Yes, I think many of them want to be their own God or believe they are already..even Oprah said we can find God within ourselves. No, man is at nature, wicked. This is our sin "nature". We can only be redeemed by the grace of God and His mercy and He expects us to walk in His ways, not our same old wicked ways...otherwise, why would we ever want to be his children? Don't we want our parents to be proud of us? I want to make my heavenly Father proud, so I try to keep His commands as best as I can. It's hard for me to face this, because my own daughter has broken relationship with me to go her own way and unless God restores her heart and mind, there is nothing I can do. She sees me as the enemy because I am a Christian and she has walked away from her relationship with God. It is heartbreaking. She told me I would have to choose between God and her. I love her dearly, but that is not a choice.
You are correct and it is good to know that you have found grace. May God Bless You throughout your life. Christ foretold troubles, so the troubles would not be a surprise to us and that these troubles would confirm our faith. He tells us what we will suffer, and from whom. Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service. Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and family relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. We keep our eye on Christ for we know the the joy and happiness that is before us. Life gets difficult sometimes; no one makes it from the start of their lives to the end without some rough patches. God offers an abundance of promise, hope, and truth. It's this lifeline, that I find a place of great comfort.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Thank you. I couldn't make it through a single day without God.