The Answerer

It plainly depends on the choices you make with what comes your way. Some choose to moan and protest that life has been hard so ‘I will sit down and cry’. Others will see a problem that is really not a problem and make it their business to tell everybody how unlucky they are. Another makes friends with some group who they know ‘do crimes’ and it seems exciting. That is, until they finish up in jail because they all got caught. There is a great saying: “You lie down with dogs – you get up with fleas.” One good true friend is more valuable than gold and diamonds. They never gossip, lie to you or cheat. Hang on to that friend, and make yourself a true, reliable friend to that one. Such friendships can last a lifetime. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived wrote in the Bible 3,000 years ago, “If you want favour with both God and man and a reputation for good judgement and common sense, then trust the Lord completely, don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Wisdom can be had too. Another Proverb goes: “The man who knows right from wrong, has good judgement and common sense is happier than the man who immensely rich.” (Proverbs 3:13–15). Whatever you do, do not seek to see the future from clairvoyants, or fortunetellers, EVER!

I cannot tell you and I’m sorry that he has gone. We all, in our hearts, want our Grandparents to live forever. That’s how it should be. However some of them can be mongrels and nasty characters and few miss them when they go. To have that good Grandad must have been great. Nobody can tell when his or her time is up or why. SO ... make the most of them while they are here and say, “thank you” to God for them every day and love them.

It will all be revealed in heaven! Why is life so hard? Further back is a question “Why are we so mean?” (Q22). I cannot here give an answer that is accurate and true. I have not met you and looked into your eyes and checked your health. Please read Q22 and have a long thorough talk with your doctor, Mum/Dad school chaplain or someone and so ensure there are no physical problems. It could be that you want too much! A teacher told me, that in one country in Africa you cannot send your child to such-and-such a school because you have glass in your windows. Why? ‘That means you are already quite rich if you can afford glass in your windows.’ Wow! Our country is much blessed and some of us want more and more. I hope that is not you. What is the meaning of life? Most people answering this question would hesitate and say: “Well it depends, er, um ... and I don’t want to push my opinions...er.” Many more: “I have no idea.” And it’s true. Many do not think on it and wander through life not caring about the future. You are good, you think about these things and that makes you a leader in some ways. Leaders think. Because I call myself a ‘Serious Christian’ I think God comes in at the front of my answer. What if the entire world obeyed God’s ‘Ten Commandments’? No lying, stealing, murder, adultery (sex outside marriage) and didn’t envy or steal their neighbour’s goods. There are Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. It could be a very different world. No wars, divorce, or innocents in prison, etc. No police needed! Wow! So, I say the meaning of life is "To love God and obey his laws, teach your children His laws and leave this world a better place for your being on it.

About the best question of all. Thank you so much. Because Adam and Eve ‘messed up’ they were expelled from God’s presence. “God’s eye cannot look upon evil.” (Habakkuk 1:13). There can be no sin in heaven. So how can God get us back into heaven so He could have a family around Him? God’s ‘rescue package’ would not be an instant result. His only begotten Son, Jesus, agreed that He would come to earth as a human. From there He would, to use His own words: “...do the will of my Father in heaven”. He displayed God’s power in miracles and teaching, then submitted to the travesty of a false trial, was whipped, spat on, beaten then crucified and put in a tomb. God raised Him to life from the grave on the third day as Jesus said He would. By confessing our sins to God and believing in Him we are given forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Free! Forgiveness is God’s gift to us, in which He delights because we “are made in His image and likeness.” (Gen 1:26-27). God loves to forgive but there is a price that someone has to pay for sin. The suffering and death of Jesus was the price. There is no other way; you cannot buy it, work for it or exchange anything for it. All sin has a price. A stolen rubber costs the price of another one. Someone has to pay.

Well the whole world will not ‘disappear’ as you say. Jesus said it would be : "...the end of the age.” Not the world. What will happen is that the earth will be cleaned up, I think by fire, and all evil will be removed and replaced by God’s new heaven and new earth. To go into detail would take many pages, too heavy for a child to digest. Be assured: If you are a part of God’s family you will be very pleased when it all happens and have no worries at all. May God bless your future.