Seems Like God is Pretty Mean…?
…or is He good…? Or both…?
I often hear people say… “Since God is loving, I suppose He will let us do whatever we want” …or “If God sends people to Hell, he is mean – that’s not loving”. Others say: “As long as we do things in love, it should be good enough – otherwise, God is evil”. Or certain “Christians”, who actually do believe in Jesus say: “I believe in everything written in the Bible, but I don’t need to change anything in my life, because my faith makes me free”. And I hate to burst the bubble… but if we hold that up against the Bible, it’s a straight-up lie.
God IS and ALWAYS WILL BE a GOOD God. He wants the best for us… and ONLY the best!!! We were actually created for fellowship with God – in fact, that is the meaning of our lives.
HOWEVER, because God is as good as He is, He is also holy – unblemished, has never done anything evil or wrong. Therefore, we cannot “just” be allowed to have fellowship with God, since we as individuals are anything but unblemished – so God can’t abide being with us. Try looking at your own life – at all the places where you hurt others, where you lied, did things out of selfishness or jealousy. It’s not really something that makes us to be proud to think about – and we are pretty “jacked up” compared to God.
BUT if we receive Jesus and make Him Lord of our lives in EVERYTHING, turning from our old “blemished lives” by changing our lives and our values, well… then it is true for us as well that Jesus bore ALL our guilt, shame, crap, and disease on the cross. If you turn from the old, He marks out all the crap you have done with a big, fat line and sets you free on judgment day…!!!
But remember… you can’t be a believer and active Christian while continuing your old lifestyle…!!! It just doesn’t work together!
BUT COME ON… GOD IS MEAN THEN – I HAVE TO DO ALL THAT STUFF MYSELF NOW!!! And isn’t it enough to be loving…?! I mean, seriously…. Or what…? You see, now you know the rules God/Jesus set up for us. You know that if you follow the rules, you will be set free before the judge, but if you don’t care, you will be condemned. You also know that according to the rules, ONE tiny “sin,” such as lying, is enough that God cannot be with you.
This is actually precisely how it is today – if you drive to fast, you get a ticket – if you rape someone, you go straight to jail. And no, it wouldn’t be especially loving or fair if you were spared jail or a ticket. Would it…? This is how it is with God as well – you know the rules / the law, but it is your choice whether you prefer to follow them or whether you prefer to take the punishment. What is your choice? Because remember – we will be judged for the things we do wrong (even in our thoughts) and not on the things we do right.
In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 10 verse 37-40, Jesus says:
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Are you ready to lose your own life? Are you ready to not care if people say mean things to/about you and instead grow into the person God created you to be? Are you ready to lay down you own “needs” while carrying others forward? Are you ready to take the focus off YOU and place it on Jesus? Are you ready to REST in Him? Are you ready to BELIEVE in Jesus (remember that this is a choice and not an emotion), to turn away from your old life, to be baptized with water and with the Holy Spirit – and are you ready to start reading God’s word, so you know what Jesus said, and therefore also what you need to obey????
You can’t just pick out all the things about God that are “exciting”… it is all or nothing! All of God with everything He is and ALL the things He commands us to do and give up – or nothing, because as the Bible says:
James 4:6-10
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
God just not keep up WITH the times – He created time. He is without beginning and without end – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is loving but judges in righteousness! Jesus went to the cross for YOU, but He wants YOU to “take up you cross” for Him EVERY DAY? Are you ready to go out for him – even when it hurts – even though it has consequences for friends, family, and especially for yourself?
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
If you doubt that He is there – then give Him a chance. Sometime when you’re alone, close your eyes, open your heart, and say out loud: “Jesus, if You are really God’s only son, and if You can really set me free, then come and show me right now – surround me with Your Spirit!”
– Doing that can have serious consequences, but not doing it can have worse consequences. So, don’t let your pride and everything else keep you from giving Him a chance! You have NOTHING to lose – and EVERYTHING to gain!!
Andreas Slot-Henriksen
May 2017
