I’ll be the first to admit that when I became a Christian at the age of twelve, I thought it was mainly about trying to please God by being good all the time. I really, really wanted to please God, so I spent all my waking hours trying to be perfect. I was even called a “goody two shoes.” Don’t most people have two good shoes? Anyway, it didn’t take too long for me to feel overwhelmed by my imperfection. Even though God had given me the ability to get daily forgiveness, I still tried to carry all of my failures and assumed that God was displeased with me most of the time. His love got overshadowed with my views and expectations of myself. In short, God was like a police officer to me. He was there to shake his head in disgust and write ticket after ticket for all of my misdemeanors. As you can guess, my inability to carry the weight caused me to get wrapped up in myself rather than God’s goodness. I would ask for forgiveness and faithfully he would forgive, but I couldn’t forgive myself.
Thankfully, as I grew older, God helped me to mature daily in my Christian walk. He spoke to me when I prayed. He spoke to me as I read Christian literature. He spoke to me in songs. He spoke to me through nature. He spoke to me through other people. Of course, he spoke to me at church through the preaching of His word. Slowly, but surely, I began to realize that being a Christian is not about avoiding the police, but about having a relationship with my father who loves me more than anyone. Period. I talk with him every single day. He goes everywhere I go. He takes care of my needs and when I need it, he gives me a “good whippin’!” Why? I get disciplined so that I don’t repeat the same mistakes over and over and stay in a rut.
Because of my love for Him, I strive to devote my life to the things that he would have me to do. How do I know what those things are? I ask in prayer, I follow the Bible, and I strive to find out the needs of others by keeping my eyes and ears open. When you truly love someone, you want them to be happy and you readily accept the goodness that they have to offer. You do not feel condemned by them. When you mess up, you say you are sorry, you are genuine, and you accept their forgiveness. It’s that simple.
Many people say they can’t become a Christian because they fear they can’t live a good enough life. If we alone could live good enough lives, we wouldn’t need God! Hello! Somebody give God a hand of praise… He is our perfection! Becoming a Christian means that you realize you are going to make mistakes, but you don’t want to. Therefore, you are willing to continually “daily” ask for his forgiveness, turn from your sin, and accept his blood to cover them all.
It’s difficult to fathom, but gives me so much peace to know that God planned me. Not only that, but he has faithfully been providing my needs every day that I have been on planet Earth. That’s a lot of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Right now, he’s guiding me as I write this for you. That’s only a piece of the puzzle. He’s been right there with you too! Friend, let me admonish you to take a fresh look at your Heavenly Father and realize that he’s not there to shake his head and point a finger at your wrongs. He wants a relationship with you where you talk to him about everything, take his advice, laugh with him, find joy and peace in his presence, and take part in his abundant life!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11
