Heaven Coach

Here are some ways where people can be observed “Underestimating God.”

The list of ways we underestimate God can be very long and basically all the reasons are related to “What WE Think.” In the case of God, it is important to be humble enough to realize God’s position relative to ours and that is simply creator versus created. Here are some more ways we underestimate God.

God’s test of humankind includes various ways that evaluate your dedication, your love towards Him. Recall, you demonstrate your love for God by keeping His commandments.

John 14:15

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

You see we all have a love for something or someone (often just for ourselves) and God differentiates that love as either for Him or for the world.

1 John 2:15

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

It is also interesting the manner God makes the point that those who love Him will also love of each other.

1 John 4:20

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

God’s Way versus Your Way – The Ultimate Test In Life

One of the things we underestimate is God’s ability to do things that we would consider impossible or highly unlikely. This is because many consider themselves to some extent on par with God. Such a person may not outwardly claim to be on par with God, but in their actions/words they demonstrate their equality, for instance speaking for God. One might say, God would not do this or that, but how do you know? One might say, I know God has told me to pursue this course of action, but how do you know? One might say, it makes sense for God to accept the religions of all sincere men and women, but is that God’s intention or your wishful thinking? Every day people are saying how God thinks because it makes sense to them, but this is the test! You trust yourself or others instead of God. Trusting in God means being obedient and following His direction. So if one speaks for God He must speak as God has spoken and we find that in the word of truth He delivered.
It might be rational to believe some things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. I would suggest that as soon as WE can create things by saying or thinking them such as creating the universe then we would be in a better position to question what is impossible for God. One stumbling block for people is, “how can God deal fairly with all people.” Here are some examples of conclusions that men/women draw in opposition to God’s word:
> I consider it impossible that God can deliver His truth to man in a written way with accuracy and all men will have access to His word.
> I live on a island and never have heard of Jesus or the bible.
> I was tricked into believing in this or that religion by some very good indoctrination. Therefore I should be blameless.
> I was born into a family where the religion was powerful propaganda on a young mind. I have carried that belief system throughout my life.
> The things I did, I never understood as wrong.
> I acted in good conscience.

There are hundreds more but all have the same solution. Individually these things and others are discussed at this or associated websites and presented in particular detail in, “What Is Life All About?”
God’s word provides the answer for all spiritual matters. Those answers are found by those who realize God’s position relative to theirs and trust in God to handle all their concerns. God has revealed a great deal about Himself and the better we understand God and His purpose the better we can grasp how He deals with mankind. In a very general, simplified way, I categorize people in five different ways in relation to their status for heaven. In some way the first four cases below underestimate God.
1) People who do not care, but live life to he fullest and either doubt God exists or they are 100% certain there is no God. These people never enter the race for heaven. They may ask, “What Is Eternal Life” or may never in their hurried life ever consider the afterlife.
2) There are people who believe God exists but really have no energy to determine the truth. They often believe by living a “good” life that all will turn out well.
3) There are those who search for truth but without the dedication that is needed. They eventually accept something, but it is not the truth.
4)There are those who search for truth and find it. Unfortunately in difficult times they lack the strength of character to overcome obstacles and backslide to something more acceptable to their desired lifestyle.
5) A certain relatively few people have a love of the truth and find it and live it. They possess certain characteristics that allow them find the truth and to overcome the difficulties. A good idea of these characteristics is given in Matthew 5 when Jesus teaches from the mount.

The basis for the above categorization is Jesus’ parable of the seed in Luke 8. Your status for heaven is in relation to your relation to God’s word. The last group above (number five) may not possess every answer to the questions people raise about God in relation to things like fairness, but their understanding of God and His plan provides assurance. That is, every word of God’s revelation will come to pass.
God is not like men perceive Him. It is a serious mistake to believe God thinks or reasons like men/women reason. Many people live in a liberal life philosophy that “anything goes” and they are not responsible to anyone except to themselves. This is a godless philosophy and these people of their own choice will not qualify for heaven. The third category above includes people who significantly underestimate God. This category frequently contains people that are the most despicable to God because they add to or take away from God’s word. Consequently, they miss heaven and lead many others to eternal destruction. The false leaders in this category are full of pride and the outcome is deceit. They underestimate God in believing their way will be acceptable. One famous evangelist in this group once said that “faith only” was the best way to save people because MORE could be saved. This attitude is very prevalent and amounts to disrespect for God’s ways. One way mentioned above where God is underestimated is in thinking quantity is more important than quality. The scriptures indicate God accepts those who in obedience to His Son, had their sins forgiven and continued to live faithfully.

God brings clarity to the issue of mankind’s capability versus His. God has purposely limited humankind’s capability in the very process of creating humankind.

Isaiah 55:9

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

People are limited by their mental capacity and their senses, but God has provided sufficient information for mankind to succeed in life. Humankind is not tempted by God but there are many choices that can be made and these choices determine their eternity. You will ultimately choose to serve God in obedience or choose to serve the doctrines of men or simply serve yourself. In laziness or complacency you select to do what SEEMS right to you and God warns of such an attitude.

Proverbs 14:12

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

So, if you are going to understand God it needs to be from what He delivered – His Word. God’s word makes it very easy to sort truth from error. Yet, men underestimate God’s ability to deliver his word accurately. As a result they do not respect God’s word as delivered. The history of “Christian” religion has people either correctly accepting God’s word without filtering it or conversely explaining away the clear statements of God to arrive at an understanding that “SEEMS” right to them.

The Cost of Underestimating God’s Plan

Jesus, a Jew who came to the Jews was indeed the Messiah. Jesus was not the Messiah the Jews wanted, instead they wanted Roman rule crushed and glory for them. So, when Jesus is accused and the Jews bring Jesus before Pilate they want Him dead and want Him to suffer. Despite the miracles, despite the teaching they reject Jesus. Jesus had put the Jews in their place in terms of their disobedience and their love of tradition as opposed to God’s laws. How in the world can they passionately desire the death of the one they had waited for and was foretold over the centuries. Jesus was the very reason God selected a “people” the Jews, that is to bring Jesus through the lineage. Today, people reject Jesus, they blaspheme Him and yet He is the only hope for men and women. We have God’s word completed and we should know with even more certainty (than the Jews) that Jesus is the Son of God. The Jews underestimated God and so do people today when they fail to see how perfectly God’s plan came together in Jesus. Whenever people want to do things religiously THEIR WAY, they are rejecting God. The Jews wanted more of a “warrior king” to strike down their enemies and people today out of distaste for God’s message and their admiration of human teaching reject God’s Son.

Here Is The ETERNAL LIFE Bottom Line:

People who fail in life (do not achieve heaven) will do so because they failed to find the truth, obey it and live it.
The deeper reason for this failure will be their underestimation of God in the many ways discussed on this page.