What If…

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but or all to come to repentance.

If you LOVED me…

If you REALLY LOVED me…

You PROMISED…

You’re NOT being FAIR…

I realized recently, that most of us are children at the core of our nature, and some of us preparing to melt into a mega tantrum. Can you spot it? The red face of anger, the cutting eyes of belligerence, the quivering lips of unbelief, the tears of frustration just below the surface… the thunder of the coming meltdown if we don’t get our way SOON!

We say the right words and with all our might we try to hide what is just below the surface. We try the way of sweetness and obedience but there is only so much patience in the best of those gifted in waiting. We try to understand the mature sounding explanations of “human rights experts” and believe that “they” want only what is best for “you”.

I have to admit, when I try to view us as mature, logical adults who have searched and researched and considered all, and then I SEE the rejection of God’s perfection and wisdom… I am confused and unable to live in peace and unity with my world.

However… if I realize that we are not adults but children in relation to God… I can begin to understand… I can begin to love with the love of a parent who views the future NOT the past and present.

We are children of IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. Though we must live (in order to survive) in community, our nature demands exclusive honor to self. To go against this Soul DNA Mandate, is to go against “life” itself.

From the time of creation when God said, “Let us make man in our image” and then He blew into us the “breath of life”, we, as a human being, have the ability and responsibility to choose whom or what we put our faith and lifeblood into.

Before sin there was no struggle… we WALKED with God in the garden, we TALKED with God, we LEARNED and PARTICIPATED beside God, with our God-given authority over the garden and it’s creatures.

After sin… LUST (lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh) and PRIDE (pride of life which is our independence and arrogance)

set up our struggle of our lifetime… from birth to death we fight our nature! Lust and pride will always be in conflict with walking, and talking, and learning, and participating with God.

Much to our consternation, God wins! Always! Which, somewhere inside every human being, we know. And we know He should win… that which is know about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)

Our ONLY EXCUSE for our battle with God is childishness! And… THANK GOD… He sees and oversees us as children. And because He is Abba, it is with perfect parental LOVE that He continues to… Train up His children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).

God does not wish for any to perish and for all to come to repentance.

I would have given up on us a log time ago… especially on those who in complete rebellion, disparage the name, reputation, and even the existence of the source of their life breath.

But as a parent, I can see in the mirror DIMLY and understand the hope of a parent… until there is no more opportunity for hope.

 

2 Peter 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

THANK GOD! Despite our tantrums… despite out rebellion… despite our foolishness… He has hope and His days are long!

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

THANK GOD! Despite our tantrums… despite out rebellion… despite our foolishness… He is the giver of life!

John 3:16-19 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 

What IF… God didn’t LOVE us…

What IF… God didn’t REALLY LOVE us…

What IF… God was not slow but is patient toward us

THANK GOD! Despite our tantrums… despite out rebellion… despite our foolishness… He IS love!

As children we believe we are already are big enough or will be big enough to fight and defeat every enemy… ALL BY OURSELVES… IF that is what we HAVE TO DO because YOU won’t help us!

As children we believe we are the smartest, cutest, most deserving and we believe the only job of those who serve us (which is every other child) is to make us happy.

As children REALITY SUCKS…

2 Peter 3:11 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief , in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

THANK GOD! Despite our tantrums… despite out rebellion… despite our foolishness… He is our reality!

THANK GOD…  Despite our tantrums… despite out rebellion… despite our foolishness… He is our What IF!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB  version of the Bible