1 John 4:8 says “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” From the beginning God loved us. He loved us through the display of His generous provision. He gave us life. He gave us companionship. He gave us work. He gave us a wondrous garden to sustain us. He satisfied our every need through His provisional love. “He spent our best time in close fellowship with us.” He gave us one rule for our protection, so that we could live free and abundant lives in the splendor of His love. He truly loves us.
How can a Holy, Righteous God continue to love a rebellious, sinful child? There is another disposition of God’s love. His word says that “He disciplines those He loves.” (Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6) His discipline for our rebellion came in the form of temporal lifespans lived out in hard labor, strife, and pain. As much as it grieved our Holy God to display His love to us through discipline, He knew we needed His rod and staff. Still, His compassion does not fail the ones He loves.
Eventually His rod and staff in the hands of prideful men, gave way to the Law. The Law became too rigid for anyone to obey without personal pride robbing God of His glory. To answer this impossible “man-made way” to God, He displayed the greatest measure of His love through His “amazing” Grace. He sent His Son, Jesus to come to us – while we were still sinners – live a life worthy of the sacrifice necessary to pay for “all” sin. Jesus lived a sinless life of a servant, suffered an unjust trial and an unimaginably cruel punishment to pay the ransom for our rebellion against God. He was made nothing. He walked a path none of us would dare walk, so God could once again spend “our best time in close fellowship with Him.” What greater love is there?
Sinner, you will either die in God’s unrequited love, or by faith through Christ — live out His blessing of eternity. He has — and will never stop loving you. He has given you timeless opportunities to recognize, accept and return it. He proves His love everyday you have breath. But His grace is conditional! Repentance is required to begin this journey and His faithful love receives every truly penitent person.
Jesus said “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Self-denial and repentance are synonymous. They say “God! I can’t, but You can.” Their actions start us on the journey of humility — and humility is the only way to walk in God’s love.
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