When I was at the height of my doubt, on the rooftops of Soweto 6, God introduced Himself to me as love. I always thought the Christ story was wonderful but that evening it sat down next to me and proceeded to literally blow my mind for the next three weeks.
God sends Jesus to model what working in His image actually looks like. Jesus throughout scripture models that His will was aligned with Gods will. Meaning Jesus kept choosing to be a part of Gods grand plan which begun with a promise to Abraham. Which also originates from the original plan with Adam and Eve.
Everyone wants Free Will until the bill comes to the table. Then here comes Jesus saying His paid the bill already. Greedy, corrupt, double minded, liars, lovers of money, us, me. His forgiven us, the opportunity is open to all because none of us would survive otherwise. Who is so pure, let them cast the first stone.
But the pure one says, He did not come to condemn us for we are already condemned. But he came to give us life and life to the full. He came to show us a new better way to live and He came so that God’s Kingdom could come on earth. Where the streets are paved with gold and not hidden in vaults.
Where we are all condemned and deserve death we are given a brand new opportunity each day we are alive.
It’s been 10 years from that evening walking back to my room and literally feeling overwhelmed. Like a cup overflowing with love that wrapped itself completely around me. Such an overwhelming love, concepts of which remind me of Jobs encounter with God.
God answers Job by giving him a tour of the universe and asking Job if he can even fathom the intricacies it commands for the entire world to rotate as he knows normal. With all of that happening in the world-
He loves me, He knows me, he has set this day for me.
Even as gratitude for my safe environment and surroundings washes over me. His word, the one with the vibrations that create, says I am loved. For I am but a spec in the grand canyon of life and yet I am known. How could my mind not forever be blown?
I’ve had many questions but never any doubts. There is a God whose ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Everything is all a part of Gods grand design and I am but an instrument making a joyful noise in praise for all His wonderful creations of which I am one.
If ever I had doubts, it was only why would an all knowing God want a sickness like me. Can you really know everything and still pick the defective toy?
Everything really is different. A new Kingdom, a new way of life. So like Peter once answered Christ, where can we go when you are the living fountains of life.
My own personal introduction was through Love because God is Love. Jesus modelled the love to extremes I’m yet to hear or see from any other religion. He was innocent, beaten, hang and still asked for forgiveness for the ones who killed him.
Very rarely will you die for an innocent man, maybe try to save them. But while we were still dirty and guilty Christ made Himself the sacrifice of atonement just so we can have the option of salvation.
We can accept or neglect Christ but He still died so we can at least have the choice. Now as he modelled the Truth for us He asked and taught that the relationship with God was personal. That is why He was always alone in desolate places praying.
I know the world has messed with the literal image of Jesus but reading my Bible, asking for understanding. Reading my Bible some more and the prejudices I hold dear to hold societies standards no longer make sense.
It’s not without it’s struggle but the peace I am finding and the desire to want more of this relationship is worth it. Yes, the church is broken because people are broken. We are the people, we are broken and I hope we can all find time to reflect on the fruit of the Spirit as practical steps to living like Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is **love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control**. Against such things there is no law.
We can’t fix the world that’s not even fair to put that on us, but we can be beacons of hope and change in our communities. People that lead from Love, like Christ led from Love, to bring about a better kingdom that leads with Love.
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