Gratefully, I am attending a small neighborhood Bible study with a few other women seeking to know God more intimately. We’re just beginning a study which proposes that we choose joy. The teacher, in our first lesson, held out a premise from Scripture that we are invited to consider. Was Jesus purely a man of sorrows or perhaps was He a man of joy and sorrows?
As we wrapped up our time yesterday we were asked a pondering question. I’ll paraphrase the question so you can ponder along.
What is currently or has been your perception of Jesus and how did you come to that conclusion?
”Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…”
Psalm 103:2 ESV
As I listened to my friends share about their childhood views of Jesus I was drawing a blank. I couldn’t (still can’t) remember anyone talking to me about Jesus in a way that made Him relevant to my modern day life. My perception was that God was the ultra strict, rule-mongering Father who demanded good behavior or else. Jesus was the good, likable Son who was joyously born at Christmas, but unfortunately suffered a brutal death at Easter.
”who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s…”
Psalms 103:3-5 NIV
This was my worldview: He was a far off God living forever in an unreachable heaven only accessible through death. Jesus lived there too, after he died, with His Father and angels. At a tender age a preacher connected a couple of dots for me, and I got to choose whether I wanted to be included with Jesus in heaven far, far away when I got old and died. I wanted to believe that Jesus would take me into His home in heaven, so I said yes, and was baptized from spiritual death to spiritual life.
And that was that.
At an elementary age, I had prepared long-term for my eventual resting place, which felt like the farthest existence from my present. So, I presumed the rest was up to me. I would try my best to live a good life as a respectable person. Unfortunately, I missed the memo that recommended I read the instruction book before proceeding with life until heaven.
”The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel.“
Psalm 103:6-7 ESV
Looking back, those days seem so far gone, and almost as if I were writing about a different person. It doesn’t hurt any more to think about that girl fumbling her way through life choices, and coming up empty because I know how she came to meet the up close and personal God who desires relationship. Jesus, who intervened and asked if He could make His home with her here, opened His words of life to her. He spoke of forever love and never leaving, which quenched the thirst of her love-abandoned soul.
He said He had good plans for my life before the time that I would go to Him in heaven. And He gave me courage to walk with my head up into His house of worship where He introduced me to brothers and sisters on a similar faith journey. We could walk together, learn together and help each other hold onto the hope we have in Christ.
”The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.”
Psalm 103:8-10 ESV
My perspective shifted from hopeless to hopeful. He was not a far off God, uncaring and aloof, nor was He angry and vengeful. His letters, wisdom, poems, and examples helped me to have boundary lines for my life. His instructions felt like love and security for a wandering and insecure, frightened young woman afraid that the best could only be found far off in heaven.
What good is a far off God?
No good at all. And that’s why this belief is an absolute lie. It’s rumor. It’s innuendo. A false perception perpetuated by all who have been offended and hurt by religion.
”For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to His children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.”
Psalm 103:11-13 ESV
God, Himself, debunks all the myths through His Word, who is Christ, and by His presence with us, the Holy Spirit.
Don’t take my word for it. Ask Him. He loves a good conversation. Ask if He is near to you? He’s not offended or afraid of your questions.
Let me know how He makes Himself present in your life as you seek to know Him.
- What surprises you?
- What misunderstandings do you need to put away?
- How has your perception of God changed by a conversation?
- And what are you learning about God in His word?
Live Love Brightly,
Lisa
Linking up with faith writers over at Five Minute Friday.
When our children were young, our family watched The Gospel According to Matthew, starring Bruce Marchiano. Our children referred to him as the laughing Jesus. There is also the Acts of the Apostles. Both are great as they are word-for-word from the Bible. And the film brings the words from the Bible to life. As you mentioned, I think our generation was left to “figure things out” as we lived our life, but hopefully, we give a little more guidance with our own children and grandchildren.
Generations get some things right and not so much on other things. Most of us are really trying our best with what we know and understand. Thankfully God knows all and is everywhere and knows exactly how to find us and call us. It’s all Him.
But we have some really amazing tools today!
Thank you for reading my message and taking time to join in the conversation.🌸
I think it was in my teen years that one popular song said, “God is watching us from a distance.” As you say, that did not seem comforting at all. I’m glad God is close enough to collect our tears and number our hairs.
Thank you, Barbara, for stopping by to read and participate in the conversation. I remember the song, but not until you mentioned it. There are so many voices trying to distract us from focusing on Jesus.
Eyes on Jesus… you shine!
Lisa
‘Unfortunately, I missed the memo that recommended I read the instruction book before proceeding with life until heaven.’
Wow, Lisa. This grabbed me. How easy it is to miss that same memo all these years later and try to live off the fumes of what we already know. A powerful reminder on this snowy February morning. Thank you.
Aww, Linda, thank you for stopping in to read with me. And thank you for participating in the conversation. Life is so dull and gray and boring really without the enlightenment of God’s words. Thank you!
I love your honesty in this post. I think as youngsters it is easy to think of God and consequences as far off.
But relationship is what God wants – and conversation, as you say.
I am forever surprised that the Creator of all things should care about little me!
Aww, thank you, Dawn, for reading and pondering with me. I appreciate the way you share in the conversation. I always glean something extra. He is surprising, isn’t He?
Good thinking here because we may confess our belief in God’s immanence and then live as if he is far off.
One of the names I love most is Emanuel, God with us!
I am so grateful our God is not far off from me (us) at all. Each day as I open His Word, it is His Word spoken to me. That is how I feel. It is personal and applies to my life. I find encouragement and strength and He guides me in ways that are precious. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother!
oh, that’s an interesting idea… seeing Jesus as the man of joy and sorrow. that has me pondering. FMF22
I love that He is not a far off God. I need to the day to day, all day long, dialogue He allows me to have with Him each day.
Yes, me too. Thank you for sharing in the dialogue.