After decades of subconsciously trying to do more, be better, work to resist, wrestling with my flesh to be good or good enough, I finally began studying what grace really meant. Why God stepped down out of heaven in the form of a man...the second Adam if you will.
One man brought sin into the world, one man conquered sin in the world. One man separated us from God, the other reconciled us to our Father.
I used to listen to people talk about the peace which passes all understanding. The joy in their hearts. Love for their Father in heaven and His son our Savior.
I thunk to myseff...seff, why is it so easy for Joe over there? Why does Sue seem to have a special gift from God, Bob appears so at peace even when everything is tumultuous around him.
I am not at odds with God and we are not enemies. My Father loves me, created me so unique that there will never ever be another me. He gave me worth and He simply wanted me to know...I AM not mad at you. Come to me and lets get to know one another. If you fall, I will not be angry with you. Don't run away, come to me and we will work it out...together. I AM not an angry ogar waiting to poof you into a pillar of smoke for being imperfect. I AM perfect and will embrace you, sanctify you and bring you as close to what I want you to be until the day I bring you home...to me.
I looked at my Father all wrong for years. Struggled in my soul. Toiled every day cause I just couldn't measure up. No more!
I now know what, I have been set free really means. The shackles of sin have dropped off and the dungeon door has been unlocked for eternity. I can live life and live it more abundantly.
Praise to the Lamb of God. The atoning blood of Jesus, poured out on the earth for God's creation. WOW! There is NO remission of sin without the shedding of blood....Jesus surrendered His and took the whole wrath, fury and separation from our Father to give us FREEDOM! satan has no power over me. Never again will scratch deceive me into thinking that my God is a far off, mean, cosmic kill joy looking down on His pawns with disgust and disdain.
Jesus, my humble King, my heart is eternally grateful.
I reached a point in my Christian walk where I finally confessed and repented of the warped view of God that I had and asked Him to show me Himself, as He really was; that I would believe what He had revealed to us in Scripture, and not the lopsided view of God I had been raised with.
And He DID.
I was filled/baptized/(whatever you wish to label it), with the Holy Spirit that night. It’s been almost four years and they have been awesome.
You are my brother!
God Bless.