GOD, THE ULTIMATE PARENT

There are a great number of characteristics in the relationship with my parents that bled over to my relationship with God. For this fact, I am eternally grateful. A few characteristics of the parent/son relationship I remember were - always carrying their words with me, always carrying their presence with me and somehow representing them wherever I went, even as a youngster.

At least when I was growing up, when I was in school, at a friend's house, at an event or simply just away from home - I tried to live according to the standards instilled in me by my parents. I was and still am - blessed. Some kids might have had hovering moms and dads, but mine did not have to be. Somehow, some way they got the information they needed about me. Either I would come forth with the info or someone else provided (snitched) it on me. So, I came to the conclusion early on to just be honest and first with the information.

Not to much later in life and still to this day I find that God is even more present in my life. God is everywhere. However, to those who know Him personally through Christ Jesus, they know God is someone who sticks closer than a brother. They know God sees everything, is around at all times and is surprised at nothing. I know many of us are familiar with Hebrews 13:5 which says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." We could probably also quote Matthew 28:20 which states, "And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age." I can hear the salesman for the Word of God saying, "But wait, there's more!" 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." AND Matthew 10:29-31 states,  "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

So, as you can see, God's presence and caring nature are surrounding believers all the time. I started off within my parental relationship with the mentality that when I did something wrong I would be "hit over the head" with punishment for the mistake(s). This quickly changed when mom and dad explained how their correction, the consequences they set-up, were out of love. They had already been down a similar experience and wanted to help me avoid all the pitfalls and negativity they could. This opened a whole new mentality to my consequences or punishment when I backslid with them in the future. I understood it, accepted it, learned from it and moved on.

God does not carry a "Big Stick" and wait for you to do wrong in order to derive giddiness from knocking you upside your head (mentally, physically or spiritually). "The Gavel" already fell back in The Garden of Eden. Judgement or Wrath was pronounced on sin/rebellion then. Father God declared that anything with the sinful nature could not enter Heaven and dwell with Him. BUT GOD, provided The Answer - Jesus Christ and belief in His sacrifice and resurrection. The Judgement/Wrath that was supposed to come upon us, was placed on Jesus at The Cross. So, as a Christian, no longer is there any condemnation (Romans 8:1). No longer should there be a fear of the "God with The Big Stick". Instead, we serve God who has shown Grace and Mercy and continues to show these when we mess up and confess our mistakes to Him and each other (1 John 1:9; James 5:16).

God is The Ultimate Parent. He is the best of both parents and is always around. He wants the best for me and you, which is His plan (Jeremiah 29:11). He desires His Word to go with us wherever we go (Mark 16:15), like my parent's instructions went with me and still do. And in taking His Presence and Word wherever we go, we will desire to please our Heavenly Father and represent The Family well.