I think perhaps God has simply made an arrangement with us. He didn't ask for our ideas and input and we don't necessarily like the terms he has for us. So we try to make it something else. I'm sure that if we could see the whole picture, we wouldn't worry about the terms, but simply fall on our knees.
The problem is life often turns sour. Someone lost their job, or got a bad report from the doctor and now have cancer, or lost a child in a terrible accident, or there is another Columbine tragedy. Something happens everyday. Most people believe that if we pray and live a life the way Jesus wants us to, then God will improve our lives. He'll turn bad things into good.
CS Lewis said this through his character Aslan, the Christ figure as he talks to a scared little girl: "I make no promise," Concerning what? The Lion makes no promise that Jill will not suffer. He will not promise her the Better Life. But he does invite her to drink the water she needs.
So what is it that we need? Do we need blessings? Do we need safety from things going wrong? God says, fellowship with me, there is safety to come into fellowship with me. Unfortunately, we changed the terms of the agreement with God. He refuses to guarantee safe passage to the stream of living water, we've looked for another stream and figured out how to get there. There is no other but we've pretended there is.
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