On-Demand God

Greetings fellow nerds! With the new year, comes a new set of issues, circumstances, and adventures. Cyberpunk 2077 will receive several large patches to hopefully make the game better, a country torn by ideology, and the world begins to see openings after this long pandemic.

Many of you are looking at this four week series as a reminder. Some are hearing this for the first time. The idea for this remastering of an old message is to contradict the many stereotypes, misconceptions and present a God that really is there for you. Even if you are a cosplayer, and otaku or even a gamer who needs hope in this world, these messages are for you.

For the most part, many of you have heard the phrase, “It’s God’s will,” when asking why many serious events occur in our lives. The early death of a friend, or family member, due to illness or accident. That does not explain when pastors state that, “God has a plan,” when we also state that God and Jesus are the Great Healers, and just pray. Many of you have prayed in these moments, but never received what was asked. These ideals, propagated by pastors for years, has stoked the ideas that God is on-demand. This is not the case.

The unfortunate issue here is how our society operates, as well. Loot crates, micro-transactions, short missions with huge rewards. We get instant gratification from these items, and it is truly instant. Buy V-bucks in Fortnite, and load up on many game changing items, costumes, or other vanity items. It all depends on your spend.

So, why cannot God do the same thing. I mean, He has built the entirety of the universe, Earth, animals and humanity in seven days. Why cannot God gift me with wealth, as I pray for it? How come I am not healthier when I pray to God to make my body thin and perfect? I pray and pray and pray, as everyone tells me, but I am still in my situation as before.

We are told that God and Jesus loves us, like it says in Romans 8:

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 8

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Remember, in the bible, we are not the main characters, or even the NPCs. God and Jesus are the main characters. Everyone else are NPCs, although they do have active goals given by the MC. But, in looking at all these goals, God and Jesus are the receiving parties, and humanity are the recipients to these quests. And think about it, because of this type of relationship, it brings me to my first point:

God’s Thoughts are Not Always Yours

Look at the sniper archtype in most MMOs. They operate independently of the team, yet are there for their team to reach the same goal. This is the type of archtype I play in Overwatch. Yes, I play as Widowmaker because of the abilities she possesses. When playing, which I have not done in some time, I find the best spot to support my team, create havoc, funnel opponents into kill zones, and make playing easier for my team.

In this regard, I may not target a person for my team, because I am mindful of the bigger picture for all of them. This is not negating the fact that I am in game, reaching that kill goal, or moving that payload, or camping to hold the objective. My team will ask for a target to take down. If I am in position, ok. But sometimes, the target they are yelling for me to hit, may not be the real focus. As an independent operator, I have the final decision. The team, at the time, may not like the decision, but, I have yet to be cancelled from them every time I am in game. This is not to say that I am the best, because I am not. Why? My presence on the team is enough for them to get the job done. And this comes to point two.

God's Presence Near You is Enough

And how do we keep God close. Well, you may not like the answer. PRAYER!

Yes, prayer is the answer, but not in the same way you think. Prayer allows us to keep our connection to God; to keep Him close. To let God know how you feel is like asking for a shot when in the clutch or just need a person to listen. I pray anytime I get into a match. Not for a win, but for help to keep my thinking clear, my actions correct, and stay focused. But my prayers are not just for matches. I pray daily for the the nation, my family, and myself. I also pray daily for those who need help, to fight addictions, to heal from sickness. This is where you say, “Prayer does not help.”

This is where you are wrong. God, like any parent, is wanting to make a connection. Prayer is the way. When you pray, you are telling God what ails you, your desires, and goals. He is interested, but, like any father, which is what God is to us all, He will see what is doable with your abilities and in line with making yours and other individual lives better.

The reason I know that God is always near me is from a simple line in Psalms, one you are quite familiar with when watching a movie with a funeral involved.

English Standard Version Psalm 23

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

I know it is weird to speak of death while the analogy of Overwatch, but whether in death or life, God is always with us, as this Psalm is really stating to us. Through our most dire situations or greatest triumphs, God will always be with you and I.

As we conclude this message,

if you feel that you need that extra support, and feel that victory is out of reach, I encourage all of you to just take faith in God, because He does love you. If you feel the weight of sin is heavy on your person and heart, and need salvation, look no further than Jesus. It is through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that God remitted all of the sins of the world. Jesus sacrificed Himself for your salvation. I will tell you right now, that salvation is a constant work in progress, but God know you can persevere, and has given you the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus

Let us close in prayer…

Thank you for joining us

join us next week when we talk about another aspect of God that does not exist, that of the KillJoy God.

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And as always, have fun, be yourself and be real.