FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...

 

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)

We are rapidly approaching the Easter season where the world celebrates the crucifixion of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.  It was His sacrifice that gave us the opportunity to come into relationship with Him. He paid the ultimate price for our sins for He was without sin.  Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Christ loves us enough to die for us.  He poured out all of His life so that we might have life.

Has anyone ever given their all so that you could live? Have they endured humiliation, ridicule, false testimony, beatings, torture, rejection, hanging on a crossing, or suffocating in their own blood for you?  Would you do all of that for someone else, especially your enemy?

We were sinners and Christ died for us.  Yes, all of us.  Not just one race or creed, religion, or ethic group, but all of us.  We all have an opportunity to accept Jesus as our Savior and be in relationship with Him.  What a privilege and an honor to know the Lord.

I grew up thinking knowing Jesus or being saved was a list of things I could not do.  I believed that I had to earn His love by always being perfect or doing the right thing.  God knows I was made to feel bad about wanting to do anything or go any way other than what I had grown to know.  I am not saying what I was taught was wrong but I didn’t have a clue how much God truly loved me. I grew up trying to please people to gain their attention and love.  I just wanted to be loved for me.  I became a people pleaser and it cost me dearly. 

I was looking for love in all the wrong places.  I made some bad choices and endured great suffering.  I endured a divorce, raising children on my own, court dates, and disappointment for me and my children.  This was not what I wanted for my life or theirs. I was in wrong relationships and found that my freedom and happiness came when I stopped trying to be all things to all people and lean on the One that loved me most – Jesus. 

I rededicated my life to God as an adult and realized that God truly loves me. Jesus took on my sins and I could be free, loved, and accepted.  What a game changer for me.  I no longer had to try so hard to find love in people that couldn’t fulfill the longing in my soul anyway – only Jesus could.  I could begin to build a relationship with my Creator that knew me before I was even formed in my mother’s womb. He knows exactly what I need and I can be totally honest with God (why not He already knows).

The journey began and it is still continuing.  I am still falling in love with the One that loved me enough to give all. Jesus died for my sins. He had me on His mind when He was hanging on that Cross.  He was dying so that I could be free from fear, disgrace, shame, guilt, bitterness, unforgiveness, loneliness, death, hell, and the grave. Yes, death because without Him, I was surely going to face eternal death.

Jesus died so that we all could live throughout eternity with Him.  He has plans for us to be together in Heaven in a constant celebration in the loving light that He emanates. In John 8:12, it says, “¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

As this season is upon us, let us not forget why Jesus came to this earth.  He came to save those that were lost.  And yes, He has not returned yet because 2 Peter 3:9 says, “⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward ^[a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Jesus is soon to come!  He is coming on a cloud and every eye shall see Him.  He loves us enough to send His best – Jesus Christ to make atonement for our sins.  Accept His plan for your life today and begin a journey that you won’t regret.  Why?  "¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."