Brethren, I really don't think many in the Church realize how much it hurts our Heavenly Father when we reject His love, in order to do our own thing! Yes, He IS a loving, gracious, forgiving Father.....to a point! When we choose to walk away from Him (by ignoring the Truths of the Bible written for the Church Age...or by simply not returning our love to Him thru obedience....He WILL walk away from His children. Now, He does NOT want to see His children doing stupid things...but He will allow us to do stupid things IF our hearts are hard towards Him. Please notice that in the story of the Prodigal Son that the father (i.e. God) did NOT run after His son, pleading with him to come back home. I know that it broke the father's heart when his rebellious son sinned. However, even though our FATHER loves us...He will not never over-ride our freewill choice to sin...BUT...He is more than willing to run to the repentant child of His and wrap His arms around them, and forgive them as though the sin they committed never happened!!!!
