Religion is man’s attempt to get to God. Throughout history people have come up with many strange, even weird ways to attempt that impossible feat. Religion is oppressing, and depressing. It is placing burdens on people that are impossible to carry. Jesus said of the religious leaders of His day – “You place burdens on men’s shoulders, and you are not willing to move them with so much as a finger” [Matthew 23:4]. Religion is tedious, relentless, and it is futile. Christianity is God’s attempt to get to man. God so loved mankind that He gave the ultimate sacrifice, and paid the ultimate price in order to reconcile man to Him. Jesus said this concerning His expectations – “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” [Matthew 11:30].

 

Jesus said that when just two or three people gather in His name He would be there [Matthew 18:20]. Imagine that! No weird efforts to convince God to come, or to be pleased with us. We can just gather together in His name. This means to get together for the purpose of honoring, and glorifying Him. It doesn’t matter where, it doesn’t matter when, and it doesn’t even matter for how long, just come together. He promises to show up. This is where it can get very interesting. God is unchanging in His nature. He is always good. In fact, He is always very good. But God is never predictable. You can always know who He is, but never know what He will do, or how and when He will do it.

 

God is amazing! God is interesting! God is creative! God is – well – He is God! He is so exciting. Bill Johnson says this – “If your relationship with God is boring you need to check the distance between you and Him.” Oh by the way, He never leaves you nor forsakes you. He is the ever-present One. He cares for you deeply. He waits for you daily. He is the kindest person you will ever meet. If the god you serve is not kind, you may not be serving God. One way to know if it is God or not is this – are you being driven, or are you being led? The devil drives, God leads.

 

Religion will tell you that you have to work harder. In fact, it will tell you that God would be more pleased with you if you would only . . . . . pray longer, read more, give more, and attend more often. My goodness! Is it important to pray, read, give, and attend? Absolutely! But the most important thing is why you are doing those things, not how much you are doing them. The devil tricked Adam and Eve into thinking that they needed to do more in order to be like God. They believed they needed to work for something they already had. They had been created in God’s image. They were already like God. They did not need to do something. They were something. So they fell. What did God do? He came to them in the cool of the day just like He always did. He called to Adam. It wasn’t that God did not know where Adam was at that time. He wanted to see if Adam knew where Adam was, as well as to see if Adam knew who God was. God did not change when they sinned. They changed! They became religious. They committed the very first cover up. They hid behind some fig leaves and amongst the trees in the garden.

 

Religion shames you. God redeems you! Religion says – “Figure something out.” God says – “Let’s talk it out” [Isaiah 1:18]. Religion wants you to work. God wants you to confess and repent.

 

Faith is what God looks for. Hebrews 11:6 says, “For without faith it is impossible to please God.” And when Jesus returns to earth He will look for faith. “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” [Luke 18:8] Someone asked Jesus what they needed to do to work the works of God. His reply was astounding, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” [John 6:28, 29]. What? Just believe – in Jesus! There has to be more to it than that? Nope! Just believe. Impossibilities bow to Jesus when we just believe. Look at this example – “While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?’ But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, only believe’” [Mark 5:35, 36]. Jesus spoke not a word about them not praying enough, confessing enough positive things, or any such thing. Only believe! That is all Jesus said. Just believe.

 

I want to ask you this question. What do you believe? And especially what do you believe about God? Is your god demanding? Is your god oppressive? Is your god harsh? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I would like to introduce you to the God of love. I would like you to meet the One who loves you so deeply, the One who believes in you so richly, and the One who desires you intensely. Will you allow this God of love to embrace you? Will you allow Him to speak kind things to you? Will you allow Him to remove the heavy burdens of religion? He is able! More importantly, He is willing! Simply ask Him to come. Ask Him to remove all the excessive weight that you have been carrying. Ask Him to hold you and to tell you how much He loves you. It is okay. You can trust Him. He is good. He IS good! He is GOOD! HE IS GOOD!

 

Father, I pray for the one reading this article. I ask You to bless them. I ask You to really bless them. If they have pain in their life I ask that You remove it. It they are grieving I ask that You comfort them. If they are confused I ask that You bring clarity to them. If they are angry I ask that You help them to release it to You. And if they are under the heavy yoke of religion I ask that You liberate them. In Jesus Name – Amen.

 

One last thing – 2 Corinthian 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” The Spirit of God liberates. He does not enslave. Apostle Paul, writing to the believers living in the area known as Galatia said, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be enslaved again to a yoke of slavery” [Galatians 5:1].