Why Do I Sometimes Feel Like God Has Forgotten Me?

Why do I sometimes feel like God has forgotten me, that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adm. Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com and you can post your question on our Facebook or Instagram accounts as well. Today a Taco Bell employee is being praised for saving a man's life after he passed out in the drive-through lane so your Frazier was working her usual shift at the Taco Bell in Clarksville, Tennessee last week when she and her coworkers noticed the drive-through line had completely stopped one of Sonya's coworkers ran outside to investigate and discover the man passed out in the driver seat of his van as she rushed out to help. She told another employee to call an ambulance. Sonya once served as a home healthcare worker and she taken multiple first-aid courses for certification. So she began giving the man CPR. As they waited for the ambulance while he was taken to the hospital and it turns out he's going to be okay and Sonya and the man later connected on Facebook and he thanked her for saving his life. Wow yeah and I love Taco Bell to soak there and get that to Lupa, you're in good shape there brother great afterwords.

But while you're eating it. You know you nice so great that Sonya was in the right place at the right time. That is very cool.

Let's get to the first question of the day. Christy emailed us and she asked this. Do we have to confess our sin to the person we sinned against to be forgiven, even if we've confessed to God repeatedly and asked for his forgiveness. Christy sets a practical question and I think one that can plague each of us individually.

You know I mean it's it's not easy to go to someone and they say I've sinned against you. Please, and I think we often rather it be the case, we can just let me just go to the Lord and deal with this with him and then not worry about going to the other person first, there's the reality that the ultimate offended party when it comes to our sins is God himself may just think of Psalm chapter 51 verse four David saying this against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Christy was so interesting about David's words, there is that Psalm begins a Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. I think about that. We talk about sinning against your brother and your sister. I mean David had committed this heinous sin not just against Bathsheba but but also against her husband, David got her husband killed David murdered Uriah and yet, as David is confronted with his sin is Nathan the prophet brings this to light before him and says to him you are the man your you're the sinner. David's response in prayer is to go to God and to say God I know that above all else.

You are the most offended.

In other words, more offended than than Bathsheba, more offended than that, not Uriah than anyone else.

God is the ultimate offended party when we sin, we have to grapple with that, but you also have the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 verses 23 and 24 Jesus said so. If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. But was it if you sinned against someone is someone holding something against you.

They have something against you woke go to them. Jesus said, confess your sin problems with our brothers and sisters in Christ are indicative of a deeper heart issue right now preaching to the book of first John. John says in first John that we can't say we love God and at the same time hate our brother.

Now it's not always possible to ask for forgiveness. Although it's easier now with telephones and airplanes than it was 2000 years ago, but the reality is Christy.

I think that if we sinned against someone. Yes, we can go directly to the Lord and he is the ultimate offended party. We confess our sin to him, but I think God Jesus also calls us to go to that person to say forgive me to to pursue reconciliation eminence, a part of how we should just operate as the body of Christ because we are a family. I don't think it's healthy for us to to have these conflicts with our brothers and sisters, especially in Christ to be unwilling to deal with them and then to go to God as if everything is okay no there's there's something wrong with that and so I want to encourage you if you're listening.

Is there someone out there who you sinned against who the relationship you know it it's been strained and you've been going to the. The Lord gave confess your sin to God, but you've never gone to that person said you know what I'm I really shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me. Boy I think that that can be so healing and I think it's so important for us to do as the body of Christ. The world should see our love and unity for each other as Christians. Thanks Christie for your question.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question for us would love to hear from you peers.

The phone number is 1-833-843-2673. That's 833, the court, I know, I'm calling with the question on Matthew seven verses 13 and 14 in first 13 says the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. I was wondering why it says people that go down the broad road and up in destruction.

I thought that people that go down the broad road and up in hell and their soul is not destroyed to see if this were destruction.

I think that they no longer exist, but other places in the Bible it says that people continue to exist in hell I was wondering what that word or what that phrase might mean. Okay, guys, thank you very much Ketan thank you so much for that question. And what a thoughtful question� Either you're digging into the Scriptures and and that you want to understand what each word means. This is a debate it's happening right now among many people in different churches, you know, when we die on the someone is separated from Christ are they just destroyed, annihilated, or is hell this place of conscious torment and eternal suffering. And historically, the Christian church has embraced the latter view primarily that hell is this real place where people are aware of their existence and their being tormented because of their sins by essentially the just wrath of God.

But there are others who have said will this worrier a minute. As you bring up you have the idea of being destroyed will does that mean that people who are outside of Christ.

What ends up happening with them is that they just cease to exist, that there annihilated is the Greek word op Olea it was associated with death and destruction in the ancient world. Although here. I do think it's referring to the eternal destruction that awaits false teachers will just read the passage in its context, reading a little bit further than than verse 14.

Again Jesus said enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. For me to stop there and say talk about sobering words from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Another a lot of people today who will say that all paths lead to God to just pick whichever way you want that kind of a thing were all going up the same mountain were all headed to the same place. Well, that's not what Jesus, the eternal son of God taught. Actually he said there's a Broadway in a narrow way in the broad way that is embraced by many the quote unquote many paths that people often speak about what they lead to is not life is not joy in the presence of God.

They lead to destruction.

Want to take Jesus's words very seriously. Here he continues. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit of a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a disease tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name and then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Let me ask you a question. Does Jesus know you are you on the broad way that leads to destruction or are you on the narrow way the way of Jesus. Jesus said in John 14 six I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. We have to touch on that because it's so important that something so many people miss today. Now get back to this idea of destruction here. So the word is used in other places of the New Testament, Romans 922. What if God desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. See there it's associated with God's wrath with God's judgment of Philippians 128 not find anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. The of destruction contrasted with the eternal salvation that were given from God in Christ. First Timothy chapter 6 verse nine but those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. One more at Hebrews chapter 10 verse 39 but we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who have faith and preserve their souls with interesting about that text in Hebrews 10 is back in verses 29 and 30 was talking about the severe punishment the divine judgment that was coming on. Those who reject Jesus and trample on the truth so this work destruction is often in the New Testament associated with God's judgment with God's wrath. That's why I don't think it's just referring to ceasing to exist. That kind of thing know this is probably referring to that conscious torment that those who trample on Jesus, reject the gospel experience for all eternity.

Now where we have to be careful is the Bible the New Testament as you noted, gives us some imagery as to what that looks like, you know, there's fire.

There's an everlasting burning. The smoke that continually rises that kind of a thing, but we want to be careful that we don't essentially read all of that flat sort of wooden literally in the sense that you know what hell is pitchforks and demons and just and eternal fire that that kind of a thing know I think Jesus is getting at in those descriptions is that it's a horrible place. It is a place of suffering, and it's a place of conscious torment. Now what that exactly is going to be like. I'm not sure entirely, and I think that different people are going to be judged on the basis of what they knew. There are some people who were to be judged more severely because they had the truth like these false teachers who heard it, and then rejected it and there are other people who were going to be judged in and it's going to be in. In one sense more merciful and yet it is this reality, this conscious existence and so I think that that's how we need to understand the were destroyed there. It's related to God's judgment to God's wrath and outside of Jesus. It's what humanity faces. That's what we need the gospel. That's why we need the truth of Jesus Christ, the hope that we have in him, because apart from him.

We are still in our sins, and thanks so much for your question.

What an important one. And boy what a controversial topic in today's world, a drilling and we start talking to people about hell and Jesus being the only way there's a lot of pushback yeah well it and part of it is you know we want to put our confidence in ourselves we we do have confidence in ourselves and that we think that you know I can find another way. I don't need Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. I have a pretty good person that you think the reality is we just don't understand the depth of our own sinfulness and ultimately we don't understand the holiness of God who God is and that's part of the problem. We need to have a deeper understanding of who God is and that's can help us understand the reality of our sin and our need our desperate need of a Savior. I was sick and in my own life. How when I was single and had my wonderful Christian friends in my singles ministry and I felt like a pretty good guy and then I got married and I was my sin and I had children and I was really confronted with my sin I throw is something about marriage and children that it it does.

God uses it to humble assessment now. Totally. I think it's just being around other people, you know, the closer you are with other people. The more you realize it's hard to hide my sin to other people can see and sometimes we don't see it but that's one of the graces that God gives us in Christian community is other people who can encourage us speak into our lives and help to expose the fact that yeah there selfishness in my heart that I need God to help me with.

Thank the Lord for his mercy and this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. I'm Bill Meyer and we would like to tell you about a very special opportunity we have for you today � you've been blessed by core Christianity. If you're growing in your understanding of God's word as you hear these questions and answers. I want to ask you to come alongside of us and become a part of what we call the inner core. There were so thankful for each inner core member in the regular gifts to help us to accomplish the mission that we have ultimately to help people grow in their understanding of who God is, so that they might know who they are.

There need of Jesus.

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Yeah you know you like, you know teachers who they'll send my sweat rags to people and that by 19 underwater or what we really can't do that because we don't see that anywhere in the Bible. So what were going to stick to his these Bible studies and those other resources that we come up with and send that kind of stuff out.

We do not want your sweat rags. Israel, yeah, I know nobody wants that.

Let's get through another question.

This is an email that came in from Ashley and is actually a pretty serious one, she says. Growing up I never fit in with people my age I've always fit in better with older adults, but they don't share my struggles. I feel invisible in the church in the world. I don't know why I'm here and why. The only things I'm successful at her being alone and a failure. Every step I take forward doesn't seem to matter or pushes me back a mile is God punishing me is everything. I'm constantly going through because of some sin. I or my family has committed, if I'm not being punished and why is my life miserable. I know I'm a sinner and God is just, but there has to be more to life than this. What is God asking for me.

My asking too much.

By wanting the basic happiness that everyone else my age has instead of being forgotten how tough one. Well Bill, let's just take a moment to pray for Ashley right now and and you listening to join us in praying for our sister Ashley heavenly father we come before you and that we want to pray for Ashley. We ask God that you would give her your comfort that you would help her to know the presence of your son Jesus, by the grace of the Holy Spirit God. We pray that you would send her friends companions, especially in the body of Christ, Lord, that she wouldn't feel alone and that she wouldn't feel invisible but that she would know that she's seen by you.

And Lord, that you would also as I said people into her life who can encourage her and walk with her and and maybe they're not can it be Lord of the people in her same age group. Maybe they will be made on the Lord but I do pray that you would bless her with that rich community that you give us in your body you would encourage her you would bless the Lord that you lift your spirits right now. Even us as we answer this question in Jesus name, amen. I meant Ashley first. I just want to say to you that God has not forgotten you, I think of the beautiful words of David in Psalm 139. I want you to hear what David said there and I want you to receive this for yourself.

Oh Lord you have searched me and known me, you know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar you search out my path and my lying down.

You are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, oh Lord, you know it all together. You have me in behind and before and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

It is high I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your spirit, or where shall I flee from your presence. If I ascend to heaven, you are there.

If I make my bed in Shay old you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me in your right hand shall hold me if I say, surely the darkness shall cover me in the light about me being night. Even the darkness is not dark to you. The night is brightest the day, for darkness is as light with you for you formed my inward parts you needed me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed substance in your book were written every one of them. The days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts. Oh God, how vast is the sum of them if I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake and I am still with you, Ashley, God has not forgotten you and God through his son Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit is with you that you might feel like a misfit. But here's the reality the church is for people who don't feel like they fit in a sadly I know that sometimes the church can become like an affinity group, cliquish area.

Everybody you know, kind of in the same stage of life and and and wheat we fit together. It seems like we fit together really well but just think of Jesus's early disciples. They were a group of people who really didn't fit together. I love you know mentioning the fact that you have among Jesus's initial 12 Simon the zealot, and Levi, the tax collector to people who are on the opposite ends of the spectrum to people who normally wouldn't get along you would invite them both to your birthday party and yet Jesus says to both of them, follow me. You might not feel like you have a lot in common with the people in your church, but that doesn't mean that Jesus hasn't called you into the church and that you're not a part of the church you are through baptism and by faith in Jesus Christ, a member of the body of Christ, and it sounds like you're in a church and I'm so glad to hear that you are.

I know that life in the church is not an easy thing and that sometimes we can feel like were invisible. I do want to encourage you to reach out, you know, the desire for community and for companionship isn't asking too much.

Frankly, I think is wired into us. If God hasn't given you that to the degree that you want despite your efforts to reach out. I don't know that you should conclude that God is just punishing you are withholding you know something good from you remember that God is a good father who wants to give us good gifts. Trust in him. Continue to pray and to pursue healthy relationships within the church. I get reach out to your your pastor the leaders in your church expressed to them how you feel. Help them to care for you by saying here I am. Look, I'm a pastor and I'll admit that were not perfect. We fail, we miss things you can help us so reach out and pursue continue to pursue what it is that God is placed in your heart, looking for that community. While knowing that Jesus is not abandoned you and you have that promise in Hebrews chapter 13 verse five where he says to his people. I will never leave you nor forsake you. That's for you, Ashley, and he's major part of the church and wildlife in the churches. As you know is not always easy.

While we don't always have the kind of fellowship that we would like to have. I want to encourage you to keep pressing in, to rest in Jesus's goodness and his love for you in his presence to continue to seek him. The temptation is to be to throw in the towel and a sailor I'm just invisible. Nothing matters don't do that no know that the Lord loves you, know that he wants good things for you, and continue to pursue that in the life of your church.

God bless you. Thanks for listening to court Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at court, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together