God is like...

Sophie sits at the foot of the front stairs. Her mother has been watching her play in the front yard all morning. Her sidewalk chalk is gripped in one small hand and working over the pavement to create a portrait of Dolly the Doll. Dolly sits patiently in a child-sized chair. She's a good sitter for portraits and has been represented in crayon, finger-paint, and even dry macaroni once.

Sophie looks up when the phone rings, but she's not distracted long. Her mother steps inside for a moment to see if it's the call she's been expecting. The wind blows. A few early fall leaves swirl out of the red maple.

A big dark shadow falls across the little girl. She turns to see what has blocked the sunshine. A tall, hard-faced man is looking down at her. Mirrored sun-glasses hide his eyes. His thick arms are crossed across his chest. He's dressed in black from the toes of his jack-boots to the collar of his crew shirt. He hunkers down and moves a hand toward Sophie. "Hello, little girl..." He says.

 If you're thinking the man in black is someone to be afraid of, you're right. His training is in combat. He's a skilled fighter and what he fights he means to kill. He's not trained, like a police man, to hesitate and consider his actions. If he's involved, someone higher up has already decided killing is okay. Are you scared for the little girl in the hands of such a man? Why? Has he threatened her? Would it help if you knew he was a Navy Seal?

Maybe a couple more line from the scene would help.

The girl turns and shades her eyes against the sun. Her face breaks into a toothy grin. "Daddy!" She shrieks, and throws chalky hands around his neck.

 Does it help? My point is this. A lot of the time, we Christians turn God into some cosmic teddy bear that wouldn't hurt a fly. It is true that God is not wanton in his destruction. After all, why would you be quick to destroy what you so carefully created. But, I think we are remiss to portray God as someone you don't have to be afraid of. Solomon said the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Why is that the starting point? Because you have put something very important in its proper perspective. He is the creator, we the creation. He is the forgiver, we the forgiven. And there is an offense to forgive. I've tossed many a failed project into the trash bin. I'm eternally grateful God is not so cavalier about his own work.

As for the little girl, that the man is her father does nothing to change what he is capable of. Imagine the fate of someone who raised a hand against this girl in his presence. He is dangerous. As for Sophie, all she knows is those hands bathed her as an infant, tuck her in every night, comfort her when she's upset. Those hand might be lethal weapons, but as far as she knows, they were made for love.