Iron Mantis wrote:And100 wrote:Iron Mantis wrote:He is pleasant indeed if you take the time to get to know Him.
Again, I'm neither speaking out of total ignorance. And again, the appeal isn't there.
He is good in that He provided a permanent solution for the rebellion which will permanently alleviate all suffering and usher in a peaceful new world where we can live forever with no sickness or sorrow; how can you beat that?
Eliminate the 6000 years of sickness and sorrow from the equation? Don't let children be tortured and murdered to prove a point?
Being "happy, good, and kind", according to God's standards as described in The Bible, not our own, will yield the reward of everlasting life on a peaceful earth. Nothing can compare to such a prospect, which was God's original purpose for mankind since He created us.
Everlasting life on a peaceful Earth holds zero appeal, I can say that because I have no fear of simply not existing.
I can't imagine anyone can even describe what "life" is like. Are they movies on an everlasting life on a peaceful earth? What are they about if conflict is non-existent?
Professional sports? Who gets to win the Superbowl?
Bacon and Bourbon?
Oral sex?
Which companion do I spend my time with, my current one or my deceased one? Are my children children or adults? Can I have more? Is there even relationships on an everlasting peaceful Earth?
Any experience we can relate to has human that make us curious, excited or satisfied us seems irrelevant in this world.
As I say, can't relate to it at all and the platitude that I can't understand now it but it'll be wonderful is empty rhetoric to me.
I addressed your original wanting of an explanation by way of God's revealed purpose, as set forth in the Bible. Millions find this explanation logical, reasonable, and see exactly how it makes sense; God created us, He knows what's best for us and has the right to rule us, which is only to our benefit.
These millions have been applying the practical wisdom found in the Bible and have a considerable measure of love, peace, joy, and happiness now and face the future with optimism and hope.
If the 6,000 years of suffering is removed, then as far as all intelligent creation is concerned, perhaps mankind actually CAN rule themselves successfully and actually CAN "be like God, knowing good and bad" for themselves; It was necessary to settle that issue. We now know we NEED God's direction, we simply aren't capable of running the show without Him. Anyone who has suffered and died as a result of this rebellion, whether by old age, illness, unforeseen occurrence, etc, or by man's hands, will indeed return.
It's sad it's been like this, but we have to blame the original rebels for forcing us into this situation in the first place; however, God allowed "the creation to be subjected to" this "futility, on the basis of hope". He lovingly immediately made a plan to redeem the (human)creation from this mess, and thankfully it's happy climax is finally very very close.
"Wisdom is proved righteous by its works". Mankind ruling us has proven to be to our detriment, who can argue that? So those of us who are sighing and groaning over these things place faith and hope in a better alternative: trusting in our Creator who is holding out a sure hope that no human ruler has the power or intent to deliver.
Yes there will certainly be movies, sports, good and endless varieties of food and beverage; what kinds exactly, who Knows? We do know humans will reach their full potential with greedy corporations, world leaders, and selfish gain being a thing of the past.
Things will simply be done to according to God's standards of good and bad, since it's overwhelmingly obvious that man having in his own jurisdiction the right to choose good and bad for himself has proven to be an utterly disastrous venture.
God knows what's best for our happiness, and He promises to "open His hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing". He says "“Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” All we've known is misery, so it's difficult to imagine what life of God's intent is like, but that's no reason to dismiss the reality or beauty of it.
This alternative appeals to many who know God has the irresistible power and earnest desire to fulfill these promises; it's his unfailing purpose to do so, who can really stop Him? He has a strict timetable to make it happen. He Created the universe and life, two things we've been grasping at understanding since our existence and haven't come close to fully doing so.
Relationships will certainly exist; God is the instituter of marriage, romantic love, and the pleasure it brings. It's his purpose for perfect humans to "fill the earth", so marriage and procreation will definitely exist.
There will still be families. Children will grow to the peak of adulthood and remain at their physical peak, and us older ones will return to our peak, with no more of the breakdown the current aging process brings, which is actually the process of racing towards death the moments we are born with this genetic defect, an imperfection called "sin" which initiates the march towards death. God has promised to remove it by way of provisions which will be fully revealed in His new system on earth under His Kingdom rule.
Death dissolves the marriage bond, "til death do us part", so it would be wise to keep your current companion as you don't know how the resurrected person will feel, but the profound experience of being nonexistent in death likely changes original romantic feelings; I'm not going to be dogmatic about it.
We don't have all the details about the resurrection, so we will have to make sure we are there to behold it. We know God "is a God not of disorder, but of peace". Thus, It's reasonable to conclude people will return in an organized way that will lead to peace; people will look the same, be easily identifiable and recognizable to their loved ones, just healthy, without physical ailments or the ill effects of aging they perished with and children will return as children.
If these promises hold no appeal to you, it's unfortunate, but it's your prerogative; again we have free will to choose to be a part of it or not. God and many millions would love for you to be a part of it. Many many others are excited by this hope and they are reaching out and taking hold of it.