That's a HUGE jump there in my opinion. May I suggest think of God as I do. I try to understand Him in respect to how a human father would act.
Honor Him by running your life the best you can. Don't think of punishment for doing the wrong thing. Think of the blessings for doing the right things. I also personally believe trying to do the right things to get into heaven is doing things for personal reward and not just because they're the right things to do.
What are the right things? What you feel in your heart (as long as it does not harm another human being) is the right thing. If you've prayed about an important decision and do what you feel is right, it's probably right or there's a lesson God has planned for you for that particular event.
My human dad wants me to be the best person I can be. I believe that is what my heavenly Dad wants of me as well.
Rick
what is the best? in this world, the best, those run in front? God says they come in the end. (Mathew 20:16 So the last will be the first, and the first will be the last.) there is a better explanation of it here on
BIBLE STUDY MANUALS: THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST, THE LAST, FIRST.
My own earthly father doesn't like me go to church, or hear sermons or study the bible, or doesn't want me do it 'too much'. he believes that im wasting time studying those things that are irrelevant to life. he believes i should rather plan things on my own, work for my desires, get into the world, and be integrated into the world. in his eyes, i cannot be accepted by people of this world. he also wants me to be 'the best me'.
this comes back to the question what is the best you. the best you, the Lord says is He lives in you and to achieve the will of God through you. do you know that our world now is at a time when our churches fit into 'the Church in Laodicea' (Revelation 3:14-22), the end times.
at this time, a lot of people are guided by feelings. they seek God that is 'sensually real' to them, that kind of someone they can sense. this is unfounded on the Bible. i just heard a powerful series of sermons on the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation in chinese. that's how i found my fault--which is actually prevalent in whether US or China. they believe you can go to heaven without the Lord's victory manifested.
be cautious. don't follow feelings, but the word of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit. don't follow any human, but the Lord alone, because we all fall from time to time. at end times, the devil will try to deceive you by all kinds of miracles.
i understand that you are trying to be successful, but in a sense the world recognizes or looks up to? i like paster charles stanley's words ' the most successful people are those who accomplished God's will in them.' he also said t is Christ does the will of God through/in you with you abide in Christ. you really ought to read Book of ecclesiastes. Solomen after being the smartest and richest king, realised nothing of this world is meaningful.
the world didn't accept the Lord when He came. If you obey Him and be His disciple, the world will hate you. the world is as bad as ever. but you should forever put God first. (Matthew 24:36-39, Luke 17: 26-27 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.) It has been 160 years since the sun turned black and the moon turned red in the US. according to Joel 2:31 of the Bible, this is sign of the end times. Noah shouted that God's judgement with flood was coming for 120 years, but nobody would believe until it finally came. same, the Lord is coming soon. be prepared. (Matthew 25:1-7 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.)
oil stands for the Holy Spirit in the Bible. nurture your spirituality Holy Spirit--Study Bible!
Bush before Obama met with the Catholic Pope, followed now the Pope and Obama's relations is even better with many consensus. US used to oppose catholic. i hope you won't be political, but be unbiased and embrace the victory of the Lord. May the Lord keep you pure till He comes! in Jesus's name, Amen.
