“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
Dear Ones:
There is no doubt that, from Heaven’s standpoint, there is NO higher motive for living than that of being loved, and loving in return. From what we read in the Apostle John’s first letter, we see that ALL true love comes from God, for He IS love, not only in truth but in essence. To KNOW God is to know the love of God, and to love with His love in return. But what is it about the love of God that makes it so appealing, so motivating? Only in examining closely the highest expression of that love, can we come to understand the fathomless beauty and power of it.
In what might be considered the pivotal chapter of the Old Testament, we find in Isaiah 53, the revelation of this “Son that was given.” From a “natural” standpoint, He is undesirable, “…no beauty that we should desire Him.” He is despised by men, and rejected…even a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Despite any and all praise or blame by men, He willingly chooses to be “…the Lamb, slain from the foundation,” being wounded for (…or because of..) our transgressions. The punishment for all of the world’s sins (…for He tasted death for all men), so that we could know the peace of God, was accepted, embraced, and endured by Him for us. “By His stripes,” His wounds, we ARE healed. The sentence of judgement, the punishment for our sins, …all of our iniquity (“iniquity” being a word that expresses the height of God’s repulsion and condemnation of our sin…) was deliberately, specifically, LAID ON HIM. The weight of the world’s wickedness and sin was put upon Him, so that He would pay FULLY the debt, accepting every consequence of His loving, sacrificial actions. However, we must remember that this beloved Son lived and died with an eternal HOPE: “…when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall SEE His seed…He shall SEE the travail of His soul…He shall be satisfied.” Christ shall return, bearing His sheaves with Him. He will bring many, of many sheep folds, to Life and glory. Eventually, this Lion of the tribe of Judah, will approach the throne of heaven, having already entered into that most holy place with His own blood as our Redeemer, to receive the reward, His inheritance, the redeemed believers of all ages. It will be to Him that a new song will be sung…a song declaring His eternal worth. This is LOVE…everlasting, unalterable, perpetually perfect and good in all of its dimensions. This is God.
Someone asked the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, who was on his deathbed, about his theology. Spurgeon replied that his theology had gotten pretty simple over the years. Then he said: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Dear Father, open our eyes to see and be overwhelmed by Your eternal love. “May the love of Jesus fills me (us), as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing, THIS is victory.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad