The Bible tells us that God created mankind in His own image. What, exactly, that means has always been an issue of debate. But one thing that is agreed upon is that God created mankind with a free will: the ability to choose his own course.
This was done for a very specific reason: so mankind could choose to love God. Had He created us pre-programmed to revere Him, to worship Him, we would not love him. Love cannot be demanded from us. Love comes freely from the one who loves, or it is not love.
So we have the freedom to choose. But, in regards to God, the only choice we have is whether or not we will love Him. If we love Him, we are willing – nay, we are EAGER – to obey Him for we know that He wants only the best for us, and He knows so much more than we do, so we trust Him to guide us.
The problem comes when we say, “Yes, I love God: but …” ‘but’ will always get you in trouble. For this means we have decided that we know better or want something different.
For Christians – true Christians: followers of Jesus – a relationship with God comes through His son, Jesus. Jesus paved the way for us to be able to draw close to God and have an intimate relationship. Before Jesus, the average child of God could have discourse with God only through a priest. Jesus tore the curtain that kept everyone else out of the Holiest of Holies and invited us all to come to Him.
The Word of God (the Bible) is how God speaks to us. The more we read it, the better He can communicate with us. The better we know our Bible, the more we know about God and what he expects of us – and how he blesses us.
When Christians decide to go through the Bible saying, “Yes I like this part, no I won’t follow that part.” they are editing not just the Bible, but God Himself. When they edit the God who is God, they are creating their own god. A god created according to their own precepts. A god created in their image. A false god. An idol.
They may use the same names and terms, they may hold to a “form of Godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5), they may meet in a big church, but they have chosen to say “no” to God. God does not negotiate with us on terms. We follow him or we turn away. Once we start to say “no”, we have said “no” to God.
To be sure: they can turn back to God any time before Jesus comes again. But if they persist in worshiping a god of their own design, when Jesus comes to collect the faithful these idolaters will be left behind.
God forces no one to follow Him. We are free to choose, but we are not free of the consequences of our choice.
