An 8yr olds Questions about God.

So, the other day my son Luke came up to his mom (my wife, a.k.a Angie) and said he had a bunch of questions about God. Since Angie was busy making dinner, she told Luke to go and write down all his questions and we would talk about them during or after dinner (this is when we typically do our family devotions if we are able to do them). So Luke went off to his room and when supper time came he brought out a sheet of paper with 10 questions he had written down. As we talked about the questions he wrote down three others that came to his mind. I wanted to share these questions with you because, well, I think we all  have had similar questions. Below is a picture of his actual questions. I also listed each question out below and put my basic response next to some of them. As often as I could, I used simple illustrations to help Luke understand.

Questions:

#1. If you ask him (God) for something or somebody to believe in Jesus, why does it seem like he doesn't answer it?

Response: We talked about perseverance in prayer and faith. We also talked about how God uses all kinds of means to answer us: can give us thoughts, can speak to us verbally, can use other people to answer us, can use the Bible to answer us, and can use circumstances in our life to answer us. God isn't limited to how we expect that he should or will answer. 

#2. If it is an important question will He answer it?

#3. Does he even answer?

#4. Why doesn't he make people do stuff?

Response: We talked about how God wants people to be obedient out of love and thankfulness to him rather than God making people do what he wants. I told Luke that sometimes God might make people do stuff but typically he gives man the freedom to choose His way or their own way. I asked Luke if he would want someone to hug him because he made them or if he would rather have someone hug him just because they loved him. God wants people to "hug" him just because they love Him and desire to honor Him. 

#5. Why doesn't He love anything more than us?

Response: God freely chose to lavish his love on people even though we don't deserve it. Because God created us and we are like sons and daughters to him, he loves us more than anything else in creation. In fact the Bible tells us that everything He created was for mankind to enjoy and take care of. 

#6. Why doesn't he always say yes?

Response: God knows best. For instance when you were young and wanted to play in the road mommy wouldn't' let you because she knew what was best for you. At that point you may not have understood the danger but mommy did. God knows what is best for us. Also, God is not just concerned about our happiness, he is also concerned about our holiness and often times our prayers are selfish and come from the wrong motives.

#7 Why didn't he make up his own songs that worshiped himself?

Response: see number #4. I also, explained to Luke that God did tell us how He wants to be worshipped. We are the worshippers and he is the worshipped. Worship is not a task it is us enjoying God out of a thankful heart. 

#8 Why did He make Jesus die instead of doing something else instead of letting the people kill him?

Response: I don't know. We simply explained that God is Just (meaning that he distributes punishment for sin, just like a judge does). We wouldn't like a judge who just let every criminal go free. God is also love and does not want to see anyone punished for sin. How does God reconcile his justice and love. He sends Jesus to take upon himself the punishment of our sin. Those who believe in Jesus are free from the punishment of sin and death. God still disciplines us out of love but those who believe in Jesus will not have to be punishment for their sin because Jesus already was for them.

#9 Why did God make Jesus?

Response: To establish his kingdom on earth and to redeem men and women from (satan) sin and death. (yes we talked in depth about what  a kingdom was and no I did not use the word redeem when talking to Luke). I also explained that Jesus like God, always existed. Only his flesh was created but before he was a man he lived with God in heaven. 

#10 Why did God make everything?

Response: To enjoy and to be enjoyed. He wants to enjoy his creation and he wants his creation to enjoy Him.

#11 Does he love the devil?

Response. God tells us to love our enemies so I am guessing that He loves the devil. However, he hates everything the devil does. 

#12 What does he do when a person does enough sin in their life?

Response: No sin or amount of sin is too great for God to forgive. Jesus death on the cross for us was great enough to cover every sin a person does. There have been times when God didn't tolerate sin (the great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Ananias and Sapphira). God gives people a chance to turn to him and believe; those who don't trust Him for salvation from sin have no other choice but to bear the punishment of sin themselves. God tells us that, Jesus alone can save us. 

#13 How was God created

Response: The Bible always assumes God and thus does not talk about the origin of God. However the word eternal in the Bible as it refers to God means that God always has (from eternity past) and always will (eternity future) exist. We can't understand this just like there are lots of things humans still can't explain. We of course in our pride tend to think we know nearly everything and can explain everything.

Angie and I will certainly cherish Luke's questions because it means he is seeking for God and thinking about truth. May God guide my sons heart to his own. May Luke experience the power and presence of God, not just academically but in all ways. God is majestic in holiness and awesome in glory!