For about two weeks, I have been drifting like somehow I have gotten separated from God; the reason I say this is because usually, when I pray, God gives me open manifestations and reveals things to me, but now it's like I've been shut out.  The things that I once was on fire for concerning God… it's like I have to push harder to get into the presence of God when it used to be so easy to get in His presence.  Please help me; I've never been in this place before, and I'm ashamed because I am supposed to be more mature than this when it comes to the Word and things of the Spirit of God.  Am I being rocked to sleep by the enemy?

Sincerely,
Asking For Directions

Dear Asking For Directions,

Our closeness to God isn’t defined by how close we feel to Him or by any personal revelation we think we receive… the Scriptures are our compass, not our emotions.  When the Bible was perfectly completed, all prophecy and individual revelations were done away with (1 Cor 13:9-10).  We believe your sincerity in feeling that God answers your prayers through directly speaking to you, but you are mistaken on that point.  However, the up side of that is that you can know – without worry of personal judgment muddying the waters – whether or not you are pleasing to God.  Paul told Timothy that he was approved by God when he rightly handled the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15).  Col 1:5 says that we have hope through the Word of God, and Eph 1:13 says we are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel of salvation.

Many people wholeheartedly believe that they are pleasing to God but will be condemned on the Day of Judgment (Matt 7:22-23).  Feelings can be deceptive, but God’s Word is unchanging, unbiased, and able to rightly divide our lives and character (Heb 4:12).  If you want to know whether or not you are pleasing God, compare your life to the Scriptures.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17).”

Were there dinosaurs during Noah's time?

Sincerely,
Question-o-saurus

Dear Question-o-saurus,

We have every reason to believe that there were dinosaurs during Noah’s time… and that Noah put them on the ark along with the other animals.  Noah was told by God to put two of every kind of animal on the ark (Gen 6:19-20).  This would have included the dinosaurs.  Noah probably put young, smaller dinosaurs on the ark considering they would fit better, and they would be better prepared to live long lives and repopulate after the Flood.

Another reason that it is likely dinosaurs lived during Noah’s time is all the dinosaur fossils we find.  Most of the fossils that are found today were created by the cataclysmic flood of Noah’s day.  Ever wonder why there are so many fossils?  Millions of dead creatures were covered in dirt, water, and lava when the Flood happened.

And last, but not least, dinosaurs are spoken of in the book of Job – which was written after the flood of Noah’s day.  Job talks about two creatures: the Behemoth (Job 40:15-24) and Leviathan (Job 41:1-34) that both match the description of dinosaurs perfectly.  Since Job lived after the Flood, it means that dinosaurs were still alive after Noah’s time.

I am an African American; I say this because I recently took a history class and found out that Christianity was used as one of the means of not only imposing slavery, but justifying it.  As someone who was brought up in the church, this has really disturbed me.  So I went to the Bible and began reading the laws of slavery in Leviticus 25, and there was also a particular verse in Colossians 3:22 which implies that slavery was not condoned by God but not frowned upon either.  Funny enough, all of my years being in the church, I have never heard any of these passages mentioned... I have two questions:

Where does God stand when it comes to slavery?  How come it is not allowed anymore if the Bible does not discourage it?

Sincerely,
Loosing Faith

Dear Loosing Faith,

Unfortunately, many horrendous things have been done in the name of Christ… but that doesn’t make them right.  God does address slavery in the Bible.  He makes it clear that it is better when people are free; freedom is what God desires for all men (1 Cor 7:21).  However, God also deals with how people can live in a world where slavery does exist… hence, verses like Col 3:22.  Slavery was, and is, a reality in many parts of the world, a reality that doesn’t go away once people become christians.  How a slave should behave toward their master is a down-to-earth, practical, moral question for many, many people.  The fact that we Americans don’t have to deal with such dilemmas anymore is a blessing indeed.

What does the Bible teach about who is supposed to care for their sick and elderly parents?  (Preferably verses from the New Testament).  I would like the Scriptures and an interpretation, please.

Sincerely,
Caregiver

Dear Caregiver,

The most applicable set of verses on the topic of caring for ageing parents are Matt 15:3-6 and 1 Tim 5:4.  In the book of Matthew, Jesus makes a direct correlation between the command to ‘honor your father and mother’ (Matt 15:4, Eph 6:2) and the act of spending money to care for their needs (Matt 15:5-6).  Part of honoring your parents (whether it be a joy or a burden) is caring for their physical needs.  In 1 Tim 5:4, Paul makes it clear that children should care for their needy parents.  In caring for our parents, we show piety and do something that is acceptable in God’s sight.

Hello, again.  You were so helpful to me in the past that I have another question!  What does the Bible say about your mind, about renewing your mind, and how not to be a negative thinker?  I am trying to change the way I think and very much want to get closer to God.  Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Half-Full Hopes

Dear Half-Full Hopes,

The most applicable set of verses on the topic of renewing your mind are Rom 12:1-5 and Eph 4:20-32.  Within those verses, we are given a list of things that will help us become happier, more positive people.

1. Hear and study the Scriptures (Eph 4:21).
2. Remove sin from your life (Rom 12:2, Eph 4:22-23).
3. Embrace a life of service to God (Rom 12:1, Eph 4:24).
4. Be honest with yourself and others (Eph 4:25, Rom 12:3).
5. Enjoy your relationships with other people; we are interconnected (Rom 12:4-5, Eph 4:25).
6. Don’t let your anger control you – resolve your problems with others (Eph 4:26).
7. Speak pure things in order to help yourself think pure things (Eph 4:29).
8. Be kind and tenderhearted with others… forgive (Eph 4:32).

You’ll spend your life trying to apply these principles, but every day can bring you a step closer to being the person the Lord intends for you to be.