Two Worlds!

rockytopva said:

Two worlds!

Animals - The temporal bodies of clay we share with animals
The Gods - The eternal knowledge and spirit we share with the Gods

Noting...

Animals - Such pleasures are temporal, leaving us ahungered
The Gods - Such pleasures are eternal, leaving us sufficed

And Again...

Animals - Material and physical needs
The Gods - Intellectual and Spiritual needs

Animal pleasures without Godly wisdom are pleasures that are never long lasting.

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This is true. There is only one God though, so the plural of gods does not make as much sense, but we need spiritual food from the Bible, going to church, and following God's teachings. We are not animals, trying to go after our own will, but instead, we must try to follow a greater purpose, the will of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Romans 12:2 (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Devotional from July 3, 2024 about God's Desire > Our Desire

rockytopva said:

And a few lines from the The Golden Sayings By Epictetus

Are these the only works of Providence within us? What words suffice to praise or set them forth? Had we but understanding, should we ever cease hymning and blessing the Divine Power, both openly and in secret, and telling of His gracious gifts? Whether digging or ploughing or eating, should we not sing the hymn to God:--

Great is God, for that He hath given us such instruments to till the ground withal: Great is God, for that He hath given us hands and the power of swallowing and digesting; of unconsciously growing and breathing while we sleep! Thus should we ever have sung; yea and this, the grandest and divinest hymn of all:--
Great is God, for that He hath given us a mind to apprehend these things, and duly to use them! What then! seeing that most of you are blinded, should there not be some one to fill this place, and sing the hymn to God on behalf of all men? What else can I that am old and lame do but sing to God?

Were I a nightingale, I should do after the manner of a nightingale. Were I a swan, I should do after the manner of a swan. But now, since I am a reasonable being, I must sing to God: that is my work: I do it, nor will I desert this my post, as long as it is granted me to hold it; and upon you too I call to join in this self-same hymn.

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I have not heard of this one, but the theologian's statement reminds me of 1 Chronicles 16 and Psalm 149:3. Not a fan of why the NIV does not capitalize "He and Him" when referring to the Lord, so I did that manually.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV): "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."

Psalm 149:3 (NIV): "Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp."

rockytopva said:

Animals - The temporal bodies of clay we share with animals
The Gods - The eternal knowledge and spirit we share with the Gods

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Concerning animals I know one thing, if I get to heaven and my dog isn't there... then me and God are gonna have a problem, because my love for God comes nowhere close to my love for my dog.

rockytopva said:

I took care of my dad until he passed away last year. My dad was terribly adulterous but was also someone easily influenced to church. It was the battle of the two worlds, the Spirit and the flesh, until he passed away last year. I believe dad had a battle of both worlds within him, in which there were times the animal nature would win out. After battling that with him I must cry out with the Apostle Paul...

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. - 1 Corinthians 6:18

And a grievous sin it is indeed as it will threaten the Godly like mind and spirituality. Possibly resulting in a life long battle you will never win out in!

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I will pray for your dad. 1 Corinthians 6:18 is an important verse for all of us, as we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

While I do not struggle with the same things as he did, I do struggle with other things (thankfully, not anything inappropriate content related), but I do like messing around with myself cos it feels great. For myself, habitual sins can be a struggle. Jesus will always continue to forgive us, but we must try our best to repent of our sins. Hey, we all battle with our flesh, but eventually, Jesus wins out for us, even if that takes an entire lifetime.

rockytopva said:

And before I go to church... By the first world all die... By the second world all shall be made alive!

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. - 1 Corinthians 15

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I like the Corinthians, and I am excited for life in the second world, Heaven above, though, assuming the world does not end, heaven for myself is about 50-70 years from now, assuming a healthy lifespan of 75-95 years, closer to the longer one.

Just found this song a few seconds ago: Chain Breaker by Zach Williams (Christian, Country/Pop, based partially on Psalm 116:16, Mark 5:8, Romans 6:20, and Galatians 5:1), Berean test: Is 'Chain Breaker' Biblical? | The Berean Test

rockytopva said:

Two worlds!

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There is the Holy Spirit of God's own love >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

And there is the spirit of evil, the spirit of selfishness >

"the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (in Ephesians 2:2).

Only Jesus is able to get us clear of the dominating emotions and drives and cruel feelings of Satan's evil spirit. With Jesus "you will find rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:28-30)

And with Jesus we discover how we can love as God's family >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

God our Father changes us from our own isolated stuff, and He puts us together with others of His family. We have people to love and not only the cruel nonsense in us of paranoia and worry and lusts for pleasure . . . and boredom and loneliness to keep us company.

rockytopva said:

Animals - The temporal bodies of clay we share with animals
The Gods - The ethernal knowledge and spirit we share with the Gods

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We do not share in God's Spirit unless we have trusted in Christ and have become joined to Him.

The Holy Spirit of God in His love is not the same as our human spirit. We need to be joined to God spiritually so He in us is changing our character so we become and love like Jesus in us.

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Corinthians 6:17)

And Jesus in spiritual union with us affects our character so we have His immunity almighty against anti-love things that are emotionally cruel and degrading and wreck relationships by means of arguing and complaining and unforgiveness.

rockytopva said:

Animals - Such pleasures are temporal, leaving us ahungered

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There are things of this life which God has us enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17), but not to be "under the power of any." (in 1 Corinthians 6:12)

rockytopva said:

The Gods - Such pleasures are eternal, leaving us sufficed

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But we are here to become like Jesus so we are pleasing to our Father like Jesus is so pleasing. We are not here just to be satisfied by pleasure, but for personal relating with God and others who are growing in how Jesus is and is all-loving. Here is one scripture about this >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)