by THE GOD OF LOVE
Some people prefer the god of revenge and punishment than the God of Love. They believe other people who are not as good as them are destined to receive no reward from ‘their’ god. But was Abraham our father in faith not called while still a pagan? Was David not forgiven while he was at his worst sin of adultery and murder? Was Moses who murdered an Egyptian while ‘defending’ his people not still called to lead his people? If you read this and think I am taking God for granted, encouraging tolerance for evil, laziness, or sloth, then think again.
Jesus addressed his disciples in the gospels, saying: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong … take what belongs to you and go…Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Why are you envious because I am generous? “ (Matt. 20: 1-16). Our God is a generous God, even when we know he has zero-tolerance for sin. He lavishes his love on both saint and sinner
alike. He forgives sinners unconditionally so that they may find it in their hearts to repent or even forgive those who sin against them. All so we may understand his true nature and seek to be like him; a God of love.
The Babylonians, in exile, had this false image of God; only as a punisher of evil, and Isaiah tells them in very plain language that they were wrong and needed conversion of heart. This time, it was not a conversion from sin and corruption, but a radical change from their myopic way of thinking ( and looking at God): “Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thought … I will abundantly pardon you, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
It’s time we realize that God is not our business partner; He is not an accountant to record our deeds in order to pay us according to our merits. Seriously, we merit nothing from God; we can only receive …forgiveness, generosity, love, and indeed salvation from him. A DOG is the only creature you can train to obey you and work in accordance with your dictates, not GOD. It’s time we begin to change our mentality of the God we serve and relate to him like a G-O-D, not a D-O-G
