Posted by Dena on February 16, 2008, at 23:04:37
In reply to Lou's reply to Dena-grtglf » Dena, posted by Lou Pilder on February 16, 2008, at 16:57:45
Yes, Lou -- I believe that.
I've come to believe that as He was dying, and He prayed to His Father, saying, "forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing," that He was not focused on those who had acted out the execution, nor was He focused on the ones who had pronounced the sentence, nor the ones who desired Him dead (clearly, NONE of them knew what they were doing). I believe He was thinking of ALL of us -- all human beings -- for none of us knows what we're doing, either, and He knows that better than we do. I believe He was choosing to be a "cure" for that which was killing us. And, I dare to believe that His Father did not deny Him in answering that prayer, and that one way or another, no matter what it takes, or how long (firey ordeals, whether in this age or the age to come), that His prayer, and His "cure" will indeed redeem everyone.
I also no longer believe that His Father forsake Him, or separated Himself from Him, as He was dying -- I no longer believe that He leaves us when we do wrong things.
I believe that when I choose to do selfish, or harmful things, that I may FEEL like God has turned away from me (my false perception, due to spiritual darkness at that moment), but that He is still there, with me, understanding, wooing me to Him.
I believe that when the One who is The Way was dying, and took on all the sins of the world, becoming the Cure, He only PERCEIVED that God had forsaken Him, but He was right there, for they cannot be separated.
Likewise, I believe that nothing can separate me from the love of God - nothing.
I believe that He responded to my plea to Him -- as HE will with anyone.
Shalom, Dena
poster:Dena
thread:799425
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20070227/msgs/813210.html