Some people are not comfortable with the G.O.D. of love. They prefer the god of revenge and punishment for their enemies etc. Because they work hard and keep the law scrupulously, they believe every good deed is put down as a merit for them in heaven. They belive other people who are not as good as them should receive nothing good from God. This is not about taking God for granted or encouraging tolerance for evil,. This is about belief in a God that is free to love or forgive whom He wants especially those who turn around and repent. That’s why he is the God of love. Even Jesus himself addresses this in the gospels when he said to the workers in the vineyard who complained about his generosity: “My friend, I am not cheating you… take what is yours and go… Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:1-16)
The Babylonians in exile had this kind of false image of God as a punisher of evil and Isaiah told them in very plain language that they were wrong and needed a conversion of heart. This time it was not a conversion from sin and corruption, but a radical change from their myopic way of looking at God. “Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts. I will abundantly pardon you, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, says the Lord.” Abraham our father in faith was called while he was still a pagan. David was forgiven while he was at his worst sin of adultery and murder. Moses, who murdered an Egyptian while defending his people, was still called to lead his people.
It’s time we realized that our God is a generous God, even as we still believe he does not tolerate sin. He is not our business partner; he is not an accountant who is there to record our deeds in order to pay us according to our merits. A dog is the only creature you can train to obey you and work in accordance to your dictates; not God. Seriously, we merit nothing from God; we can only receive forgiveness, generosity, love, and indeed salvation from him. It’s time we begin to change our mentality of the God we serve and treat him like a G-O-D not a D-O-G.
Fr. Peter Abue
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue PhD, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.