Good News

Photo by joffmc.

I had a dog for thirteen years when I was growing up. When she made poopoo on the basement floor at night, I didn’t find her waiting at the top of the stairs to be let out the next day. Instead, she would slink away or curl up in a corner of her bed and not look at me. I usually dragged her across the floor by the collar and pushed her nose at it and said, “Bad girl! Bad girl!”

Sometimes I react like my dog did when I disobey God. I avoid Him. Fortunately, God is not like me. There may be consequences, but for Believers, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

That’s hard to believe sometimes when guilt grinds me into the ground — until I remember how God dealt with Cain. Murder is the worst crime a person can commit. Cain was jealous of his brother, invited Able to a field to talk and slew him.

News of the first murder must have been shocking. Certainly, this was the time for God to set an example and strike some holy fear in people. But God did the unthinkable. He sought out Cain, without thunder and lightning, and initiated a conversation.

“Where’s your brother?” God’s asks.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” What audacity! Cain responds sarcastically to Almighty God.

God patiently confronts Cain with the truth. Cain chokes up — but not with remorse. Cain is more concerned about vigilantes.

I would have fried Cain like chicken on the spot. Instead, God pushes the boundary of reasonableness even further. He puts a mark on Cain’s head, warning others not to touch the assassin.

God did set an example for the human race that day — an example of grace and mercy.

So I have to ask when guilt strikes, “Does God have a double standard?” “Is He lenient with Cain while holding me to the letter of the law?” The fact is, God extends the same grace to me — regardless of what I’ve done.

Death is still the punishment for sin. But Jesus paid the price for me. Better than that, Jesus rose again, breaking the power of sin and death.

So if I’m discouraged by my propensity to sin, there is hope! God doesn’t rub my nose in my poopy choices and turn me away. He told a prostitute caught in the act, “Go and sin no more.” He says the same to me and invites me back into His welcoming arms.

God is s-o-o-o unlike me. And that’s Good News! Happy Easter!!