Jews, Muslims, and Christians Do You Want to Be Closer to God? A.K.A. How an Ex-Hydrographer Survives in This World

By Kimberly Glomb

As Jews, Muslims, and Christians, we all worship the same God. During my high school years, I gave my life to God, asked for His wisdom, and made a covenant with Him. As believers, we share many of the same concepts such as patience, doing good deeds, being God's servants, and enduring life trials. This book focuses on my relationship with God a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors' Tranquility Press
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781963636611

Book preview

World

I live by faith in silence, as it is not accepted by the world. I have a constant connection to God through the Holy Spirit. It is God I gave my soul to and seek guidance from. I also seek to remain separate from the world as God tells us.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

This image comes from the opening of the series called The Chosen. You can be a gray fish and do what everyone else is doing or a blue fish and go against the flow of the world. I am among the blue fish. There are things the world thinks are ok but are not by God. Adultery, idolatry, and gambling are such examples.

Among mankind there are some who take up equals apart from God, loving them like loving God. But those who believe are more ardent in their love of God. If those who do wrong could but see, when they see the punishment, that power belongs altogether to God and that God is severe in punishment, (2:165)

I do not own a cell phone. I see the reliance of people on them as a form of idolatry. I have met other Christians who wish they did not own one. A coxswain and I would often joke about how I could run a million dollars’ worth of hydrographic survey equipment but cannot use a cell phone.

One thing I enjoy doing is playing video games. God gave me ideas for writing my first book often while I was gaming. We continue to have conversations. Is this considered idolatry?

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians)

It is not for any soul to die save by God’s Leave-an enjoined term. Yet whosoever desires the reward of this world, we shall give him of it; and whomsoever desires of the Hereafter, we shall give him of it. And We shall reward the thankful. (3:145)

And God certainly was true to His Promise to you when you were eradicating them by His Leave, until the moment you lost heart, and quarreled with one another about the matter, and disobeyed, after He had showed you that which you loved. Among you are those who desire this world, and among you are those who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you from them, to test you, and He certainly pardoned you-God is Possessed of Bounty for the believers- (3:152)

Let them fight in the way of God, those who would sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And whosoever fights in the way of God-whether he is slain or victorious-We shall grant him a great reward. (4:74)

Those who believe fight in the way of God, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of false deities. Fight therefore, against the allies of Satan. Surely the scheme of Satan is ever feeble. (3:76)

Say, Scant is the enjoyment of this world, and the Hereafter is better for those who are reverent, and you shall not be wronged so much as the thread of a date stone. (3:77)

The life of this world is naught but play and diversion. Better indeed is the Abode of the Hereafter for those who are reverent. Do you not understand? (6:32)

O you who believe! What ails you, that when it is said unto you, Go forth in the way of God, you sink down heavily to the earth? Are you content with the life of this world over the Hereafter? Yet the enjoyment of the life of this world, compared with the Hereafter is but a little. (9:38)

And let not their wealth or their children impress thee. God desires but to punish them thereby in the life of this world, and that their souls should depart while they are disbelievers. (9:55)

Behold! Truly the friends of God, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve-those who believe and are reverent. For them are glad tidings in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. There is no altering the Words of God. That is the great triumph. And let not their speech grieve thee. Truly might belongs altogether to God; He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (10:62-65)

Ultimately, I seek to be a friend of God. I seek to be close to God in the afterlife.

An enjoyment in this world, then unto Us shall be their return, and We shall make them taste severe punishment for their having disbelieved. (10:70)

Moses said, Our Lord! Truly Thou hast given Pharaoh and his notables ornament and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord, so that they may lead astray from Thy way. Our Lord! Blot out their wealth and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe till they see the painful punishment. He said, Your supplication has been answered. So stand firm, and follow not the way of those who know not." (10:88-89)

God outspreads and straitens provision for whomsoever He will. They rejoice in the life of this world; yet compared to the Hereafter, the life of this world is but [fleeting] enjoyment. (13:26)

Those who prefer the life of this world over the Hereafter, and who turn from the way of God and seek to make it crooked; it is they who are far astray. (14:3)

How many a generation We destroyed before them who were fairer in [their] furnishings and outward appearance. (19:74)

And whatsoever you have been given, it is an enjoyment of the life of this world, and its ornament. But that which lies with God is better and more lasting. Will you not understand? (28:60)

O mankind! Surely God’s Promise is true. So let not the life of this world delude you, nor let the Deluder delude you concerning God. (35:5)

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:25-27)

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

We know that we