer is you don’t, you never will be able to. But you can carve out chunks here and there and build on those. That’s what I had to learn to do for myself, and what I had to fight for. I need those chunks, those are my Fridays now. The moments I look forward to. That’s how I reclaimed a life for myself, and a new path was forged by God. My days will never be what they once were, or what they could have been. But my days now are so much better because I am no longer afraid to cry, and say “not today”, I’m not afraid to say I need someone else to take care of their own life, and I’m absolutely not afraid to give it to God and lean on Him to take a breath. That is the most beautiful gift He has given me. I put up a healthy wall, built a new foundation for myself with God’s help, and put people in their place if they try and take advantage. I tell my family now what I need when I’m struggling, even if it means leaving things messy or ignoring calls. I may be a caregiver, but I am more than that, and so are you. We are people with wishes, wants, and dreams that got sidelined in a way few understand, a sideline that will forever become a part of who we are now because our lives are wholly entwined with another person’s life. But we are more than caregivers; we are unique, loved, and worthy of forging a new path with God. © Jane Isley First Published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

I fell off my chair. Literally. When I regained consciousness, my eyes opened to a mosaic of the faces from my Bible study. They brought me juice and a blueberry muffin. As the study continued, I cringed in embarrassment. Little did I know that God was beginning a good work in me. Falling off my chair was Day One in Sanctification 101. When a person comes face-to-face with death, it’s not a bad time to ponder one’s purpose in life. Prior to Day One, my sole purpose in life was me. My happiness. My pleasure. My fulfillment. You only live once, make the most of it! If that’s true, then when my body is lowered into the ground and the first shovelful of dirt tossed on my coffin, then that’s it. There is nothing more. Nothing more to life. It’s a sad thought. Why get out of bed if there is nothing more? Every Cell Tells a Story I look at my hands and think of all they have accomplished in over 50 years of blood running through my veins. Thump-bump, thump-bump. I feel the near-silent pulse of my heart pumping blood through my body; the assembly-line of iron-rich red blood cells swimming past the alveoli to pick up oxygen, which they will carry to every cell in my body. Oxygen is the necessary ingredient in combustion reactions, which provide the energy needed for me to think, walk, talk, type, read, move, and breathe. It’s kind of miraculous, if you ask me. But some will say we evolved and have no purpose. A World That Points Beyond Itself But it’s not just the miracle of the human body, but the miracle of the Maple tree outside my kitchen window. Without a heart, the tree’s xylem and phloem transport water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the tree. The fruit trees will produce blossoms, which birds and bees will assist in fertilizing, until we pick the ripe fruit and eat it; more energy for my body’s cells so I can think and walk and talk and type and read and move and breathe. It’s a miracle, if you ask me. And our planet, Earth, on which these fruit trees grow, is 93 million miles from the sun. If we just happened to be 5 million miles closer to the sun, Earth would not be habitable. It would be a great sauna, too hot to sustain life. No xylem and phloem in trees producing fruit. No blood carrying oxygen to my cells. No life. Nothing. Lucky thing we’re just the right distance from the sun? No. Luck isn’t involved here, just a brilliant Creator. If you ask me, He’s a miracle worker. In His Image And that brilliant Creator created me. I look in the mirror. It’s the same face I have seen every day for over 50 years. Looks pretty normal, yet I am created, “in the image of God.” I may not ‘look’ like God, but He created me with some of His attributes. I have a natural moral grounding, an innate knowledge of right and wrong. I desire relationship with others. I have intellect and the ability to reason. These are gifts from God, which are used to fulfill His purpose in my life. But despite these gifts and my knowledge of right and wrong, I do not stand on a moral high ground. Every day, I get out of bed and sin. I sin in my words. I sin in my thoughts. I sin in my actions. If I had evolved, the one thing that should have been bred out of the DNA of humans is sin, but it never leaves. Every single person who has descended from Adam has the sin disease. Every person except Jesus. Judgment, Mercy, and a Savior God looked down at His sin-filled creation, making a mess of everything. When things got really bad, He destroyed every living thing on earth by flood, preserving only those on the ark. When things continued to go downhill, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. And when things continued to crash and burn, He showered Mercy down upon us. He didn’t give us the punishment we deserved: death. Instead, He came down to Earth in the bodily form of Jesus Christ. The God-man. God Incarnate. God in the flesh. Jesus lived a perfect life and died a sinner’s death. It is only a perfect sacrifice that can redeem a world of sinners, and that’s what He did. God allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, begging forgiveness for those crucifying Him. It is my sin and your sin that held Him there. If there had been another way, Jesus would have taken it, but there was no other way. He died so that we may live. Eternally. With Him. In Heaven. Forever. All we need to do is believe. The Question of Faith But, but, but… I hear you. It’s a leap of faith to believe that God came to Earth as a man and died on a cross to save me. It’s also a leap of faith to say there is no God; that we were all created by random chance; that we just happen to have blood in our veins that has iron in it that picks up oxygen from our lungs and carries it to where it’s needed in our bodies; that we evolved from trilobites. The geological column verifies it, right? I Know Where I Am Going I lay flat on my back on the hospital bed, being wheeled into the surgery room, staring at the lights embedded in the ceiling. As I had my last conscious thoughts before the anesthesia kicked in, I knew it took more faith to be an atheist than a Christian. If I didn’t survive the surgery, I knew where I was going. That’s why I believe. © 2026 Tessa Lind from Pursuing Perfection on Substack