(no subject)
Another interesting thought.
At times, I think that our relationship to God is like that of a small child to a father. The father has promised the child that they are going somewhere spectacular, but that it is going to be a long, long walk. "Like Disneyland?" the child asks. "Better than Disneyland, Universal Studios, Great America, and everything combined!" says the Father.
So on the way, they have to walk through some woods. The child keeps wandering off, and the Father keeps going to look for the wayfarer. Once found, they manage to get back onto the path. But the child decides to stop and pick some flowers. The Father says "Honey, those are weeds. They're poison ivy! They're not good for you!" The child, of course, decides to pick them anyway, no matter what the Father says. And then, the child gets itchy and scratchy and sick, begging the Father to help. The father, who loves the child, pulls out a tube of Super Itchy-Removal cream, and gets rid of the problem like it never existed.
They go through many such examples: wanting to eat the poison berries, trying to pet the pretty growling wolf, things like that. As the woods thicken, the child gets scared and starts crying. "It's so dark, Daddy! I'm scared!" The Father says "Just hold my hand, we'll be ok. Nothing will harm you with me here." They walk through the woods together, the child getting more and more scared. Suddenly, the child trips, leaving a small scratched knee. The Father scoops the child up into His arms, still walking, until the child is able to walk alone.
Finally, they get to the deepest, darkest part of the forest. There's only a small glimmer of light showing. The cries get worse and worse. "Daddy, I'm scared! I can't do this! I'm too afraid!" The Father still holds on tightly to the small hand. "It's alright. Keep walking. I'm never going to leave your side!" As they get closer and closer to the light, the child realizes that the "ground" they have been walking on was made up entirely of poisonous snakes. Shrieking wildly, the child is terrified. "Daddy, they're going to bite me!" Smiling a little, the Father pulls up his pant legs. His legs are covered with bite marks, a veritable mass of holes. "My precious child, I took the sting for you. I took the pain and death that were supposed to be for you. Nothing can tear us apart, not even death! And because I did that, you are alive to go.....here!" They suddenly step into dazzling light - the Father's promised land!
No matter how far we wander, how many "poisonous and deadly" things we get ourselves into, the Father is always there for us, right by our side. All we have to do is accept Him into our lives and believe in him. Then, He will save us. He has already taken away the sting of death and torment...we only have to trust Him.
At times, I think that our relationship to God is like that of a small child to a father. The father has promised the child that they are going somewhere spectacular, but that it is going to be a long, long walk. "Like Disneyland?" the child asks. "Better than Disneyland, Universal Studios, Great America, and everything combined!" says the Father.
So on the way, they have to walk through some woods. The child keeps wandering off, and the Father keeps going to look for the wayfarer. Once found, they manage to get back onto the path. But the child decides to stop and pick some flowers. The Father says "Honey, those are weeds. They're poison ivy! They're not good for you!" The child, of course, decides to pick them anyway, no matter what the Father says. And then, the child gets itchy and scratchy and sick, begging the Father to help. The father, who loves the child, pulls out a tube of Super Itchy-Removal cream, and gets rid of the problem like it never existed.
They go through many such examples: wanting to eat the poison berries, trying to pet the pretty growling wolf, things like that. As the woods thicken, the child gets scared and starts crying. "It's so dark, Daddy! I'm scared!" The Father says "Just hold my hand, we'll be ok. Nothing will harm you with me here." They walk through the woods together, the child getting more and more scared. Suddenly, the child trips, leaving a small scratched knee. The Father scoops the child up into His arms, still walking, until the child is able to walk alone.
Finally, they get to the deepest, darkest part of the forest. There's only a small glimmer of light showing. The cries get worse and worse. "Daddy, I'm scared! I can't do this! I'm too afraid!" The Father still holds on tightly to the small hand. "It's alright. Keep walking. I'm never going to leave your side!" As they get closer and closer to the light, the child realizes that the "ground" they have been walking on was made up entirely of poisonous snakes. Shrieking wildly, the child is terrified. "Daddy, they're going to bite me!" Smiling a little, the Father pulls up his pant legs. His legs are covered with bite marks, a veritable mass of holes. "My precious child, I took the sting for you. I took the pain and death that were supposed to be for you. Nothing can tear us apart, not even death! And because I did that, you are alive to go.....here!" They suddenly step into dazzling light - the Father's promised land!
No matter how far we wander, how many "poisonous and deadly" things we get ourselves into, the Father is always there for us, right by our side. All we have to do is accept Him into our lives and believe in him. Then, He will save us. He has already taken away the sting of death and torment...we only have to trust Him.