Quite recently, I was in New York City. Yep, my first visit to the “The Big Apple.” I have never been in a place where there were so many different languages and dialects spoken. If there is a “sweet spot” in this melting pot of a country, it must certainly be New York City.
Naturally, there is no want for places to shop…from the sublime—Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, Macy’s, Armani and the like—to the…well, not so sublime, and everything in between. But as I passed people gazing in shop windows, one of the things I heard repeated over and over was, “Oh, I just love that!” If I had a dollar for every time I overheard that expression of adoration, I could have paid for the train ride there and back and everything that I spent while there.
It occurred to me that we use the expression “love” so much that it has lost the deeper significance of its meaning. It is so haphazardly used in our everyday conversation that, when it is used, one has to consider the depth of the affection for the person or object for which it is expressly meant. I mean, come on! I’m not sure when someone says, “I just love this hamburger!” that the depth of their feeling for what is essentially ground beef (we hope) is appropriate.
My friend and I stopped for lunch (finally) at Serendipity, famous for the movie of the same name. We were seated in one of the upstairs rooms. While my friend was using the restroom, I watched a small group of children while they played. During this time, I noticed in my peripheral vision that a man stood up who was also seated at their long table. I turned my head to glance and discovered that we were seated right next to Jude Law who was the man standing and speaking to a man further down the table. I thought of taking a picture, but decided not to bother, though my daughters may have enjoyed seeing him. Still, no one else was taking pictures or asking for autographs and just left him to his friends, so I followed suit. I learned long ago that they are just people, not idols.
When I told my daughter that I had seen him, she said, “Well, I watch “Holiday” as often as I can and I just love him!” There was that word again! And it really got me thinking.
First Corinthians 13:13 [show] [13]So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (ESV)
tells us, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Why is love greater than faith and hope? Faith and hope are something that we do as human beings. But love is something that only God fully understands and freely gives. Love came down from the heavenly place where He was rightfully worshiped and adored and became a man. Not a man of wealth or power or position, but a mere son of a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. Love was not born in a warm, clean, protected environment, but in a dirty stable amongst the livestock and His bed was the trough from which these animals fed. Can you imagine taking your beautiful newly born baby boy and wrapping him up and then laying him in a wooden feed trough on a bunch of straw? That was the Plan…God’s Plan for the salvation of mankind and Jesus was willing to submit to His Father’s Plan because, as part of the Trinity, He so loved us. He gave up everything, including His life, so we could gain everything.
I have seen so many parodies, as I’m sure you have, of the man in the stands at a ball stadium, holding up a sign that reads “John 3:16 [show] [16]"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV).” The world laughs as this enactment. They snicker and sneer, yet if you were to ask them what the significance of that reference was, they would not be able to answer you.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” These are the words from John 3:16 [show] [16]"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV). The significance to us as mortal beings is staggering. Let’s break it down:
“For God so loved…” God saw the state we were in. He knew from before time began that we would turn our backs on Him and do whatever we wanted, no matter what the consequences. He knew we would forsake Him and His love for us in order to pursue our own passions, our own lusts despite the outcome, even to death.
“…the world…” That’s ALL of us, not just a chosen few. He loved us then, before we were ever conceived; He loves us now; and He loves us in the future we don’t even know. His plan was meant for all of His creation–you, me, everybody.
“…that He gave…” Forget about that Tiffany necklace or that shiny new car or that slightly too expensive KitchenAide mixer you’ve been hinting after! You’ve already been offered the greatest gift you will ever find under a tree or wrapped in the finest paper with a beautiful velvet bow. God GAVE; He GAVE all that He had in order that we may LIVE.
