My Father in Heaven is Perfect

Kelsey's mother was a pro-life activist. 
As a child, Kelsey often carried signs at rallies. 
While Kelsey picketed with the other Christians 
She often imagined that God was very angry
with the women who came to the clinic.
She almost expected a bolt of lightning
to come down and strike them.

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.
But 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 direct result of her disobedience.
She didn't realize that God had forgiven her
and 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, her child had been the 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.
But if the Father is just like Jesus,
what kind of retribution should we 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 humans are so kind to a favorite pet that misbehaves? 
How much more merciful is God, the loving Author of mercy?
God does not think like a man--
His ways are much higher than our ways.
 
One day, Jesus was walking with His disciples
when they met a man blind from his birth.
The disciples asked Jesus,
"Who sinned? This man or his parents? 
Jesus replied that neither had sinned.
Now if God really demands a retribution for our sins, wouldn't Jesus have warned His friends? 

Someone once remarked that "We serve the god we know."
People who believe God gets even for people's sins
often expect Him to do just that. 
And if we believe that God is vengeful toward sinners,
we might be tempted to believe that God is behind every accident, assassination, tornado and medical diagnosis.
We might just go crazy searching for the sins
that have caused all of our misfortunes.

Satan wants people to think God gets even with His enemies.
The fact that Satan is alive, getting away with murder today
is proof of God's gracious longsuffering toward His creatures.
When people do not realize the truth about God's love,
they will avoid Him, and that unfounded fear
could cause them to reject God-their only life source.

The intrinsic results of living without God is eternal death.
But it won't be God getting even that causes people to die.
It will be God allowing sinful choices to run their course.
If we don't choose God, we will be choosing death.

When we eat poison berries we get sick.
In the same way, sin has the intrinsic result of death.
But God's justice is not like man's justice.
God's desire is to bring everyone into unity with Him.

Think about Saul the Pharisee,
who stood holding the coats of the murderers
while he watched them stone Stephen.
As Stephen prayed for God to forgive His attackers,
Can you see how Stephen reflected what Jesus
had taught him about God's form of justice?
Later, when Saul was blinded by Jesus
on the road to Damascus,
Was God getting even with Saul?
Let's think about the way God treat His enemy Saul.
He got Saul's attention by blinding him
and providing for him to come around
to God's way of thinking.
Then God re-named him Paul and the rest is history.

God never changes--He works in the same way today.
Sometimes He allows events to get our attention,
but it is never to bring revenge on us.
Jesus died for us while we were still sinners.
His everlasting love is greater than all of our sins.
He wants us to live right because it is healthy for us.
He wants us to know He has already forgiven us
and He hopes we will accept His gift of restoration.

Our Choices Have Intrinsic Results

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows.
The one who sows to please his sinful nature,
from that nature will reap destruction;
the one who sows to please the Spirit,
from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7,8

Sin's Intrinsic Results

Sin, when it is finished brings forth death.
James 1:15

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
Romans 6:23

Obedience's Intrinsic Results

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

God is Not Vengeful

Jesus answered,
"Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners
than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
I tell you, no!
But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 
Or those eighteen who died
when the tower in Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than all the others living in Jerusalem?
I tell you, no!
But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Luke 13:1-5

Misfortune is Not Always the Result of Sin

His disciples asked him,
"Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus,
"But this happened so that the work of God
might be displayed in his life."
John 9:2-3 

God's Love is Greater Than Our Sins

For if our heart condemns us,
God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. 
1 John 3:20 

If we are faithless,
He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:13
 
God Temporarily is Allowing
the Results of Sin to Continue

Time and chance happen to all men.
Ecclesiastes 9:11

God Has no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked

"As I live!," declares the Lord,
"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live."
Ezekiel 3:11

The Spirit of Destruction is Not From God

They said to Him,
"Lord, do You want us to command fire
down from heaven to consume them?"...
But He turned and rebuked them, and said
"You do not know what manner of spirit you are of."
Luke 9:53-55

God's Revenge is Not Like Ours

Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God's wrath,
for it is written: "It is mine to avenge;
I will repay," says the Lord.
On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Romans 12:9-10, 19

Inspirational Thoughts: