Article August 16, 1999 Issue

God doesn't punish you

Divine Love never stops loving.

By Nathan A. Talbot

Step Out Of a cozy home into chilly winter air. The impact can be noticeable. Now stand directly in the warm rays of the sunshine, and you can feel really comfortable. But move into the shade, and it's hard to avoid the shivers. You wouldn't think of the sun as punishing you for stepping into the shadows. The sun just shines. It's still there to warm you up.

Some people think that God gets angry and punishes those who turn away from Him. But that's not the nature of God. He isn't a wrathful superperson who aims to harm. Instead, like the sun, He's always shining. Right there to bless us even if we think of ourselves as walking away from His radiant presence.

Such a walk eventually will be uncomfortable. Sooner or later we're going to notice the chill. In a sense, we're sort of punishing ourselves. And that's not a very smart move. There's a lot of wisdom in keeping close to God in our prayers and our lives, valuing the protective moral precepts contained in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. There's logic in staying within their warm embrace. They represent a tender, divine law that nurtures our well-being and progress.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
Inheritance
August 16, 1999
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit