Real with Rue

As a generation, we are doing amazing works for God. Evangelism is spreading, ministries are thriving, and mighty things are happening in His name. Yet, if I am being honest, somewhere along the way many of us — myself included — have lost the true heart of worship and the reverence for God.

I enjoy the freedom of Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, but at the same time, I also find myself dabbling in casual sin. Sometimes I toe the line, and at other times I cross it completely. I measure how far I think I can go without repentance, and that’s when I realise just how much I fall short, because there is nothing casual about sin to God.

Have We Watered Down God?

I believe this generation has lost the fear of God. We’ve reduced Him to a loving father only, painting Christianity as a picture of perfection rather than a battle against sin, principalities, and rulers of darkness.

To the natural eye, life looks simple and physical. But in reality, the unseen world is far greater. This is why discernment with wisdom is essential. This why Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’

The problem is that many of us see God’s restrictions as punishment — as depriving the flesh of its desires. But think about it: why would a God who sent His only Son to die for our sins, even when we didn’t believe in Him, turn around and be wicked? That would make all His sacrifice meaningless.

Judgment That Leads to Mercy

The issue is that we don’t truly understand God’s love, which is inseparable from His judgment. We minimise the love of God to our human love, which has a limited capibility of understanding an omnipotent God. Look at the children of Israel. We are often shocked that they turned to idols after witnessing God’s power firsthand. But how often do we do the same? For me, just yesterday morning, I chose my phone scrolling on tiktok over spending time in His presence.

God’s judgment wasn’t to destroy Israel — it redirected them back to Him. His discipline made them cry out again for rescue, and each time, His mercy followed. His judgment leads to mercy. To a new Christian, that may sound confusing, but I’ve learned that not everything in faith will make sense. I don’t need to deconstruct every mystery, because my one encounter with Christ is enough for me to believe.

Why Judgment Matters

Some of us live as though Christianity comes with a “once saved, always saved” policy. But that’s not true. God’s judgment keeps us on course. It reminds us of the cost of disobedience, because the cost of sin is far greater: death. For me, it’s not even about whether I’ll make it to heaven — it’s about whether His presence remains with me now. That is a cost I cannot afford to lose.

Stumbling, but Rising Again

The hardest part of this realisation is knowing I will stumble again. It’s not a matter of if but when. But Scripture gives me hope:

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” — Proverbs 24:16

The key is repentance. Not treating sin lightly, but confronting it fiercely — tearing it down and cutting it off with violence. Because even in our stumbling, God’s mercy is there to lift us back up.

Final Thought: We need to recover the fear of God — not a fear that pushes us away, but a holy reverence that draws us nearer, keeps us in His presence, and reminds us that His love and His judgment are two sides of the same coin.

it’s been deep but real,

Rue.