Everlasting Father
Saturday, June 28 2008 @ 07:23 PM PDT
Kelsey's mother was a pro-life activist. As a child, Kelsey often went with her to rallies. She sometimes marched with signs along side other Christians as they picketed clinics. Kelsey almost expected a bolt of lightening to come down and strike the women they were marching against. Then sixteen year old Kelsey got pregnant. It was the first time she had sex. Of course she kept the baby--it was the only thing for a Christian girl to do. Kelsey knew she had not always done the Christian thing or she would not be raising a baby by herself. As her little daughter grew into a toddler, she was a constant reminder that some sins are more difficult to hide than others.
The shame Kelsey experienced when she knew others were talking about her,was made even worse by her loneliness as she struggled with single motherhood. Kelsey believed her trials were judgments from God as a result of her disobedience. She didn't realize that God had forgiven her. She didn't realize that her trials were merely the intrinsic results of her actions. Then one day, the unthinkable happened; Kelsey's child got sick and died over night. Kelsey was heartbroken for her baby! She may not have been a good provider for her child, but she had loved her little girl as much as any mother...
Kelsey was angry at God for allowing this to happen. But down inside, she believed it was her own fault--after all, the child was still a result of Kelsey's sin. Kelsey attended the funeral of her daughter but that was last time she entered the church. Walking out the door, she turned away from God without knowing His unconditional love. Many people, like Kelsey, are afraid of God. They fear God's retribution because they've sinned. Since the Father is just like Jesus, what kind of retribution should they expect? How did Jesus treat Judas who betrayed Him? How did Jesus treat Peter who betrayed Him? How did Jesus treat the people who murdered Him?
If we are kind to a favorite pet that misbehaves? If we sinful humans are so merciful, how much more merciful is God--the loving author of mercy? God is not a man. His ways are higher than our ways. One day, Jesus was walking with His disciples when they met a blind man. The disciples said to Jesus, "Who sinned? This man or his parents? Jesus replied that neither had sinned. Now if God demands a retribution for sins, Wouldn't Jesus have said that? Since Jesus came to reveal His Father, wouldn't He tell his friends,"By the way, this is the result of his sins?" There is a saying that "We serve the god we know."
Those who believe that God punishes sinners often expect Him to do just that. But if we take that route, we might be tempted to believe that God is behind every accident, assassination, tornado and medical diagnosis. We might all go crazy searching for the sins that have caused our misfortunes. Sin does have intrinsic results; the act of living without God is painful. But Satan has been out to slander God's character since before he fell from heaven. If he can just get us to believe that God punishes us, then we will all be afraid of God. People, who are scared spitless of God, will never take the time to know Him.
If we listen to Satan's lies, we will continue to blame God unfairly.That unfounded fear will eventually cut us off from God--our only life source. And then we will be left with the results of living without God--eternal death. But it won't be God punishing us that causes us to die, it will be God allowing our choices of sin to run its course.
©2008 Cherilyn Christen Clough
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