The Book of Questions

I was given a book titled, "The Book of Questions." It says it "gives you permission to ask those things that are too bold, too embarrassing, or just too difficult to ask by yourself." There are 200 questions in this book. It was first printed in 1987, but this is the first time I have heard of it. I thought I would take some time to answer a few of the questions in the book. 

#95

If by sacrificing your life you could contribute so much to the world that you would be honored in all nations, would you be willing to do so? If so, would you make the same sacrifice knowing that someone you thoroughly disliked would receive the honor while you went unrecognized?

No, I would not sacrifice my life to contribute "so much" to the world that I would be honored in all nations. What does it mean to be "honored in all nations?" There are countless people that have sacrificed their lives to contribute to the world and have been honored in many, if not all, nations. Martin Luther King, Jr., Joan of Arc, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, John F Kennedy, and countless others throughout history. These people have national holidays in their name, statues built in their honor, and are held in high esteem by many. However, aside from these holidays and statues commemorating their lives, they have little to no effect on the daily lives of people today. Many people could not identify many of them. Furthermore, those things they struggled against are still in the world. Legacies only matter to the living, not the dead. I could only imagine how Jesus Christ would answer this question. He is the only person who can say that He sacrificed Himself for the world. But, what did He ask, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth (Luke 18:8)?” Jesus is not honored by all nations, but there are people in all nations that honor Him. However, aside from Christians, most people could care less about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, unless they can get a three-day weekend out of it on the weekend of Good Friday and Easter. When you think about it, most of the people who sacrifice themselves are murdered by people who didn't like what they had to say, including Jesus Christ.

I can't answer the second part of the question because I said I wouldn't sacrifice myself for the world. But again, Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for people who thoroughly disliked Him. I don't believe Jesus disliked anybody. His animosity was directed towards the sinful behaviors that originated from the wicked hearts of men. But, He still loved everybody. His last words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34)." As He died there was still love in His heart for His enemies. Unfortunately, there are people who have been given honor they didn't ask for, in place of the Lord. In some eyes, Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been deified to the point she is considered a "co-redemptrix" and the "mother of God." The supposed grave of the apostle Peter has been preserved to memorialize where he lays. Plus, he has been given the title of the first Pope. Former President Barack Obama has been likened to both Martin Luther King, Jr. and former President Abraham Lincoln by his supporters. Those who sacrifice themselves to contribute "so much" to the world may be remembered to some degree, but are often replaced by current prominent figures to the point where the original people are unrecognized or have their legacies skewed by modern interpretations. 

#129

Do you believe in any sort of God? If not, do you think you might still pray if you were in a life-threatening situation? 

I don't believe in "any sort of God." I believe in and know the only, true God. In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, the Bible says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time." There are no other gods. People may say there are, but they are only creations of their mind or the byproduct of worshiping the creation rather than the Creator. God has spoken to me on more than one occasion. He has revealed truths to me about life that could have only come from His direction and revelation. As far as me praying in a life-threatening situation, the answer is, "yes." Before I was a Christian there were times that I was in situations that could have been life-threatening. My times drunk driving when I was praying to get home, not to get pulled over, or not to hurt anyone because of my stupid decision to drive intoxicated. Although it was not life-threatening, it would have been life-changing, when I was praying I didn't get my girlfriend, at the time, pregnant. Another byproduct of getting drunk. For most of us, we pray more for others to avoid or get out of life-threatening situations than we do for ourselves. For years, I prayed for my Dad to overcome the paralysis in his left leg and arm after he suffered a stroke. I prayed for my mom to stop smoking. She eventually did stop smoking, but still developed cancer. I think everybody prays in a life-threatening situation to someone or something. At the very least, they may "bargain" with God. If you grant my prayer, I will believe in you. And then there is the saying, "There are no atheists in foxholes." Thankfully, I have never been in battle and I outgrew the bargaining with God faze. However, the most important prayer I ever said had to do with avoiding a life-threatening situation. As a teenager, frustrated with dead religion, I prayed, "God, if this is getting to know you, I will never know you. But, if I do, please don't let me almost die, get sick, or lose someone close to me." God answered that prayer. I became a born-again Christian about a decade after that prayer and I didn't experience any of those things in the process. He is not "any sort of God." 

#190

Do you feel you have much impact on the lives of people you come in contact with? Can you think of someone who, over a short period of time, significantly influenced your life?

Yes, I believe I have impacted the lives of people I have come in contact with. The best way I know of to measure that, not that I do, is by those people who continue to come around me and spend time with me. People don't reach out to you or stay in contact with people that are not impacting their lives in some way. The blessings I receive when somebody feels touched by something I have written that motivates them to share it with their friends and family. When my brother gave me a public acknowledgment at our father's funeral for the things I did to help take care of our Dad. The friend that invited me on a trip out of town to watch a football game and paid for the whole thing. The ex-coworker, who said she felt like we were breaking up when I left the job I was at for 13 years. In John 6:66-68, it says, "From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life." One can only imagine how this made Jesus Christ feel. When Peter said, "Lord, to whom would we go?" he is expressing the impact that the Lord had made on his life. We all have a desire for meaning in our lives. When we get those indications that we have made an impact on the lives of people, it can be the fuel we need to press on in our lives. 

I became a Christian in 1996. For those who don't know my testimony, I was experiencing a broken heart after a relationship ended in the Spring of that year. In the time between the breakup and accepting Jesus Christ as my savior, an old acquaintance came back into my life. Her name was Renelda or Rene for short. We attended high school together. I had not talked to her in years since high school. At this time, I was an emotional wreck. Angry, sad, desperate, hurt, lost, you name it. I had gone from wanting my ex-girlfriend back to wanting the thought of her out of my head. Enter Rene. She would talk to me about my issues, pray for me, pray with me, and encourage me. I don't remember seeing her in person. It was all over the phone. I don't remember the day but in the Fall of 1996, I remember being curled up in a fetal position in the basement of my home and accepting the Lord. As far as I know, Rene doesn't even know what was the result of our conversations. As quickly as she popped back into my life, she was gone again. If I didn't already know who she was, I would have thought she was an angel. Who knows, maybe she was. Regardless, she made an impact on my life and I can't thank her enough. God used her to change both the direction of my life and my eternity. 

I hope you enjoyed my answers and thoughts on these three questions. Perhaps, I will answer some more questions from the book in a future post. Grace and Peace.