God Doesn’t Gamble

God has shown all of his cards, revealing breathtaking protection. He says, in essence, “What if I tell them who they now are? What if I take away any element of fear? What if I tell them I will always love them? That I love them right now, as much as I love my only Son?”
    “What if I tell them there no logs of past offenses, of how little they pray, or how often they let me down? What if I tell them they are actually righteous, right now? What if I tell them I’m crazy about them?
    “What if I tell them that, if I’m a Savior, they’re going to heaven no matter what – it’s a done deal? What if I tell them they have a new nature, that they are saints, not saved sinners? What if I tell them I actually live in them now, my love, power, and nature at their disposal? What if I tell them they don’t have to put on masks? That they don’t need to pretend we’re close?
    “What if they knew that, when they mess up, I’ll never retaliate? What if they were convinced bad circumstances aren’t my way of evening the score? What if they knew the basis of our friendship isn’t how little they sin, but how much they allow me to love them? What if I tell them they can hurt my heart, but I’ll never hurt theirs? What if I tell them they can open their eyes when they pray and still go to heaven? What if I tell them there is no secret agenda, no trapdoor? What if I tell them it isn’t about their self-effort, but allowing me to live my life through them?

John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, & Bill Thrall

The Cure, TrueFaced, 2011, 48-9.