Volume 44   Number 9                                                                                     May 2002

Think about the relationship you had as a child with your father. At first you did what your father told you to do and you were very close to him. You were both happy and the world was right!

Then you did something that displeased your father! Remember how that felt? It created a tension between both of you (a chasm). Your father was disappointed with you and he showed it. He was hurt and angry, but angry because he was forced to be. Now he had to be disagreeable and do something to prevent anymore actions in such manner.

You did not like that feeling so you tried to get back into his good graces. Your father said, “If you want to get back into a good relationship with me, this is what you must do:” He laid out rules or stipulations. He did not stop his love for you, but took action to guide you in the correct way. The chasm was there but YOU had to get across it.

Some cases are more severe than others. Some are of such nature as to forbid any relationship to exist again. Fathers regret this situation even more than the child. He doesn’t want to turn his back on his child, but the child does not give him any choice. Fathers have to look out for the good of the family. He can not have children doing any and everything that is detrimental to that family.

The father must establish rules for the members of the family to obey, so that they can get along in harmony, to the benefit of the entire family (Exodus 20:3-17). He has to have the final authority and respect.

Is that any different than our FATHER in heaven? He created everything that we know, see, hear and think of. Everything has to follow the rules by which He created, so it can exist.

He created man (his children) to help him to share the beauty and wonders of his creation. GOD has a lot of love for his creation and his children as any earthly father. GOD wants man to help Him take care of HIS creation so he gave man certain abilities so man could be able to do such.

In the beginning of man, man walked and talked to GOD. But man sinned (did not do what GOD wanted Him to do). So GOD the FATHER punished man. HE established that chasm between HIMSELF and man. (Genesis 3:22-24)

GOD did not stop loving his children, but required that certain things have to be done to bridge that chasm. The child must do what is required if he wants to once again be with his FATHER. Man must show that he loves and respects his FATHER and all that HE stands for, in order to be able to walk with HIM again.

GOD loves HIS children so much that HE sent HIS heavenly SON down to earth to provide and show us the way to bridge that chasm. (John 3:16)

The human father loves all of his children, good or bad. He tries to bring the bad back into the fold. He asks the help of the good child to help him. Of course, the good child, showing his love and obedience to his father, does his Father’s bidding.

It is the same for our heavenly FATHER. He loves the sinner just as much as the righteous and holds out hope that the lost child will return before it is too late. (Ezekiel 33:11)

The BIBLE gives us the rules and regulations that we must abide by so we can exist in harmony with each other and our Heavenly Father. It gives us examples of how to overcome difficult situations. The BIBLE gives us hope: something to look forward to! GOD’S WORD removes our fears by letting us know how our Father loves us and needs us. HE does not want to lose a single soul to Satan!

The BIBLE lets us know that all of the trouble and strife, honor and glory that we create for ourselves is futile. In the end it will go back to where it came from. The only thing left is what GOD remembers of us. All of the honor and glory belongs to GOD. Ecclesiastes Chapters 1&2.)

I’m no expert on the LORD and cannot cast the first stone. I’ll just try to do the best I know how or understand and let the LORD take it from there. I have hope that I will be with the LORD on JUDGMENT DAY, but I will not stand pat on that. I must fulfill HIS requirements each day. I know that Satan in not going to make it easy for me. Misery loves company. Satan has much practice in his trade, so I just depend upon GOD and HIS WORD for protection.

Some people ask, “How do you know that GOD exists?” I answer, “There is plenty of evidence to have faith that GOD exists.” Some people say “What if when you die, you find out that there is no GOD?” “I’ll not have any worries or regrets”, is my reply. But I further state, “I would rather live a righteous life and find out that there is no GOD than live a sinful life and find out there is a GOD.” Of all the ways of living that I have witnessed, the one outlined in the BIBLE is the best.

Brother, Sister, seek your way home. GOD Loves you, please learn to love HIM. Dedicate your life to your creator, Love HIS SON, and appreciate what that SON did for you. HE is the one to judge you in the end. You are not asked to be nailed to a cross. HIS yoke is light. HE is begging you to come home. HEAR HIM. Don’t force HIM to make a dreadful decision. That is why he has asked JESUS to make that faithful decision. JESUS earned that right upon the cross. A FATHER does not want to lose a child and He does not want to be made to decide. Ease your FATHER’S pain, put joy into HIS heart. Come home.