My question is about fantasy life.  Ever since I was a young child, I remember living in a fantasy world.  It made me feel better knowing that this world I was living in was controlled by me.  This has continued into adulthood now.  It seems that what I look forward to are my nights when I will get to visit my fantasy world again.  I guess what I want to know is: is this a bad thing?  If it is, what should I do to break this habit?  Are there references in the Bible about this?

Sincerely,
Dreamer

Dear Dreamer,

God wants us to live in the world and trust Him… not avoid this life.  If God desired for christians to completely remove themselves from the influences and difficulties of this world, He would have commanded us to.  Instead, we see that He wants us to live amongst mankind as shining lights (Matt 5:16-17), and we are specifically told to remain amongst our fellow man (1 Cor 5:10).  You mentioned that your reason for living in a fantasy world was to find control.  The Bible tells us that we should give up control (1 Pet 5:6).  Let God be your refuge and fortress in life (Ps 91:2).

It is very easy to slip into the habit of finding refuge from life in television, video games, internet, books, excessive sleep, etc. – but ultimately, all we are doing is running away from reality.  That isn’t healthy.  It is time to grab your Bible and start facing this life head on.

If God doesn't judge, how does He "judge" whether or not we get into heaven?

Sincerely,
On Trial

Dear On Trial,

The Scriptures never say that God doesn’t judge – in fact, they say the exact opposite (Ps 7:11, Ps 50:6, Eccl 3:17, Acts 10:42, Rom 2:16, Rom 3:6, 2 Tim 4:1, and Heb 12:23… just to name a few passages).  Your confusion probably comes from an often misquoted verse (Matt 7:1) that says christians shouldn’t judge.  However, that verse in its proper context doesn’t say christians should never judge – but that they shouldn’t judge using their own judgment (Matt 7:1-5).  We should always use God’s standard, the Bible, to make judgments in this life.

I have a question; what did God do before the earth and the universe were created?  When I think of my short life on Earth, the eternity in the world, and time as we know it before and after my life, I wonder what our Creator did before He created the universe?

Sincerely,
Too Much Time

Dear Too Much Time,

The Bible only tells us one thing that God did before He created the universe.  Eph 1:3-4 tells us that God planned to create the church before He spoke even a single atom into existence.  Apparently, God’s people were so important to Him that He planned our design and leadership in Christ before He did anything else.  As for what else God did… the Bible is silent about such things (Deu 29:29).  We won’t know until we get to heaven and can ask Him.

Where in the Bible would I get a physical description of Lucifer before he was cast down.  I know he was God's choir director, and, supposedly, musical harmony emitted from his chest (as I heard one minister say).  I'd like to read it for myself.  I've tried the internet… but to no avail.  Please help.

Sincerely,
Music In Mind

Dear Music In Mind,

The Bible doesn’t give a physical description of Lucifer… in fact, the Bible never uses the name ‘Lucifer’ to refer to Satan at all.  The things you have been told are a great example of how many religious leaders say things that don’t have biblical truth behind them.  There is only one Bible reference to the word ‘Lucifer’, and it is in Isa 14:12… and only in the King James Version.  All the other versions use the words ‘Morning Star’… and the verse isn’t talking about Satan; it is talking about the Babylonian king (Isa 14:4).

The Bible never says Satan was God’s choir director, music emitted from his chest, etc.  In fact, we are never given any specific detail as to what Satan is and where he came from.  The Bible is silent about such things.  There are millions of theories about him, but no biblical facts.

Hello.  I am sort of a "beginner" christian, raised in a non-believer society and family.  Now my father, who is an unbeliever, is in a dying process.  He has been unconscious for several days now, and the doctors keep giving him twelve hours more at a time to live.  He keeps hanging on to the surprise of his doctors who (in their words) have not seen anything like this before.  That said, I have been praying to God that He would not let him die until he reaches salvation, knowing that at the last point of his consciousness he was an unbeliever.  I guess my question would be if it is possible for him to accept Jesus and receive salvation while in the dying state of unconsciousness and how could I help facilitate this (other than through prayer).

Sincerely,
Hopeful Child

Dear Hopeful Child,

Our hearts go out to you during this difficult time; nothing is harder than feeling helpless to do anything, and there isn’t anything you can do for your father’s relationship with God.  It is impossible to become a christian without a conscious, mature, and aware mind.  Becoming a christian involves repentance (Acts 3:19); ‘repentance’ means ‘to change your mind’… something that simply can’t be done while you are unconscious.  It involves confession (Lk 12:8-9).  Both of these things require an active and mature mind.  All faith is built upon hearing and understanding the Scriptures (Rom 10:17).  As long as your father is in the state he is in… all you can do is accept that he is in the hands of a loving and wise God.