God’s Umbrella of Love

I have read many books on different aspects of Christianity. At one point I had a library of over two hundred paper books, and over 150 books on my tablet. The paper books are mostly gone. In my study of Christianity I have read many different views of God, from a violent God to an all forgiving God (universal salvation), and anything in between. Before I go any further I must tell you that I am not a professional anything, I’m not a scholar. I had to go to night school to get my grade 12 diploma. What you will read is how I view God.

I believe God is a God of love. With love there is no room for anger, violence, gynecide, and curses that last generations. I know, I know, that the Old Testament depicts such a God. But when you look at Jesus, you don’t see any of that in his ministry. In fact, when he recites from the Old Testament he purposely leaves out any passages containing revenge, and the like. Many believe that if you don’t believe in God, or walk away from God that He will punish you. I don’t believe God punishes, instead He will discipline those who believe in Him that we may grow in faith, and leave the non-believers to experience life on their own.

This is where God’s umbrella of love comes in. Just like an umbrella that protects us from rain, at least the top half of our bodies, God’s umbrella of love protects our soul from ourselves, the world, and the spiritual forces that want to destroy us. If you close the umbrella during a downpour, you will get soaked. It’s not the rains fault that you decided to close the umbrella, it’s your decision. God’s umbrella of love is the same, as long you believe, the umbrella is there to protect your soul, but, if you stop believing, you are walking out from the protection of God’s love. God has given us the gift of free will, and I admit some have misused that gift with devastating effects. God will not interfere with our free will, but will help those who believe in Him. You may ask what happens to those who misuse the gift of free will, I don’t know. It is not up to me to decide the consequences of their actions, I leave that to Jesus, and God. My responsibility is to pray for them, that they change their hearts to love God, helping others, and are willing to accept and make amends for the pain they have caused.

My prayer for those who do not believe, is to get out of the rain and walk under God’s umbrella of love. For those who believe, I pray that you will resist the temptation to experience life without God’s umbrella.