So in the first part we discussed the idea that there ar few things that we are really entitled to as Americans except for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but we are participants in the American dream and we should believe we can obtain it.

The question becomes now, what am I entitled to as a child of God? Am I entitled to health? Wealth? Happiness? In he mid-80s there was a song put out by the band Genesis, called Jesus He Knows Me. In the video for the song, the TV preachers are shown with good family values and are also shown enjoying the good life with huge mansions, nice cars, and lots of women. Are they entitled to those things for believing that they know Jesus?

First and foremost, I realize that we all entitled to Hell. Romans 3:23 tells us that we are all destined for separation from God without the blood of the Lamb covering our sins. So if you are not following the Lord and your sins are as red as scarlet, then that is all you got coming to you. It is only by the Lord’s goodness that we have hope for something different!

But I do know that Jesus promised that by following Him you would have life and life abundantly (John 10:10). So I guess we are entitled to that. However, that does not always mean having a lot of money. If it did, I guess that Richard Dawkins must have made all of that money off his books by following Jesus while claiming that God is a delusion. Also people like Mother Theresa must have been not very close to God.  I guess St. Paul must not have been very close to God either since he had neither a house, a lot of money, or women. You maybe a nonbeliever and have a good life, family, friends, money, health and wealth, but without the hope, faith, and love that comes from knowing the One Above All, according to the Bible, you are missing a huge component to the abundant life!

We humans are so prone to the extremes. So I add that I am not damning those who follow the Lord and do have money, nice homes, etc… The Lord increased Job many times after his test as He did Joseph, Moses, and others. It is fine to have nice things as long as nice things don’t have you. Maybe tomorrow the Lord will ask you to sell everything and follow Him, will you? Can you?

I also know that we are entitled to be with Him when we die, if we live for Him now (Matthew 5:17-20). Living with this in mind really helps me to deal with everything from unfair situations and disappointments to the inconveniences of life and I believe it should.

Hebrews  12:1-2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I also believe that you are entitled to the resources of the universe if you are a child of the Master of the Universe. Lets take the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15 11-32). Now we are and ought to be and need to be all three characters in this story. We have been and will continue to be the Prodigal Son himself. However, we need to have the forgiveness and generosity of the father in the story. However we need to remember and learn from the other son.

Hebrews 11:29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Here he was saying the same as the Occupy Movement kids, “Where is my entitlement??????” But instead of condemning his son as a spoiled brat, the father’s response is,

Hebres 11:31 “My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”

That sounds pretty good to me!

————————————————————————————–W.