"FEELS GOOD"

Liz saw God as a chaperone, watchman, sentinel and judge who kept a close watch over everything she thought, said and did. Liz had a mental sketch of God keeping track of all the things she did right or wrong which at her death would determine if she merited Heaven or Hell.

To Liz, God was out there like the president. She recognized God’s photo when she saw it but she really didn’t know Him. 

Shortly after graduating college, Liz thinks she met God and her life began to feel like a bicycle ride or rather like a ride on a bicycle built for two people because Liz felt like God was on the rear seat, helping her pedal.

Liz doesn’t really remember when it was that God suggested they trade seats on the tandem bicycle but her life has not been the same since. When Liz was steering the tandem bike, she was in control and knew the way but it was rather boring and predictable because it was always the shortest distance between Point A and Point B.

However, when God took the lead, He knew enchanting and thrilling detours of long cuts, short cuts and even through rocky places, all at breakneck speeds. It was all Liz could do to hang on sometimes.

Even though it looked like sheer madness, God would say; “Pedal” while she was worried with great angst asking God; “Where are You taking me?” God would not answer and Liz felt like God might be laughing at her hesitancy but Liz also noticed she began to trust God’s leading. In short order, Liz forgot her previous outlook on life being mundane and boring and began to enjoy the real life adventure with God in the front seat. Yes, there were many times Liz would say; “God, I’m scared” and He would lean back to put His hand on hers calming her fears.

God lead Liz to people with gifts and talents she needed. Gifts of joy, courage, happiness and healing. All gifts to take on her journey with God still in the front seat. Then, God and Liz were off again on a long bicycle road trip. Shortly after their trip began, God said; “Give all those gifts away as they are extra baggage and too much weight. So Liz starting giving away all of the gifts she received to the people she met and she learned by giving, she felt like she was receiving and her burden was lightened.

However, Liz still did not trust God to take full control of her life. She thought it might become boring like when she was in front or He might wreck but Liz saw some of His secrets which seemed like miracles. He knew how to speed around sharp corners or do wheelie jumps over high rocks. Liz is learning to shut up and just pedal while enjoying the panoramic views and cool breeze on her face with God as her delightful and constant companion.

Many of us view God as Liz did. We know His photo but we do not really know Him. Like Liz, many of us think God has a notebook with our name on it writing down all of the good and bad things we have done while hoping He grades on a curve to determine if we will walk the streets of gold or be stuck in the smoking section forever.

 Many of us forget the basic fact that God loved us first (1 John 4:19). Because He loved us first, He wants us to forgive us (1 John 1:9). Yes, that's right God wants to forgive us, no matter what we have done. God wants to forgive us so much He sacrificed His Son, Jesus so we could be forgiven. God really does love us that much!

Believe it or not, God’s love gets even better with even more perks like a victory over death to enjoy a free membership to the streets paved with gold club. Also, Christians are given unconditional and unlimited forgiveness. That’s right folks, you are reading it right as God promises us unconditional and unlimited forgiveness after we are saved.

God sweetens His salvation perks by making His unconditional and unlimited forgiveness a lifetime guarantee. Commonly referred to as “security of the believer”, let’s read the fine print in this lifetime guarantee starting with Romans 10:13 which promises; “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” No ifs, ands or buts but anyone and everyone.

Next, we read John 10:28 which plainly promises; “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

In my opinion, when the Big Guy upstairs says no one can snatch us from Him, it’s a dead lock cinch.

Then the icing on the cake is the double slam dunk dead lock cinch at Romans 8:38-39 which makes it as clear as a starry night by His solemn vow; “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Simply put God promises us no one, no where at any time can take us away from Him!

The God making these dead lock cinch promises and guarantees is the same God who created the world. A world where our earth was designed to be the perfect size and tilted on its axis at the perfect degree to maintain a perfect speed of rotation with the exact chemical composed atmosphere to allow us to breathe while keeping our body temperatures at a continuous 98.6 degrees

 Merciful and Loving Father, thank You for loving us so much You want us to be happy and forgiven. Since we have a carnal nature, we cannot truly understand or comprehend how much You love us but we know Your love is great by the looking at the cross to see Jesus' sacrifice. Let us start each day by realizing You love us no matter what and it “Feels So Good To Be Forgiven.” In fact, let us wallow in forgiveness delight each and every day!