Members of the Christian community often have questions about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Most of us have either said or heard someone say, “When I get to heaven, the first thing I want to ask God is ….” In aggregate, the pool of questions becomes quite large. The drama, INTERVIEWING GOD, depicts a female news correspondent in an informal setting asking God a number of questions. The answers she receives are from His Word, which the Lord inspired the prophets and apostles to write. Scripture references are given throughout along with the author’s personal notes. The interview was lengthy as one might imagine, so here it is broken into parts. In the initial posting, God used a stage play analogy to answer the ultimate controversy of the universe question – “Who’s in charge?” He upheld the inerrancy of the Bible, or as He terms it, “the introductory remarks.” In the second posting, God revealed both the origin and the purpose of suffering. In the third, God explained key elements within the creation of man plus the devastating fall of man. He disclosed the choice to continue, nonetheless, making covenant with certain individuals and unveiled a restorative seed principle. In Part IV, more truths were mined concerning the use of parables, the essence of true learning, plus the principle of authority was revisited. That part ended with the interviewer “tipping her hand” a bit, asking ever so shyly about the second coming. In Part V, God plunged headlong into the study of the time of the end – or eschatology – debunking the most common views of our time. In Part VI, some of God’s answers given in Part V were brought into question via the interviewer bringing up His long ago promise to Abraham. This became merely a catalyst for God, revealing His true Israel
INTERVIEWING GOD
by
Michael A. Lawrence
Part VIII
“The Best is Yet to Come”
THE PHYSICAL RETURN OF YOUR SON DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO HAPPEN? IF THAT IS TRUE, WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MANY.
I must answer your question in this manner. Remember, I have been emphasizing that my son is the pattern for all the sibling troupe. At the fully appointed time, he became a man – laid aside his privileges forever to live life as a man.[1] He remains a man. As such, he has never seen me, no man has.[2] He was intimate to the point of being one with me and my spirit. We could live our life through him as a man.[3] He trusted in the invisible me to the point of doing all our bidding – even to the laying down of his life in the cruelest manner imaginable to a man.[4]
YOUR SON PERFORMED THE MIRACLES AS A MAN?
Yes he did. My, how bright you are. Of course, we directed him, but faith is the only thing that pleases us to the point of being moved to action on one’s behalf.[5] We would empower him as he proceeded as a man by faith in the invisible. He was the pattern.
IN WHAT WAY?
My son was disappointed with some in his inner circle when they refused to believe the reports of his resurrection from those who had seen him. They demanded physical evidence in order to believe. They behaved much like those who had demanded that he come down from the cross to cause them to believe that he was whom he had claimed to be.[6] Of course, those in his inner circle were distraught about how things had seemed to turn out and that their own agenda had not been fulfilled. We chose to cut them some slack.
YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT DOUBTING THOMAS?
Yes, plus some others before him. However, we were able to use the occasion of Thomas’ disbelief to put forth a timeless principle during a subsequent appearance by my son.
WHEN WAS THAT?
When he said to a doubting Thomas and, I might add, to all those future generations adamant for his personal physical return: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”[7] That was the way he had lived his life as the “God-man,” as a pattern for all his siblings to follow.[8]
YOU KEEP SAYING, “THE BEST IS YET TO COME.” WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
I can’t say enough about “those who are of the household of faith.”[9] They are not some parenthetical “plan B,” as many in error would have you to believe. They are my uniquely endeared ones who have been in my heart and mind all along. They are our primary agency by which all the ills of society as you know it will be rectified. I know it seems at present as if so many are trying hard not to act like it, but we will turn that around. We continue to raise up voices which are causing more and more to awaken from the stupor of false doctrines of men.[10]
I MUST ADMIT THAT MUCH OF WHAT YOU HAVE TOLD ME IS INCREDIBLE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE “HOUSEHOLD” BELIEVE SOMETHING ELSE. HOW COULD YOU HAVE ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN? HOW COULD SO MANY BELIEVE SOMETHING AND IT STILL BE FALSE?
I like your spunk. You ask good questions. You display an unmistakable desire to know my ways. The truth is, we’ve been up against these odds before and were not unduly hindered.
WHEN DO YOU MEAN?
When we had Moses send spies into Canaan , how did that go?
NOT VERY WELL, THE WAY I REMEMBER IT.
Why not?
A TEN-TO-TWO MAJORITY WERE AFRAID TO TAKE CANAAN , AND YOU LET THEIR VIEW PREVAIL.
And they were wrong?
YES.
That generation – did they experience the good life in Canaan ?
JUST THE TWO WHO HAD BEEN IN THE MINORITY.
The faithful?
I HADN’T THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY, BUT YES.
We proceeded with the two plus our next generation into the next phase of our production. I rest my case.[11]
I DON’T KNOW IF MY BOSSES AT THE MAGAZINE WILL WANT TO PUBLISH THIS. THEY DO HAVE A WHOLE LOT RIDING ON THAT OTHER SCENARIO.
Whatever. We’ll get the word out. Don’t assume that Abram was the first one I asked to leave Haran for Canaan . He was the first to obey, that’s all.[12] That’s all.
[1]Unless noted otherwise, all scriptural references are from the New King James Version. All parenthetical items contained within scriptural references are my emphasis.
“(Christ), although He existed in the form (essence) of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant . . . (coming) in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7, New American Standard).
[2]“No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18a). “. . . who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16a).
[3]“”I and My Father are one. . . . If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:30, 37-38).
[4]“And being found in the appearance of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). “. . . I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself” (John 10:15b, 18a).
[5]“But without faith it is impossible to please Him . . .” (Hebrews 11:6a).
It’s the author’s belief that only our behavior that is activated by or in response to faith is pleasing to God to the point that He will be moved to engage Himself on our behalf in our endeavor, trial, etc.
[6]“Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe” (Mark 15:32a).
[7](John 20:29b) “Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer” (2 Corinthians 5:16b).
[8]“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
[9]“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
[10]“. . . (Why) do you subject yourself to regulations . . . according to the commandments and doctrines of men?” (Colossians 2:20b, 22b). “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or I speak of my own authority” (John 7:17). “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
[11]“Send men to spy out the land of Canaan , which I am giving to the children of Israel
“So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept (and complained) that night. . . . But Joshua (and Caleb said), ‘The land . . . is an exceedingly good land . . . (and) the Lord
. . . will bring us into this land and give it to us . . .
“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘. . . The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness . . . except for Caleb . . . and Joshua . . . (and) your little ones . . . (whom) I will bring in . . .’” (Numbers 14:1, 6a, 7, 8a, 26, 29a, 30a, & 31a).
[12]“And Terah took his son, Abram (and company) . . . and they came to Haran Haran
“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.’ . . . So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him . . .”
(Genesis 12:1a, 4a).
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