My World Turned Upside Down!!

This week, having started my Theology degree at Tabor, my world has been completely turned upside down. Everything I thought I knew has been tossed out the window.

A Revelation! GOD IS LOVE. Ok, nothing new. We've all heard it before.

So have you ever stopped to think about it? GOD. IS. LOVE.

He has forgiven us. He forgave us for our sins long before we ever existed. Jesus repented for us when he was baptised by John. He confessed for us when he was crucified on the cross. He was obedient for us throughout his life. Jesus Christ did everything for us, so that we might be able to do it in him, here and now!

Doesn't make sense? Jesus did it all, and because HE did it, we are now able to do it IN HIM, through the Holy Spirit. He carries us along as we go for the ride.

God the Father forgives us, but if we don't acknowledge that we've done anything wrong then that forgiveness is useless to us. It's still there, but we simply refuse to accept it.

When we confess our sins, that's like us saying "Hey God! You know what? You're right! I realise now that I have done something wrong! I know that I can't fix it by myself, and that I need you to do it for me. Thank you for taking responsibility for my wrong doings!! THANK YOU for REDEEMING ME! I accept your forgiveness and love, and I thank you for making me your son, a joint-heir sharing in the inheritance of Jesus Christ, your son!"

God's love is like a raging waterfall that never ceases, much like Niagara. Ignoring the overwhelming force of the water in that fall, imagine you're in a little boat at the base of the falls. That boat is Jesus. Now, there's a problem. The boat is shielded by a great umbrella. That umbrella is our sin, our refusal to accept God's love and forgiveness. Our refusal to let God's love rain down on us.

When we confess, it's like asking the Holy Spirit to give you a hand pulling this great umbrella down so you can be showered in the love and forgiveness that God the Father has always been offering you.

I always thought that I had to confess my sins and ask God to forgive me before he'd do such a thing. Now I realise that I was being ridiculous. If God's forgiveness was dependent upon me, what if I didn't ask properly? What if I wasn't sincere enough? What if I missed something? How could I possibly recount, and even KNOW, every sin I commited each day? I was destined for failure and damned to Hell.

Now I realise, God's forgiveness is always there. We just have to put the umbrella down and accept it. Say "Thank You, Lord", and know that we are all children of God the Father, adopted in Christ.

You see, Jesus died on the cross so that God the Father could adopt you and I as sons (and daughters) of The Most High. He gave himself (Jesus) on the cross, so that the pathway would be open for us to become a son/daughter of God the Father.

This is mind-blowing stuff! I can't wait to find out more!