May 27, 2018
John 3:16
“Love you forever”
Love You
Forever is a Canadian picture book. Published in 1986. It tells the story.
Of the evolving relationship. Between a mother. And her child.
Whether you
are a parent. Or a child. You’ve seen this expression of love played
out hundreds of times.
A four- year-old. Protested his bedtime.
Upset by his
father's refusal to budge. The child. Finally became so frustrated. That he
says, "Daddy, I hate you!"
Possessing the
presence of mind. The father simply replied, "I'm sorry you feel that way… but I love you."
To which the
child replies, "Don't say that!"
Surprised. The
father continued, "But it's true --
I love you."
"Don't say that, Daddy."
"But
I love you!"
"Stop saying that, Daddy! Stop saying it! Right
now!"
And then. It
came. "Now listen to me: I love
you...like it or not!"
Even at four
years old. The child realized. That in the face of unconditional love. He was
powerless. If Dad had been willing to negotiate - "I'll love you if you go to bed nicely" – then the four-year-old
would be a player. "Okay. This time,
But I'm not eating my vegetables at dinner tomorrow."
But once Dad
refused to negotiate. Once Dad refused
to make his love for his son conditional. - Based on something the boy did. - Then
- He couldn't do anything. But accept or flee that love.
The same is
true with you. God doesn’t make a one-time, take it or leave it, limited time offer.
If God makes
His great love for you conditional. Then you. Suddenly. Have tremendous power.
You can negotiate. You can threaten to reject
God's love. You can even tell God to take a hike. If we don't care for His
terms.
But when God
just loves you. – Completely. And unconditionally. When the Father sends His son to die for you. Then. There's just nothing you can do to
influence God.
Jesus
has made His decision. And it is. For you. Yes. You can run. But you
can't change the fact. That God loves you. That God. In fact. Loves the whole
world. More than you can imagine.
This is good
news. The best news. Yet, it's
hard. Hard. - Because you're no longer in control.
Hard. - Because
it's not up to you.
Hard. - Because
every time you hear how much God loves you. - You also know that you had
nothing to do with it. You cannot influence it.
And, therefore. You are NOT in control.
On the other
hand. Precisely. Because you are not in
control of this connection. This is a bond established wholly by God. You
realize it is the one association you can't destroy. God has taken complete
responsibility for this one.
Does that mean
you have nothing to do? Nothing to contribute? To this most important bond?
Definitely not!
Once you have
been loved this fully. This completely. You can only respond in love. Honoring God.
And sharing the news of Christ's love for the world. With all you meet. There's
plenty to do. You are now messengers. Witnesses
to what God has done for you. Yet, NOT managers. [1]
All that Jesus
is and does is how God loved, and loves, the world. We can open our eyes and
allow ourselves to be drawn into the light of that love. Or not. It’s up to you.
“No one is
saved by intellectual agreement with a “belief.” One commentator writes.[2]
“Salvation is all about the restoration of broken relationships. Being ‘saved’
means being restored. To the proper bond. And trust of true kinship with God.”
If we hesitate.
Or don’t bond at all. We don’t become part of the family. And we don’t get our
inheritance. The logic of John is NOT: If
you believe, then God will love you.
And save you. God's salvation is not a reward for belief.
Nor does God
withhold His love. Forgiveness and salvation. Until we believe. On the other hand.
Since love is not coercive. We do have to recognize the invitation. In order to
actually be part of the family. And this resolution. Will have natural
consequences.
However. This
does NOT mean that God's offer of love and kinship is withdrawn. Remember, God does not make onetime, take it or leave
it, time limited offers.
Choosing not
to be drawn in by God’s love has consequences. It leaves us in the darkness. It
leaves us alone. Separated from God. And often from others. Not because that’s
the way God would have it. But because we have separated/condemned ourselves to
life without.
We do that for
all sorts of reasons. Sometimes we’re afraid of what God would think. If He
really knew what we’ve been up to. Sometimes we just choose to hang on. To all
kinds of stuff. Like pride. Anger. Resentment. Prejudice. And fear. Our
relentless pursuit of money. Success. And material things. Sometimes because
we’re afraid. Of the changes. That might come our way. If we don’t keep God at
a distance. But it doesn’t have to be like that.
God not only
sent His Son into the world. But offered Him to the world. Whoever believes in
the Son of God. [Be it with a strong or with a weak faith.] May have eternal
life. Worthiness. Does not depend. Upon
the greatness, Or smallness. The weakness or strength of faith. Instead. It
depends on Christ’s merit. (FC SD VII
70-71).
Christ has
died for all. The benefits of His perfect life, death and resurrection are
only received through faith in Him. Make
no mistake. There is no salvation outside of Jesus. There is no hope. Beyond
this life. Apart from Jesus. Heaven and
hell are NOT determined by how good of people we might be. Or how well
intentioned we are. “Whoever believes in
Him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe. Is condemned already. Because
he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” It all depends on faith. And upon the
faithfulness of Jesus.
He gives to us salvation and life. So that we
may know Him as Father. And to ask Him. As dear children. Ask their dear
father.
This is the
reality of what the festival of the Trinity means for you. Because of the Trinity. - We have a Father.
Who loves us. A Son. Who has died for us. And a Spirit. Who draws
us to Himself. Once you were in darkness.
Now you have come to His marvelous light.
Today. You need
to be empowered. In making sense of this world. Through the lens of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. You need to know. That you can indeed testify to the God you
know. Not for the sake of argument. Not for the sake of winning some biblical
war. But for the sake of real conversations. – Concerning matters of faith and
life.
Today. The
festival portion of the church year draws to a close. Today. We are reminded. That
every single person sitting in this room. In this sacred space. Is a witness.
You need to know this. Now. More than ever. You are called to give witness. To the God. In
which you believe, confess and trust.
Words-1,250
Passive Sentences -6%
Readability –85.4%
Reading Level -2.7
[1] Dr. David Lose, the president of the Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and author of Making Sense of Scripture
and many other books. http://www.workingpreacher.org - March 20, 2011
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