Skullheaddude's Blog

Something I originally wrote & posted on myspace back on 9/5/07...





Have you ever been so in love with someone that you'd do anything for them? You know, that special someone that you just can't help but be attracted to? The type of person that makes you forget about yourself in your quest to please them? You'll spend countless hours getting to know them, making time for them, learning their likes & dislikes, giving to them generously, and even avoiding the things that turn them off. Your reward is that they're pleased... and when they're happy, you're happy, too! An even greater reward is when they feel the same way about you... an unconditional love that not only wants the best for you, but loves you for your efforts, even when you "fail". After all, it's the thought that counts. It's not about what you do, but why you do it.



I'm happy to say I'm blessed with this type of "true love" relationship, BUT... it's NOT why I'm writing this blog. In truth, I'm hoping that entire first paragraph describes the kind of relationship you have (or would like to have) with The Almighty GOD.



God loves you unconditionally. He wants you to know Him, but He wants you to CHOOSE to know Him. And, to use an old cliche, to know Him is to love Him. He created us with free will because programming us to "love" Him isn't really love at all. It must be our choice. Our motivation for obeying Him shouldn't be fear of punishment, but rather appreciation for what He's done & will do.



The Bible isn't merely a book of stories, nor is it simply a book of rules. It's 66 books about getting to know God... His characteristics, His likes/dislikes, His purpose, His plan, and what our role is in that plan. He knows humankind is flawed, but rather than simply flush His creation down the toilet out of frustration, He chose instead to give us a Saviour in His own Son, Christ Jesus.





"Sin" describes both man's tendency to rebel against our Lord ("human nature"), AND even our unintentional breaking of His laws. The Bible says man is born evil... not necessarily "evil" in the sinister villain sense, but "evil" as in selfish and self-seeking, paying no reverence to our God & Creator. Isaiah 64:6 says even our "righteous" acts are merely "filthy rags" compared to God's holiness. We think we are "good", but Psalm 53 says otherwise. Only God Himself is truly good. The measuring stick isn't other humans, but God's perfect holiness. By that standard, no one passes. The good news, says Romans 6:23, is "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."



God requires blood for the atonement of sins (hence the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament days), but recognized that man's animal sacrifices were ritualistic, self-seeking, and overall insincere. He also knew that the "good deeds" of man weren't enough because of the "measuring stick" I mentioned earlier. Besides, man "earning" his way into God's Kingdom through works alone would also cause him to become prideful & give no glory to God. Eternal life is a gift, not an award, and it's through faith in Christ that we accept that incredible gift.



With seemingly no way for humankind to redeem itself, God sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua the Messiah), to open the door for us to spend eternity with Him in paradise. (Check out Revelation 21 for more details). If you're a parent, you should have an even greater appreciation of that sacrifice than even I do.



"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" -Romans 5:7-9 (NIV)



What's not to love about that?! Don't let worship be contained to one hour on Sunday. Worship is a lifestyle, not an event. Yes, we all fall down sometimes (I'm the perfect example of a flawed human being), but some of the great things about being in a genuine "true love" relationship are: forgiveness, patience, understanding, trust, renewal, and encouragement. God gives all of those things, and MORE, to you. What do YOU give to Him?



Thanks for taking the time to read this. Glory to God!



-MAURICE