“…His one and only Son…” You won’t ever, in all your life, be given a gift like the Gift that was given to you by God in the Person of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you on the cross. Try to imagine for one moment that you have been asked for the life of your only child, who will be tortured, ridiculed and die a horrible death, so that the likes of an Adolph Hitler or an Obama bin Laden could be spared for eternity, should they accept that gift. Honestly, I have one son. He is 36 years old and has a lovely wife and two adorable children, a boy and a girl. I’m here to tell you right now, I would not do it. I am incapable of giving up my son or either of my grandsons so that you or anyone else may have eternal glory. The Bible says in Romans, chapter 5, verse 7, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” What does this mean? It means that most people wouldn’t die for someone who is morally upright, who lives according to a strict moral code. There may be only a few more who would die for someone who is “good,” according to the world’s standards. Why? Well, we usually get to hear about all the “good” things that person has done. I am always reminded of the philanthropists with whom the media in all its various forms is enamored. We hear about the millions they give (though they are not sacrificing by any stretch of the imagination) or the various and sundry causes they support or the people they have helped and someone noticed simply because of their celebrity status. The Bible tells us that they have already received their reward because they are getting pretty good “press” from all of it. Of course, there are other people, like policemen, firemen, soldiers who put their lives on the line daily to protect their little corner of the world. There may be someone out there who would give their life for that kind of person as well. But the Bible tells us “rarely” and “might possibly” may these situations occur. Only Jesus Christ was willing to die for the wicked, the Bible tells us “while we were yet sinners.” That means, He died while we continued to sin (and continue to sin, I might add).
“…that whoever believes in Him…” Now, we’re not talking about a casual, “Oh, yeah, I believe Jesus was a real Person who lived a long time ago. He was a prophet and a teacher.” No, we’re talking about “I believe that I am a sinner. I believe that God had to have this Plan for my sake. I believe His Son, Jesus Christ, came down from heaven, was born of a virgin, suffered and died on the cross and rose again three days later. I believe He now sits at the right hand of the Father and is the only way I can have an audience with the Father by way of prayer. And He is the only way I will ever see the Father’s face.” That’s what we’re talking about here. And after you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you have to live that way, too. I know a lot of “in the moment” Christians. Lots of them! They get caught up in the moment of an altar call or a praise song or corporate prayer (the whole congregation is praising and praying) and they accept Christ as their Savior. They may go home on fire, but guess what? The first sign of trouble and they start to hide their little lamp under a bushel because they are afraid of ridicule and/or reprisals from their loved ones or their friends or their co-workers. Pretty soon, from lack of oxygen, that flame dies down. It’s barely noticeable. You have to do some serious work on your knees (i.e. praying) to get that flame burning full force again. You have to pray for courage and strength and boldness. God guarantees you peace and joy in Him, but the world is not guaranteeing you anything just because you came to that saving knowledge. Be prepared and make sure your armor (from Ephesians 6 [show] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2]"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), [3]"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." [4]Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
[5]Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, [6]not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, [7]rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, [8]knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. [9]Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
[10]Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11]Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12]For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13]Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14]Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15]and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16]In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17]and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18]praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, [19]and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20]for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
[21]So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. [22]I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
[23]Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [24]Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (ESV)) is in place. Don’t take it off! Stay in the Word and keep that Sword of Truth sharp because the Enemy is prowling around like a hungry lion ready to devour you. But, just as David learned to fight those bears and lions and wolves that attacked his sheep, which gave him the faith and confidence in God to fight and defeat Goliath, you will be given that same strength through the Lord Jesus Christ. But you must be prepared and study your Bible!
“…shall not perish but have eternal life.” Hey! In case you didn’t notice, here’s the payoff! You will be saved from an eternity in Hell and, worse yet, an eternity of being separated from your heavenly Father. When you hear a person say that they are “saved,” you know what they are talking about now. They mean saved from eternal damnation. I know there are a lot of people (the Bible calls them “false prophets” and warns us to be on the lookout for them) telling you that “everyone is going to go to heaven because God is a merciful God.” They conveniently forget the verses where it tells you that He is a jealous God and He is a just God. He’s not going to reward someone with an eternity in heaven if they have turned their back on Him all their lives. What about the person who has done the good work and chose the hard path that the other guy opted out of? Not going to happen. This verse—John 3:16 [show] [16]"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)—assures you and me of a place in glory with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but first, you have to believe!
So, now you see what the world “love” is really all about. You see that it shouldn’t be used lightly, but sparingly. I love my children; I love my grandchildren; I love my brothers and sisters and parents and all my extended family. Most of all, I love the Lord and am so grateful that He loved me first and called me into a relationship with Him. In this way, I can know true love and the peace and joy and hope that come with it.
Psalm 57:10 [show] [10]For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds. –“For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
Psalm 59:16 [show] [16]But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.–“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
And here it is in a nutshell:
Romans 3:22-26 [show] [22]the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23]for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24]and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25]whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26]It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)– “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.” (New Living Translation)
