"God is Love"
"God is Light"
You've heard these expressions from the time you were a wee child. You'll hear them in Hollywood, popular culture and in fact, from many churches. From these images, we've imagined the Almighty as the grandfather we never had. This elderly gentleman smiles at us, pats us on the back, and gives us our allowance. He doesn't ask for anything in return.
No wonder, when asked about eternity, eight out of 10 Americans will answer that God will reward them for being good.
"He wouldn't send me to Hell, would He?"
"I'm basically good."
"I don't try to be bad."
"Inside, I'm pretty decent."
And so on the deceit continues.
It's kind of a teeter totter of good and evil. In the end, which has more weight? The problem is that most of us live pretty good lives. Even the murderer says thank you at Starbucks, buys Girl Scout cookies and separates his recyclable material. It's that one evil act that defines him.
I didn't have to teach my sons to do wrong. From their first moments, they were in rebellion against authority. No wonder "no" is often the first word they understand -- it's the innate nature that wants to push against right.
Until we really get a grip that we aren't born good, we'll never experience the amazing. Once we realize that we aren't part of some cosmic balance sheet or a ying and yang world, then we can get on with living for His Glory.
What does your God look like? Care to comment?
Kind of loving the idea of a cosmic balance sheet - unfortunately I agree that one doesn't exist. My God is love but does judge me.
ReplyDelete"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14)
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, that one evil act doesn't have to condemn them, either, b/c if it comes right down to it, all of us participate in evil to some degree, and the very fact of trying to rank ourselves along the spectrum is a sign of what is so broken. We all need redemption, regardless, and we can all get it, even the heinous murderer.
ReplyDelete...I distinctly remember the first time i tried to explain to my wife that we are all rotten to the core, she became rather distraught and then angry..at me. ..as i've said before,many of us simply can't handle the truth about ourselves..i must admit though that i always feel vindicated somewhat when,in the end,those "good" people are caught doing bad things..it's very disturbing and sad to see those who rely on their percieved "goodness" to merit Gods ultimate approval..Nowdays I firmly believe that knowledge of The Gospel of Grace and redemption can only come to each of us by Divine revelation....Christ have mercy on us all..
ReplyDeleteThat's why a true Christian is one who is "born-again". Only then can we reconnect with God and experience His original plan for us.
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