Reflecting tonight on the profound reality that on Fathers Day, it is TWENTY FIVE years since my life was dramatically upended and changed forever…
It wasn’t
– a new car, career, house or spouse
– loosing a partner, property or job
– being rejected by family or friends
– the death of a pet or loved one
– being found guilty or locked up
But it shook me to my core, and 25 years later, the change remains. It was a supernatural realisation of the ‘simple’ fact that there is a God who created me, and despite knowing how much I would hate Him and hurt His people, He loved me anyway.
In fact, He loved me so much that He would send His One and only Son to earth to pay the fine for all my sin!
Now, this may not mean much to you, and, strangely enough, it wouldn’t have to me either. In fact, it is information I may have heard regularly over the course of my life.
My response: dismissal, scorn, laughter or hatred.
“Don’t come at me with your religious BS!”
I *hated* the notion of God, I was *outraged* at anyone stupid enough to tell me about the Bible or their ‘church’. F off!
But here I was, at the very location that was perfect to end my life – peaceful, serene, isolated – the waterfall and landscape looked incredible. I has no physical way of leaving this place and I was quite resigned & confident that ending my life was the best option: life was pointless when in so much pain.
But suddenly, like a spark that ignites petrol fumes destroying a car, *everything* changed. As I read the words:
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” (Romans 5:8)
I suddenly realised that God was talking to *me*! He loved *me*! He knew *me*! He forgave *me*! He wanted to save *me* from condemnation!
Why me? Instantly thinking of the *many* reasons He shouldn’t, broke me. If there was anyone that deserved to die, deserved to be punished, just simply *should* be removed from earth to not hurt anyone else and be condemned to hell… it was me.
Weeping for hours, my very core desires and attitudes and thoughts changed. Things that I was powerless to change, things I had never acknowledged or understood, desires I was never able to beat despite trying for years: *all gone*!
I could fill books with the depth & power of this transformation – but to summarise, it was the Answer to every question I had never asked, it revealed the reason why I was in the predicament I was in and it gave me an ever so deep and powerful purpose: to *know* the Creator and enjoy Him forever.
My True Father.
Not the one who never wanted me, abandoning me at birth. Not the one that would tell me never to contact him again as he never wanted me. But the perfect, all-powerful God who created everything – who knew everything, including my faults – Him!
This dramatic shift in my thinking immediately led to decisions that started to change the whole trajectory of my life. I owed everything to this Jesus that had paid my fine and transformed me…so much so you would think I would have been an amazing devout religious covert and glowing example of someone who was now ‘good’.
But 25 years have taught me that I am still the same fallible and flawed human…the only thing consistent: I let God down *all. the. time*! I don’t live up to my own standards, let alone His! My natural tendency is to run *from* Him, not towards…
25 years have also revealed: my physical life was started by Him. My physical life was sustained by Him. He continually protected me despite stupid decisions, deliberate sin even though I was rarely aware of it. He has been loving, faithful, merciful and strong.
25 years have shown me that I had *no* spiritual life until He awakened me. He as sustained it and empowered me *despite* my lack of ability / self control / wisdom / consistency / kindness.
25 years have calmed me in the knowledge that I will one day, go to be with this perfect Heavenly Father forever. Despite hell being a real place of punishment for all liars, fornicators, adulterers, theives, abusers, drunkards and more – I am safe from its’ grasp! Not because of religion or me being good or doing ‘good’ things, but based solely in His love that is shown by Jesus dying for us.
Do you have the knowledge, the peace, the experience of being united with the Father, the very Creator, because of what Jesus has done? PLEASE consider this – I nearly jumped off a cliff not knowing!
No matter what your earthly father did or didn’t do – the Creator wants to Father you. Return to Him today…none of us are guaranteed another day, let alone 25 years!
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
– Psalms 68:5 (NLT)
But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.
Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”
– Luke 9:34-35 (NLT)
#thankYouJesus