The Check Engine Light (or How God really feels about us)

(Originally posted July 16, 2008)

The church and religious people in general have long been in the business of convincing us of just how bad we really are. "Guilting" people into the faith is an age-old practice.

I don't know about you, but I really don't think we need any help in figuring out that we're messed up. Know that "Check Engine" light in the car? I think we all feel like we have a "check engine" light in our lives at all times. We know something isn't quite right, that there's got to be something more. So I don't think the church needs to focus on making us that much more aware of it, or worse, making us feel guilty about it. We're already well aware.

Have we messed up?? Sure.
Have we fallen short of what God wants?? Absolutely.
Is sin a real, serious thing?? Most definitely.
Is that what God's focus is on??? No way, Jose.

Scripture has some good words to remind us just what God thinks of us. It tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"(Psalm 139) "in the image of God"(Genesis 1:27). Instead of making us feel guilty, God's got plans for us, great plans, "plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future"(Jeremiah 29:11). How intensely is God focused on this? "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"(Romans 5:8)

That's the part that gets me, every time. God's not naive. God knows about sin, knows how serious it is. But God just looks at us and says "Yeah, but I just love you so darned much!" and went so far as to become a human and endure all our pains and troubles, even worse, dying on a cross. Out of love. That's some serious love for us.

Someone called me out this week and said "Brad, you got to stop beating yourself up all the time" You know, what he was right. If I read over those scriptures above again, I realize that when I beat myself up over and over again, I'm calling God a liar.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made!
In the image of God!
God's got plans for me!
God loves me more than I can ever know!

Tell yourself that today. And if it means something to you, tell someone else as well.