There is a thirst in every human heart to be loved. No love in this life is able to fully satisfy. Much of what we love cannot love us back. If a man loves money, his money cannot love him in return. The song you love to sing does not love you. Careers end, fame diminishes, health fails, and the laughter stops, and all that remains is silenced by the grave. My marriage vows included the phrase “Till death do us part,” an acknowledgement that even true love on earth has an end. My love has limits of scope, intensity, and duration. I am convinced there is nothing and no one in this world (without the love of God) who loves me with an enduring love – or even actively loves me at all.
God has revealed Himself as the only true source of everlasting love. Love is one of the defining characteristics for God, for 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” God’s love is the only love which will endure forever, for it is everlasting even as God is (Jer. 31:2). Once we are born again through faith in Jesus, having been made partakers of His love, we have His infinite capacity to love bestowed upon us. We did not earn this love through our love of God, for He first loved us (1 John 4:19). This love springs from His goodness and grace and not of our worthiness.
It struck me today that God is under no obligation to help, forgive, or save anyone. In a society clamouring for social justice and equality, the Gospel can fall on hearts polluted by a sense of entitlement which asserts if God allows some people into heaven, He should allow all people into heaven because He is loving. This is a denial of man’s wickedness and God’s grace. God was not obligated by His love to save sinners, but He graciously chose to. He could have retained His eternal love and for our crimes justly sent all to hell, even as a righteous judge who loves his son will see justice carried out upon him. Unrighteous men show partiality to those they love, but God does not.
Jesus was more than innocent, for He was righteous. Jesus – God made flesh - was willing to lay down His life on Calvary to save sinners. Jesus did not deserve to die, and not one sinner deserves to be saved. God first loved us, and with knowledge of His everlasting love and grace we are commanded to love Him back. Nothing in this world can love us back, and God treasures as His children those who love Him. Our love is demonstrated through obedience, even as Jesus demonstrated His love through sacrifice. God’s love transcends life on earth, and only in loving God will we experienced His love forever.
God has revealed Himself as the only true source of everlasting love. Love is one of the defining characteristics for God, for 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” God’s love is the only love which will endure forever, for it is everlasting even as God is (Jer. 31:2). Once we are born again through faith in Jesus, having been made partakers of His love, we have His infinite capacity to love bestowed upon us. We did not earn this love through our love of God, for He first loved us (1 John 4:19). This love springs from His goodness and grace and not of our worthiness.
It struck me today that God is under no obligation to help, forgive, or save anyone. In a society clamouring for social justice and equality, the Gospel can fall on hearts polluted by a sense of entitlement which asserts if God allows some people into heaven, He should allow all people into heaven because He is loving. This is a denial of man’s wickedness and God’s grace. God was not obligated by His love to save sinners, but He graciously chose to. He could have retained His eternal love and for our crimes justly sent all to hell, even as a righteous judge who loves his son will see justice carried out upon him. Unrighteous men show partiality to those they love, but God does not.
Jesus was more than innocent, for He was righteous. Jesus – God made flesh - was willing to lay down His life on Calvary to save sinners. Jesus did not deserve to die, and not one sinner deserves to be saved. God first loved us, and with knowledge of His everlasting love and grace we are commanded to love Him back. Nothing in this world can love us back, and God treasures as His children those who love Him. Our love is demonstrated through obedience, even as Jesus demonstrated His love through sacrifice. God’s love transcends life on earth, and only in loving God will we experienced His love forever.
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