Eternal Perspective Q&A (Things I wish I had known earlier):
1. Why are we here? People travel the world searching for their purpose in life, yet we need look no farther than scripture. The Bible tells us to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. God, the Creator of the universe, created us to worship Him! He is worthy of all praise and worship and when we worship Him, amazing things happen. We enter into fellowship with the one true living God!
2. How can we come to know and worship God? God has revealed Himself in a number of ways. First, He has revealed Himself in creation, for the heavens declare the glory of God. He also reveals Himself through the Bible. The Old Testament was written by different people over time, yet all that was foretold of the coming Messiah was fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth, life, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. God reveals Himself in the person and life of Jesus Christ. And finally, God reveals Himself through His church (those who worship Him in spirit and truth). Please visit oca.org to read about saints and martyrs.
3. Why did Jesus die on the cross? Jesus died on the cross but rose from the tomb, conquering death. He came to us for that purpose. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God is forgiving--unto the point of providing for our salvation through the cross and resurrection of Christ. Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross and His sacrifice was for us all. There were two criminals crucified beside our Lord. One asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. The other never turned from ridiculing Jesus. The Orthodox cross has a tilted bar at the bottom as a memorial that one criminal chose Jesus and one rejected Him. Jesus told the first, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Orthodox Christians seek to live lives of repentance, placing our faith and trust in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to show us the Father and that we might have abundant life in Him!
4. How can I learn more and find a church? I've been a Christian for many years and am very thankful to have found the Orthodox Christian Church. The Orthodox church is found all over the world and trace their beginnings to the original church founded by the apostles. I attend Holy Cross Orthodox Church in America in High Point, North Carolina. I encourage you to visit www.oca.org which has wonderful resources and www.holycrossoca.org which is the website of our church. Click below to read about our new church building in Kernersville, North Carolina.
