my ideal world

we all know that this world isn't perfect. i believe it is because it is a "fallen" world. we cannot comprehend what it would be like if adam and eve had chosen to believe God instead of trusting their own intelligence.

this world could be better.

it all starts with the individual. if individuals (specifically, christian believers) acted out their faith, this is what i believe the world could look like.

each individual would hold God as their intelligence, motivation, guide, and strength.

INTELLIGENCE - this is a hard one. if we put God's intelligence above our own, then we will be willing to do things that go against common sense. most of the time God's intelligence is contrary to our own (i.e. walking on water, crossing the red sea on dry ground, being raised from the dead, etc.) i have a ton more to say about this but i'll leave it here for now.

motivation - God will use our respect/love for Him to inspire us to serve others (our family, our community, our society, the world).

guide - God will use our relationship with Him (prayer/scripture cycle) to show us who to serve and how to do it.

strength - God promises that He will give us the strength (physical and spiritual) to deal with and persevere through any situation. i would also say that, if we ask, He will give us the physical energy to do what He asks us to do.

so, if each christian used God for these things they would gain the ability and drive to serve those around them. if individuals served, then it would inevitably overflow into the community, then into the society, and eventually fill the whole world. imagine how many things (foodstamps, utility assistance, crisis pregnancy centers) would become un-necessary!

a natural side-effect of individuals holding to God for our intelligence, motivation, guide, and strength, would be strong marriages. the strength of these marriages would not be based on compatibility, skills, or determination; it would be based on the power of God. therefore, it would not be possible for it to fail. this is almost impossible for me to understand, because immediately my mind fills with all of the situation where i consider it reasonable for a marriage to fail. i struggle to remember that God, His power, and ability are always going to be more than i can fully understand, and that i am only required to trust not understand.

basically, my ideal world rests on the individual. each person answering only to God. so, the only way this could possibly happen is for me to change the only person i am responsible for: myself.