Someone may argue over whether the glass is half full or half empty, but really, beyond whether a person is an optimist or pessimist, the point is that the glass is refillable.
I have seen many, many discussions about how people perceive the fullness of a glass, but face it, everything in the world is not about you. God has designed each of us in such a way as to be creative and has blessed us with the ability to make objects ( which includes glasses of course ). Our focus in life should not be on ourselves, but rather towards THE GOD OF ALL CREATION! To do otherwise is to pursue idolatry.
Well, how do we get to know God? The answer to this question is simple: listen to the Bible, for within its pages are the very words of Go. Today, I did a simple word search for: “The Scriptures says” and below you will find the results in their immediate context within the book of Romans...
Romans 9 ( World English Bible )
1 I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises;
5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.
7 Neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children. But, “In Isaac will your seed be called.”
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed.
9 For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 Not only so, but Rebecca also conceived by one, by our father Isaac.
11 For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,
12 it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.”
13 Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!
15 For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18 So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
Ever since the creation of human beings, God has had a problem with what they do; they sin. Most humans will reject or ignore God and ultimately be judged according to their actions. So, what is God to do with that rejection? The answer is simple: God WILL USE THEIR LIFE to further the Human Race in such a way that eventually all human beings will have the opportunity to be saved from the results of their sin. Not even one person can withstand the desire of almighty God. God alone is supreme, period.
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down);
7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.
God chose the nation of Israel for himself and gave them HIS LAWS, but they could not keep them. Why? Because human beings fail. No matter how hard they tried, they failed to keep the whole of God’s laws. They missed the point, for true obedience to God is not just a matter of doing or not doing something, rather it is a decision of submission to God within the human heart. Genuine obedience is not based on race, or compliance to rules, but rather faith in God, that HE will supply mercy and understanding for all human beings who will trust in HIM and do their very best they can to follow HIM. Therefore, God sent Jesus into the world, to show God’s way to heaven through true belief and obedience. To obey his gospel and become a faithful disciple of Jesus is the way to heaven!
Romans 11 ( WEB )
1 I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God didn’t reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
4 But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
7 What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
8 According as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
9 David says, “Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always.”
11 I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?
It is a sad fact that not everyone will listen to God and even though it seems like no one faithfully follows God, there are indeed many, many who will. Elijah needed to learn this and so do we. God’s desires will be completed in God’s way and in God’s time, whether or not we can see it. Like the hymn says… we must “trust and obey”, period.
All the reasoning in the world will never be enough to satisfy the human mind that has no desire to submit to the Almighty. Reason will not save you. However, if you seek God, you will find HIM. And if you obey HIM from the heart and obey his Gospel, HE will save you. If you continue faithfully for the rest of your life, heaven will be your reward. Once there, be sure to ask God about the glass- HE WILL GIVE YOU THE ONLY ANSWER THAT YOU REALLY NEED!
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