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A question I've been thinking about lately.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:09 am
by Kura Ookami
Would you, if you were dying, and Satan offered you life choose to make a pacy with Satan and live or not make a pact with Satan and die. Answer as honestly as you can. As for my answer I honestly don't know. I know that making a pact with Satan would be the wrong thing to do, however, life is the most precious gift that God has given to us.
I probably would make the pact with Satan not thinking about anything else at that time. I dont think I'd be thinking about the price. The inspiration for this question came from Bible Black when kitami is faced with the same thing. Naturally she chooses life. I wonder who can honestly say they would choose death? Say why you would choose the choice you made too.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:53 am
by cbwing0
This is an interesting question. However, I think that your answer is based on a few misconceptions.
First, life is the most precious gift that God has given to us, but not in the way that you mean. As Christians, we have everlasting life in Christ awating us upon death. It is this life, rather than our brief period of mortality, that is God's most precious gift to us. To put it another way, Christ is the most precious gift that God has given to us.
Second, it is not clear that a Christian even could make a "pact with Satan." After all, our souls belong to Christ, so we can't really give them to both God and Satan. As Christ says in Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." If a person did make such a pact, I would question whether they were ever saved in the first place.
Personally, I would allow my phyiscal body to die, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). It would be foolish to sacrifice eternity for a few moments on this earth.
Furthermore, when Christ returns, there will be "a new heaven and a new earth," so dying does not mean that we will never again visit this earth (Revelation 21:1).
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:55 am
by Staci
Personally, salvation is more important to me than life. Besides, if I am saved, when I die and Jesus returns, I will go to Heaven and live eternally with the Lord, yes?
Like it or not, we all have to die at some point in our life. Death is the ONLY sure thing in life, nothing else is.
Making such a pact with Satan is only giving him what he wants -- to mess with the Lord's plans as much as possible. I think it slightly pompous for anyone to make a deal with the devil just so they could live longer in this life and go against the Lord's wishes. (I'm not meaning to chide or anything, it's just how I feel. Please, do not be offended by my opinion. ^_^ )
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:58 am
by Ashley
I can honestly say I would choose death.
Call me pessimistic, but this life is hard. There are moments of joy and fun, but for the most part it seems to me to be an uphill climb. Why would anyone want to hold close to this mortal life with its pain, sickness, death, disease, failure, etc. etc. and give up the eternal joy of heaven? That's what keeps me going a lot of days--to know that this life is only temporary and someday everything will be made perfect FOREVER. The thought of giving that up, especially to my spiritual arch-enemy, is not one I would ever consider seriously.
On a more administrative note, keep this thread civil and polite, alright? We can express different opinions without being rude or nasty about it.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:10 am
by Golden_Griff
No way, I would choose death. I would rather die for Christ than to live in damnation. Besides, salvation guarentees eternal life; through Christ and the salvation He gives us Death is defeated.
And the devil is a liar
.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:11 am
by Mave
If God wills that it's time for me die, why not? Why should I be worried of dying when it means I'm going to see God?
For me, this one is a no-brainer. I'll happily die. Satan is out of the picture completely.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:15 am
by SManBeyond
I'd also pick death. Making a deal with Satan is always a mistake you can never trust him. Satan is never looking out what's truly good or beneficial for you. Thus if he's offering you life, even if you accepted it, it would be a horrible and unrewarding life.
For those of you that have read The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis, you may recall that there is a similar situation. I'm going to spoilerize it just in case. [SPOILER] Digory is told by Jardis (the White Witch) that he could disobey Aslan and take another apple of youth to his mother to heal her from her illness. Diggory is nearly convinced to do so, but eventually refuses. Aslan tells Diggory later that if he had given the apple to his mother against Aslan's wishes, she would have indeed been healed and lived, but the life she would have had would be so miserable that both she and Diggory would look back and have said that it would have been better for her to have died. "All get what they want. They do not always like it."[/SPOILER]
Remember, Jesus was also offered everything a man on earth could possibly want if He would just bow down to Satan, and He refused. We should follow His example.
Besides, what's so bad about death? Sure, it can be painful, but it's nothing compared to the wonderful eternal life in Heaven, where we WILL see God.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:35 am
by oro!
I go with the others. Life after death will be so much greater than this one, anyway. You can't even describe it accurately with our words. So, if it is your time, why try to prolong getting to it?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:35 am
by Xeno
I would choose death, I wouldn't think it smart to make a pact with Satan. And isn't Bible Black a hentai?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:41 am
by Azier the Swordsman
Xeno wrote:I would choose death, I wouldn't think it smart to make a pact with Satan. And isn't Bible Black a hentai?
Yes, it is.
On topic, if you were to actually make a pact with Satan, you would essentially be condemning yourself to hell. Which would you rather prefer, eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven, or eternal torment with Satan in hell?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:44 am
by Kisa
I think I would choose death.
I know I am a Christian and I would be going to a better place, and also like Ashley said, this life is hard and in no way compares to what iit wil lbe like with our Father in Heaven.
I would be happy to ignore Satan and choose to die and see God.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:49 am
by Kura Ookami
Wow! I hadnt thought of that cbwing0. Everyone has made good points, but i think this just proves that i need to read the bible more.The bible is meant to be your sheild or something isnt it? Forgive me if im wrong. I'm perhaps not the best christian in the world. Maybe i can learn alot more from people like you. I guess that's the primaty reason im here, to learn more about God and Jesus Christ.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:55 am
by Kristal*Klear
Personally, I would choose to die... yes life is a precious gift God has given us, but he sent Jesus to die so that we could have an even more precious one in Heaven.. Fellowship with Him! Yeah...I would Choose to die.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:37 pm
by Ducky
I would also rather die. For pretty much the same resons as others have stated. This world is full of sin and sorrow. Plus if I did make a deal with the devil it would be a horrible witness to those I've told about Christ. Many members of my immediate family are not christians and about all they really know of Christ they know through me, if I were to give that up for a few measly days or months or years it would likely prove to them that Christ and Chriastianity weren't real in my life and that would kill me even more than dying if that makes any sense.
I'm perhaps not the best christian in the world. Maybe i can learn alot more from people like you. I guess that's the primaty reason im here, to learn more about God and Jesus Christ.
On a side note, not knowing dosen't make you a bad Christian, by simply admitting you have a lot to learn and seeking that knowledge you are being responsible for your spiritual growth. There is no need to get discouraged about not knowing and you're right that getting into the word of God will certainly help you with that. I hope that this community can help you to grow spiritually ^_^.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 4:40 pm
by EireWolf
Give me liberty and give me DEATH. For Christians, death is only a doorway to eternity with Christ. What better thing is there than that?
Any "good" thing the devil offers to give me is filth next to anything God offers to give me, even if it's difficult to accept at first. Satan's primary objective in your life is to get you away from God. You see, he wants lots of company in Hell. On the other hand, God's primary objective is to draw you close to Him, love you, be loved by you, and give you good gifts. Which would you choose?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 4:49 pm
by Nate
Matthew 16:26:
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
So yeah, I'd choose death. I know you realize that now, Kura, but I just thought that verse was appropriate.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:03 pm
by Sam*ron
I would choose to die, cause' like Mave said, why would you make a pact with Satan if you were going to see God!?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:30 pm
by Spirit_Wolf8356
I'd have to say I'd choose death. Living would seem dull compared to the prospect of finally being able to see God. Not to mention all the other nifty people I'd get to meet. ^_^ Like the disciples. I think they'd be fun to meet.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:06 pm
by Ssjjvash
Satan offering a pact sounds like the mark of the beast spoken about in the Bible. And if you accept the mark of the beast, forget going to heaven! I wouldn't accept that from Satan! I refuse to accept his lies as well.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:19 pm
by Yojimbo
To be given the chance to die for the sake of the Lord, I couldn't pass that up for all the wealth in the world. Signing a pact with Satan is one of the worst sins one can make and nothing good can come from it.
PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:38 pm
by agasfas
As for my answer I honestly don't know. I know that making a pact with Satan would be the wrong thing to do, however, life is the most precious gift that God has given to us.
Life is the most precious gift God gives us, that is correct. But I believe it's the eternal life through salvation that he speaks of not this physical world. I would choose death b/c by making a pact w/ satan is condeming one's soul, our earthly lives are short compaired to the next life. So why prolong your life another 20-50yrs on earth when one will suffer for eternity after that?
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:56 pm
by Mr. SmartyPants
I believe that only God can take life away from someone. And if you make a pact with satan, that is rejecting what God is supposed to do with you.
I would definately not make a pact, becasue if i died, I know where I would go.
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 12:25 am
by Swordguy
Philippians 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (cbwing beat me i know but it was the first came to mind as soon as i read it)
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 4:27 pm
by Jaltus-bot
I would choose that I would die in this life and pray that God would get me through any suffering from it.
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 4:36 pm
by Vyse
Ashley wrote:
On a more administrative note, keep this thread civil and polite, alright? We can express different opinions without being rude or nasty about it.
Then why is it when I made a thread asking for different opinions on what people are supposed to do on Sunday and it gets locked? Everyone was being civil and polite.
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 4:44 pm
by EireWolf
I'm sure the mods had a reason, Vyse. This kind of question should go to PM, instead of derailing someone else's thread about it.
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 5:00 pm
by ShiroiHikari
yeah, if you're wondering about that Vyse, PM Ashley.
back on track folks.
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 5:12 pm
by Kat Walker
That would be like borrowing a dollar from a stranger when you have a billionaire trust fund waiting to be inherited.
But in all seriousness, to take anything from Satan is to assume that God's will is inadequate, and that His Sacrifice and Love for you isn't enough. There's no question that nothing can be gained from that...
PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:52 am
by Lunis
Sorry, I haven't read all the responces, so forgive me if I'm just repeating. I would definitely chose death. Sure, life is one of the greatest gifts that God gave us. But if He says it's our time to go, I won't make evil deals with the devil to stop that. Besides, we have the greatest gift of all from God to look foreward to. Heaven. Life doesn't last forever, and I'm pretty glad it doesn't. Why would I make a deal with Satan that I get to live longer and possibly not be allowed into heaven? It's like trading all you have for a piece of candy.
PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 6:04 am
by termyt
kaemmerite wrote:Matthew 16:26:
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
I was going to quote this verse as well, but I give credit to kaemmerite and his cool Crow avatar for doing it first.
Personally, I don't believe you can sell your soul to the devil. You can't sell what isn't yours to sell and Satan can't buy what isn't his to buy.
Beyond that, I would much rather loose this life and gain eternity in the presence of my Lord than keep this life and loose eternity with my Lord. It's a no brainer for me, which is good because it means I'm up to the task.