The fear of no after life.

[Signal30]

I figure everyone at some point wonders if there is any after life. Last night for some reason I started thinking about it. I have absolutely no doubts that there is definitely a God. I was raised catholic, but still question if Jesus was God in human form, but that is another topic for another day. I try to avoid debates about religions.

Anyway, I guess it's simply a fear of the unknown. Not knowing if there is a place you go after death is kind of scary. The fear also makes we want to take better care of myself, so I can be around for my son. It is hard to fathom that after death you simply vanish from existence into a realm of nothingness and that the end is simply the end. If only God would let us know.

But then again, who am I to question God?

Has anyone else thought about this?


Tom

[Elizabeth2007]

Originally Posted by Signal30

I figure everyone at some point wonders if there is any after life. Last night for some reason I started thinking about it. I have absolutely no doubts that there is definitely a God. I was raised catholic, but still question if Jesus was God in human form, but that is another topic for another day. I try to avoid debates about religions.

Anyway, I guess it's simply a fear of the unknown. Not knowing if there is a place you go after death is kind of scary. The fear also makes we want to take better care of myself, so I can be around for my son. It is hard to fathom that after death you simply vanish from existence into a realm of nothingness and that the end is simply the end. If only God would let us know.

But then again, who am I to question God?

Has anyone else thought about this?


Tom

Tom - I think all people have thought about this. Wondered if what we believe is right ... if there really IS a heaven. I truly believe there is. I believe Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. I believe that as we open our hearts to Jesus and ask for his forgiveness and accept His gift of salvation, we can rest assured that we have a place waiting for us when we depart from this life.

I had a pastor say to me once, however, that even if there isn't a heaven (which of course he didn't believe) isn't our faith and the joy and peace that it brings into our lives, worth it? Isn't the beauty and peace we can experience through faith enough? Sometimes I think it is - but then I remember Jesus said .... "In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

[Lily]

Tom, faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God. I challenge you to delve into God's word this Christmas season, set up a reading schedule. your faith with increase!

I am reading on a cool site: http://bible.christianity.com/

i am trying to read through the bible in one year, but you can do it any way you want. it has some great resources on there.

I too have struggled w/ that question you ask, and only being in Gods word has helped me with the doubt.

blessings, Sheila

[cmc]

Signal...There is nothing wrong with having doubts and being unsure of these things. I used to believe that all doubt was evil....but a very wise friend told me that doubts help me establish in my mind and my heart what is really true.

I truly believe that when things of great consequence come to my mind and I'm wondering or troubled, God is usually calling me to discover Who He is in my life. It's His way of saying to me: "let's talk about it." About who Jesus is....you can always pray about it and ask God to show Himself you.

If only God would let us know.

But then again, who am I to question God?

He wants us to ask or He would not have given us an instruction manual... the bible. Keep asking!
Jesus said: .... ''ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.'' Luke 11:9

[best]

If only God would let us know.

But then again, who am I to question God?

We can ask of God as much as we want.
I find that when I question God (ask why He did something the way he did)
Gee I would have done it this way....

Well every time I find that His ways are the best ways and over time I learned that my questions of why where just learning questions for me.

As for knowing...
I started by reading the bible to see what God's word says about such things. As my questions come that can be answered with proof of some kind... Not tests that God needs pass for me to accept but honest questions I had... He has given answers so many times that I have no reason to doubt Jesus when He says...
John 14: 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

[mike_mass]

I have struggled with this many times. I think a lot of my using had to do with not being able to accept the mysteries that life and death hold forth. I think that your profession of doubt is in itself a beautiful thing because it expresses both humility and open-mindedness.

[bballdad]

we came from God and to God we shall return

I find I have no problem with Creation and my Creator,and why should I doubt going back home later on?
Fear puts doubts in my head and steals the joy of sobriety

one day at a time,fear is conquered,so I try and live in the present day

[barb dwyer]

Does a raindrop remember being a raindrop once it becomes part of the lake?

Does it matter?
I mean, right now ... does it?

Good thread!

[savoy]

Anyone who works the steps honestly will have an experiential faith, God touches the person who obeys and they are restored, a new creature.

As a former (insane) atheist who got a huge shock halway through the steps in AA when God touched me , I have to wonder about christians who don't get the promised results.

I lived most of my life in defiance of God, without God I suffered from a formless fear (of death) and the symptoms were severe depression.
I drank for relief but found none.

The steps showed me why I was doing what I did, what was driving me, why I felt the way I did and where it came from.

Belief in God is insufficient because the problem is the alcohilic ( all alkies) are blocked from God by SELF.

So as James wrote, faith without works is dead.
The steps are the works.
Faith (and even atheism) with AA works become experiential faith.
And experiential faith is sanity.

Has Jesus revisited the world, but not in the form of a person.

[best]

Originally Posted by savoy

Anyone who works the steps honestly will have an experiential faith, God touches the person who obeys and they are restored, a new creature.

What I have found is that I became a different creature (improved). I did not find restoration until I accepted Jesus as my Lord and God of my life (full surrender)