“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1 ESV
Each of us has the breath of God within. For it is by God that we are able to live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). He is the Author and Sustainer of life.
God desires that we go from being made in His image to becoming His children.
All human beings have intrinsic value and are made in the image of God. God desires that we go from being made in His image to becoming His children. This can only happen when we truly believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior - that He died on the Cross 2,000+ years ago for the sins of mankind, was buried, and rose again the third day. When we believe in this easily understood, yet profound truth of the God-man, we will enter into the family of God’s beloved. For God is patient and long-suffering with us. He desires that none should perish, but all would come to genuine repentance and belief in Him (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9).
It is depressing to know that some people have never been told, “I love you.” Maybe they have, but they were betrayed some time ago. There are multitudes in this life who have been kicked to the curb and forgotten. Many are dying in hospitals and living on the streets. They think all hope is lost. Their family is gone. Friends have left them. They feel all alone.
This is not just amongst severe cases, but also in “normal” households. Some parents are so caught up in work that they neglect their kids. Teenagers have alcoholics and drug addicts for parents. Some are even born and live with their prostitute mother.
Some of us have had so much Truth, that we have become numb to it.
The tragedies of our day are endless, yet, little do we focus on the pains of others. Some of us have had so much Truth, that we have become numb to it. The Great Commission and the call to help others is a message that goes in one ear out the other. It is the seed that falls to the ground. It has been heard time and time again, yet, is rarely (if ever) acted upon. For we believe that simply agreeing with a message will automatically lead to change.
Due to this fallacy, we fail to reach out to the lost and broken. Many are dying and going into a Christ-less eternity. Yet, we are more concerned about our social media presence, having fun on the boat, watching movies and shows, divesting in politics, and living the good life! We indulge in all these things to the point of idolatry, while the world hungers for true love. We the church have failed in this regard, and it is time again that people hear the Truth that God loves them.
This, however, must not be done with mere words, but in deed. For many preach on God’s love, but it is not the entirety of Scriptural love. It is a happy, feel-good love that does not press into the deeper, spiritual love of the Father. Most everyone enjoys hearing of “love”, and pastors are quick to preach on it. This love, however, acknowledges the word "love", but does not obey its meaning. It is a love of fluff that does not act out or practice the path of love. Try talking to people after the service in most megachurches. Try to develop a relationship with the hypocritical churches of our day and see how loving people will be. Not so appealing.
This message is a call for the church to not only start preaching the Truth of God’s Love, but to show it to a lost and dying world. The loneliness, poverty, and pain that is amongst us is rampant. There is devastation on every side. Despite knowing these truths, we easily become distracted and direct our lifestyle around "self". We desire not to tell the world that God in Heaven loves them. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7 ESV).
True love does not seek to glorify, please, and live for self. True love is sacrificial. It desires to love God and love others in the same way that we have been loved by God. A.W. Tozer once said,
“From God’s other known attributes, we may learn much about His love. We can know, for instance, that because God is self-existent, His love had no beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because He is infinite, it has no limit; because He is holy, it is the quintessence of all spotless purity; because He is immense, His love is an incomprehensibly vast, bottomless, shoreless sea before which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest eloquences retreats confused and abashed.”
Any person that believes they are too far gone is closer to conversion than they realize. For it is the person that sees how sinful they are who will believe in Christ as their only hope for salvation and strength.
The Father’s love is so vast, that all the sin of the world was placed upon His perfect Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because God in Heaven desires to know us. He desires to have a living relationship with us. Any person that believes they are too far gone is closer to conversion than they realize. For it is the person that sees how sinful they are who will believe in Christ as their only hope for salvation and strength.
Though the world may reject us, our Heavenly Father will never forsake us. We must simply accept the free gift of salvation and begin our walk with the Lord.
Therefore, we must go and tell the world, our friends, our coworkers, and those whom we pass by that there is a Father Who loves them. There is a Heavenly Father Who created them and desires to save them. There is a Father Who will never fail them. No matter the struggle and sufferings of this life, God is there to comfort the weak and hurting. He desires to be there through our struggles. He desires to strengthen us where we are weak. Though the world may reject us, our Heavenly Father will never forsake us. We must simply accept the free gift of salvation and begin our walk with the Lord.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17 ESV). The Father loves us. He loves us to the very end. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 ESV). The Father has done all that needs to be done for salvation from sin, Hell, this world, the Devil, and the flesh. He is calling us into His loving arms. Will we enter?
Trust in the One Who created You, for He alone is Perfect and is Love.
Trust in the One Who created You, for He alone is Perfect and is Love.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Your Love captivates us. Lord, we have been betrayed and dismayed. We feel alone and afraid. God, we desire to love in the same way You have loved us. We believe that Your Son died on the Cross for mankind's sins. Lord, we humbly admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. You are our Savior. Come into our life and may Your Love dwell within. We repent of our sins and we receive Your Holy Spirit. Help us to see that You desire mercy. Show us what You desire of us. It is in You alone, O Lord, where we put our faith, hope, and trust. Man may fail, but You will never fail. No matter our past, Your Love is greater. No matter what has happened or what we have done, You now see us in the righteousness of Your Son. By Christ’s Blood we have been washed white as snow. May we go and sin no more. May we begin our progressive walk with You, as Your Love changes us and motivates us to share Your Light to a darkened world. We love You, Lord. Thank You for loving us and revealing Your Love through the atoning sacrifice of Your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine