We need God to help us make it through this life. Nonetheless, there are many of us who feel that we can take care of ourselves, and we don't need God. We're big and brave until the adversities and sorrows of life come upon us. When we lose loved ones, our health, or all that we own, we then realize our own inadequacy and insufficiency. It's then that we desire to go to One greater than ourselves.
Our God is a God of comfort and consolation. Listen to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
We can find assurance in the fact that we can cast all our care upon God, knowing He cares for us and is ever ready to assist His children. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…” Again, in 1 Peter 5:6-7 we read, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Man cannot live this life successfully without God leading him. Solomon in Proverbs 14:12 said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Moreover, Jeremiah 10:23 tells us, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
Yes, we always need God. Let's keep that fact in mind, and let's serve Him faithfully.
Without God we would have no hope whatsoever of life after death. He offers us the hope of a life hereafter. Those who are in this life without God cannot entertain the hope of eternal life in heaven with God. Paul said of the Gentiles who were once without God, "At that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12)
There is a sharp contrast between the Christian's view of eternity and that of those who reject God! To the faithful Christian eternity is not a leap into darkness, but is something to desire and look forward to. Listen to what Paul in Philippians 1:21-24 "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." Paul was ready to die. He wanted to go and be with Christ.
How about you? Are you living in this world without hope? If so, why not make the changes necessary to be pleasing to God? Paul went on to say regarding the Gentiles, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). By being in Christ, we can be redeemed by His blood, and have the hope of eternal life.
We need God to give substance and meaning to our lives. Apart from God, man would not know his origin, purpose, or destiny. Knowing these things is essential to man's experiencing the substance, and understanding the meaning, of life.
God, in Genesis chapter 1, tells us of our origin. He said in verse 27, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
God has also told us why we're here. Solomon declared in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." This declaration was made after Solomon had explored all the avenues and indulgences of life in an effort to discover substance and true pleasure. He found it only in God.
Thus, the whole (the essence or substance) of man is to fear God and keep his commandments. Obeying God out of dependence upon Him results in having a good foundation upon which to build. Doing God's will results in living a satisfying, rewarding and fulfilling life here, and gives the promise of being in heaven with Him when this life is over.
How about you? What's your purpose in life? Serving God and keeping His commandments is what life is all about.
We need God to keep us from destroying ourselves. Separated from God, man deteriorates. Please consider what Genesis 6:5 says regarding the conduct of early man. "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Man can be compared to a beautiful hybrid rose. As long as he enjoys cultivation and care, he flourishes; however, take away this cultivation and he rapidly declines in his beauty.
God is the only source of the care man must have in order to maintain spiritual beauty and bear fruit. God knows what we need! Man needs God to lift him out of the mire of degradation and waste, and enable him to ascend the ladder of spiritual and moral excellence.
The psychiatrists and psychologists tell us that man is his own worst enemy. They tell us that the major causes of man's problems and his destruction are envy, jealousy, greed, hate, and worry. Every one of these things God has discussed at great length in His revelation. God has provided us with a comprehensive guide to living here on earth. We don't need the psychiatrists and psychologists to tell us how to live our lives. All we need is to listen to God.
Listen to what He has said about envy in Proverbs 14:30: "A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones." Jesus said in Luke 12:15, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." He said in Matthew 5:43-44, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you..." 1 John 3:15 says, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
There are numerous other passages which show us how to live our lives in peace and harmony without destroying ourselves. Let us learn them and take heed.
