The ultimate life goal

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"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
People who live in the Midwest have had a rough time recently. Many of them have looked into their flooded homes only to find all their belongings destroyed. Others have looked at their submerged crops and seen the loss of their livelihood. There is a good chance that some of them said the words from this passage in Romans 8. Most Christians know these words and most have had occasion to apply these words to others or to themselves. God takes a bad thing and turns it into something good for me.
This passage is probably used most as a comfort when we cannot see the good that God is bringing about in a certain thing. For example, if a Christian dies who has been suffering a great deal, we can see the good that God has brought about in his death. Such an event simply confirms this promise of God. But when you can’t see the good that God is accomplishing is when it requires faith. It requires faith in God to believe that he will make something good happen when we can’t possibly see how a flooded house will ever be good for me.
It is always a blessing when we are able, eventually, to see the good. But what happens if we don’t? Well, first of all, God hasn’t promised that we will see it, only that good will come out of it. This is where faith comes in – to believe that God is working a good thing even though we can’t see it. Secondly, we might not be looking as intently as we should at the good he is doing. And finally, we may not realize what God considers “good”. “Good” is everything that brings us closer to him. “Evil” is everything that pulls us away from him. Can an unflooded house be evil? Yes, if you love it more than you love God. Can a flooded house be good? Yes, if you learn to trust God more. God considers trials that strengthen us as a good thing. He even considers suffering for the sake of Jesus a good thing. It might not always feel good, but it will be good.
So we can be thankful when we see all the blessings that God pours into our lives. This promise of God helps us to be thankful even when we can’t yet see the blessing.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for all the clearly good things that you give me in life. I ask you to help me better see the good that you bring about even in the things that don’t seem good. And give me the faith to believe that good will come even if I can’t see it. Amen."
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Since the recent discovery of cancer in my father in law, it has seemingly brought the family closer together. Granted we all have been pretty close, but the walls that have been put up are coming down slowly.... it's nice to see. Living a life with cancer.... how can even the thought of cancer be a good thing. I am starting to see how this thing that everyone is so worried and stressed about can bring about eternal happiness. I am kinda at the outside looking in....I am not dealing with everything that has to be dealt with, I only hear what's being dealt with, which pulls me back from the situation a bit and am looking more at the long term.

Our goal here in this life is to get to heaven...nothing more and nothing less. Of course with that the priority, every thing else will fall into place for us to lead lives that are to glorify God in all we do and say. Our entire focus should be to God, and making sure we are doing all we can to strengthen our own faith, and the faith of those around us. The Holy Spirit will guide us, and our lives will be less hectic, stressful, and worry riden. Prayer is powerful.
In the face of scary health issues, it gives me some more perspective on God and faith.
My question is can a person have faith in Jesus, when their faith is never strengthened, lying dormant. Never hearing God's Word, and seemingly focused on what the world has to offer and what can be done in this life to earn heaven, or just ignoring the issue. Figuring that since having heard about God at some point and believing there is a God, that will automaticly gain heaven?
I am not the perfect Christian, in fact, I am far from it, but God has forgiven me all my sins. I faithfully go to church to hear His Word, but do fall short and have given into this sinful world many times. I frequently fall into the trap of sinful worrying and guilt, and putting other "things" before God, but yet try to live optimisticly, knowing that God will take care of me and everything will be fine. Maybe not fine on my terms, but eternally fine. I pray for God to strengthen my faith daily, and allow me to focus on what is truly important, His Word and Sacraments.
Pray with me, that we all can reconginize what is important, grow in our faith daily, so all can all enjoy eternal life in heaven.