His Hand.

“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity  


     Most of us have a friend with a spoiled child.  You know that one you don't want to be seen in public with, because it's embarrassing.  The kid runs wild and free wanting more and more and it's all laid out in front of them.  You wait patiently or the day when Daddy's hand meets their backside and you almost feel guilty for wanting to see it happen.  This kid has no respect for anything or anyone and runs wild doing whatever enters their mind. 
     Most of the time these kids will finally run into a bully who sets them straight when they get older.  All of a sudden they realize that they can't have their way just because they want it.  They take what is not theirs, they go where they should not go, they get into other's business and Daddy just stands their seemingly doing nothing. 
     Then one day, just as you predicted, the bully beats the soup out of them and they run to Daddy crying.  At least we hope that's what they do.  The other option that some take is to run in agreement with the bully.  Sounds like our country doesn't it?
     Daddy's just about had enough and I believe He has turned us loose to be beat up by the bully's of this world.  Don't we deserve it?  We need a good spanking.  The Lord is that Daddy who knew what was going to happen if we did not listen.  We can try blaming it on Him, but really? 
     A lot of people live in their cozy little homes and have no idea what is going on next door.  Close the blinds and pretend everything is okay.  What we don't see does not exist?  I can see the day coming when the hand comes down and we all stand here with our hands behind our backs, covering our backsides with a pasted on face that reads, "I'm so sorry, Daddy.  Will you save me now."  But the consequences are most likely going to take place, no matter what we do with our eyelashes. 
     Too many people live with the false idea that everything will be okay as long as we are sorry.  I don't think so.  Sorry is not enough if we go right back out there and behave the same way.  It's scary to think about how many people believe they are God fearing, heaven bound, believers that have a big surprise coming.  Like that spoiled child they think they can do whatever they want as long as they have a little confession time with the Father.  But I believe Dad is saying, "That's it.  It is time for you to grow up, listen to me and change your ways."  I believe the hand bringing the pain to our rears is in motion, 
     You know that spoiled kid who just keeps doing the same thing over and over and you wonder if they will ever learn?  They use their Daddy's grace to continue in that life of misbehaving.  He is a good Dad.  He loves us right?  The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  When you do this, you want to behave.  The desire to do those things that used to make you happy, goes away.  We all falsely sit on our couches watching things we shouldn't watch, drinking more than we should drink and saying things we shouldn't say.  But think about that spoiled kid.  If that child could just understand, truly understand how much his Daddy loves him, wouldn't he want to behave?  Wouldn't he want to please Dad?  He wouldn't want to do those things he used to do.
     We see those kids from healthy homes, where they know they are loved.  They do something good and look for Daddy's approval.  They expect Daddy's approval because they know they are going to receive it.  They know if they do nothing right, Daddy still loves them.  But they want to do right, because they love Him.  I think the most important thing for someone to do who struggles with sin, who does what they know they should not be doing, instead of making excuses, should totally focus on and study how much God loves them.  It sounds a little self absorbed for us who are dysfunctional, but He wants us to know.  I believe He wants that more than just about anything.  What a country, what a world this would be if each one of us knew how truly saturated in God's love we are.  If we knew it, then that's all that would flow out of us. 
     Remember the teacher who drilled holes in the paddle so what?  We would feel eternal pain?  The Father allowed the holes to be drilled through His Son's hand so we would feel eternal love.

John 3:14-18

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.