Chuck Cluff, Atherton resident since 2004
Passage: Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
Have you ever wondered what God feels and what God does while we are messing up? Is God annoyed when we abuse and misuse others he loves as much as he loves us? I can’t imagine not. Are we troubled when our children mistreat each other? Of course. So wouldn’t God be also?
When I was young, I heard a sermon in which the pastor said God is so pure he cannot look upon sin. So, does God block out facing what his human children do? Nope. How can you not look at something that is a part of yourself? We know God is in everything and everything is in God, for in him we live, move and are. Doesn’t this cause us to acknowledge some of what is in God does not have God’s liking. Yes. In fact, man of those God created do not do what he prefers. Our bodies are still us when we have cancer inside.
It is not that God cannot look at wrongs, but rather that God doesn’t like to look at such foolishness and disrespect. To be sure, selfishness, greed, inconsideration and other similar traits are very unpleasant and disturbing to One who is far beyond that level of thinking, behaving and being. All unloving behavior is displeasing to God, and God sees it all. We don’t know how God internalizes the existence of sin, but externally God seems to step back. God lets us experience the consequences of our actions and thus live the fate of our choices. All the while, God’s spirit is urging us to shape up.
Our biggest loss when we act without love is closeness to God; which accompanied with it is diminished spiritual comfort and ease – the spiritual relaxedness that feels so good when all is right. I am sure God misses closeness just as we do. Nothing feels better than a totally free and open relationship with someone you love, whether a couple, parents and children, or friends. God does not pull away from us, it is visa versa. God sees what we are doing when going our own way. And, all the while God desires, even anticipates our change of heart and mind that will let him be near us again; just as the father of the prodigal son. This exemplary father did not get into the life his son had chosen, but when the son was ready, he joyfully wrapped his arms around him and brought him back home. A nice place to be, back home.
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