We often measure our closeness to God by how successfully we have avoided sin.
Religion teaches us that when we fail, we move a little (or a lot) further from God, and when we keep His commands, we move closer. So we swallow this formula, and when we mess up, we just know that God has pushed us away.
The problem is that this doesn’t line up with the God we see in the Bible. So today, in case you’ve stumbled a lot of little stumbles or one big, giant failure, I want to offer you a new way to see yourself and God.
First, let me say that the best path is the one that avoids sin, but we have a distorted view of this. Religion has taught us that God put all these rules out there for us to follow so He can keep a tight grip on us to keep us in line. When we think this way, we don’t understand the heart of a true father. God’s “rules” – the instructions, principles, and laws we find in the Bible – are there, because as our loving Father, God actually wants to protect us.
For example, when I’m unloading my three small kids out of the car in a busy parking lot, I give them strict orders. “Stand right here and hold onto Mommy while I get the baby out.” When the toddler is walking beside me and tries to pull his hand away, I grasp it even tighter, and I chide him not to pull away from me. Why do I act like this toward my children? It’s because, as their mother, I can see dangers in our environment that they cannot see, and I know the safest place for them is to be right beside me. I don’t keep them close because I need to control them. I keep them close because I want to protect them.
Think about it: If you have the choice between running a race on a smooth, flat surface or running on a bumpy road filled with dips and rocks and potholes, your chances of finishing the race without falls and scrapes and sprained ankles are a lot better on the smooth path, right? God’s Word lines out the smooth path for us. No, it doesn’t mean it’s an easy path. But it truly is the best way for you in the long run; it’s the place you are the safest.
See, everything comes down to your relationship with God. It’s never about blindly following rules to make ourselves feel righteous. Jesus taught us that following His commands flows out of our love for Him.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NASB)
When we’re walking the right path, it’s easy to be sure of one thing: God our Father loves us.
But what about when we’ve chosen the wrong path and find ourselves lying flat on our faces, bruised by our bad decisions, beaten up by a past filled with failures, sin, and broken relationships?
We can be sure of one thing: God our Father loves us.
Here’s how Paul summed it up for us:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38 – 39 (NIV)
When our kids disobey us, even deliberately, my husband and I take corrective action to help them avoid the same mistakes next time. Yes, there are often consequences to their decisions. However, we then pull them close, hug them, and make sure they know that nothing they do can ever change how much we love them. They may do things that displease us, but we are never displeased in them.
God your Father wants you to know today that He is never displeased in you. He created you perfectly, reverently, exactly as He wanted (Psalm 139), and you, His son or daughter, you please Him. You may have a list of all the ways you think you’ve disappointed Him. You may even have a list of how you think He has disappointed you. His love for you is strong enough to overcome all of the disappointments.
Romans 2:4 (AMP) asks:
“…Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?” (emphasis added).
If you’ve stumbled, I urge you to lift your head and look into the eyes of your Father. He is waiting to embrace you and tell you how much He loves you. You don’t have to beg Him to forgive you and love you again. He’s already promised that.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
If you’ve stumbled, God’s kindness is leading you now simply to ask His forgiveness, turn from the sin, and get back up. Dust yourself off, and move forward in the security of the Love that your Father has for you.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14 NIV
