I remember as a young boy looking up at the stars and wondering about the universe and God. Later, as a young man, I had the same sense of wonder and a longing to know about things that seemed far beyond my reach. How could it ever be possible to attain knowledge about God and His universe? I studied the Bible in the hope that I could gain some insight and while I did receive some hope and peace, I still had so many questions, many that I could not even put into words.

Over the years, I am 62 years old now, I have been introduced to some very powerful ideas that have changed my life for the better and have quenched much of my longing for information. I share a few of these ideas in general form in the hope that they will comfort and encourage others as they have me.

• God is present with us now. He is not going to come at some time in the future, He “comes” to us individually as we become aware that He is already present. His life is the only life, therefore, any life is evidence of His presence.

• God is so very loving and gentle and selfless that He shares His life with us in such a way as to allow us to feel it as though it were our own. He does not intrude into our lives but allows us space to live as if from ourselves. Therefore, one is never truly alone or isolated from God.

• God loves each person like a parent loves each of her/his children and could never give up on anyone. Unlike us, God is love and love can only love, it is incapable of hating a person, only evil behavior because of the harm it causes. God does eventually separate the good from the evil but only to protect the good, not to punish the evil.

• There is a heaven and a hell. Heaven is defined by love for God and others and is comprised of all who will forsake evil behavior and submit to the laws of love and justice. If everyone on earth were to forsake evil and choose good (which ability we have been endowed with) we would experience heaven on earth (thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven). Hell is defined by an inordinate love of self and of possessions, that is, replacing love for God and others with love for oneself and for possessions. All who refuse to part from these inordinate loves and to submit to God's laws of love and justice abide there because of their own choosing, not because God wants to punish them.

I am aware that many will reject at least some, if not all of the above ideas. We tend to find it difficult to believe that God could be so good. We are capable of treating each other horribly, then we blame God for allowing us to do so. But, in due time, those who persist in doing good will enter fully into God's protection and provision and will forever be amazed at His tender mercy and loving kindness.

Do I believe that the above ideas are scriptural? Yes.