Resources/Articles
How?
How does that work? How does God make the sun rise and set? How does God know to put the starts in the sky at night? How did the earth get to be the earth? The reason, purpose, why, or means by which things come about are difficult to answer.
Some Christians are asked by others, “How do you hold your tongue under such provocation?” “How do you love people like that?” “How can you forgive them for what they did to you?” “How did you acquire such patience?” “How do you know you are going to heaven?”
These “HOW?” questions are not that difficult to answer. They are often difficult to apply. When individuals remove self and approach God’s word with humility, an open heart, and an attitude of submission, they can soon see the reason, the means, and the way a Christian can hold his tongue, love his enemy, etc. A person must want to be like God wants him to be before he can understand “How?” to be kind, strong, a good husband, wife, father, mother, etc. “How” you are what you are depends on your heart (Proverbs 23:7). Are you having difficulty in forgiving, loving, controlling your tongue, etc.? Check your heart. It may be keeping you from these and other things you should do. Change your thinking and subject your mind to the law of God for those walking in the flesh cannot please (Romans 8:7-8).
Think about the question of “How?” in another way. Have you ever encountered those people who do not know for sure they are bound for the glory land? So many rely upon a shaky foundation of feelings or emotions as their assurance of the promise of heaven. How can you be sure? Try a more reliable foundation - God’s complete written word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Believe it to be the truth (John 17:21). It saves and gives all things that pertain to life and godliness (James 1:21; 2 Peter 1:3). Once you obey that holy word of God, having died to sin, how shall you live any longer therein (Romans 6:2)? Then again, if you do not obey His will, how shall you escape, if you neglect so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3)?
