The freedom that is meant for you...

Hebrews 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

This weekend my wife and I met someone and we had a discussion about fearing God. This person kept insisting that God must be feared and that was the only way to make sure that you are doing the right things because the end of times are upon us and we better not get caught not being "right with God" when the day of rapture comes and we are "left behind".

However, when you read today's verse, you get a whole different picture of how God feels about this. God is not unjust, he knows your heart and if you really believe in your heart that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) you have nothing to fear.

If you live in constant fear that God will strike you down for the things you do then you are really missing out on the freedom the Gospel offers. Everyone can recognize John 3:16 but the verses that follow are incredibly important in understanding what is this freedom we have in Christ.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:17-20

So do you feel free? Can you relate to Romans 8:1 which says "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." If you can't, then maybe it is time to ask God to examine your heart and draw you to him so you can truly experience the freedom that is meant for you.