I heard an interesting saying tonight and it went something like this: if you understand God then He probably isn’t God. The reason being is that we can never totally understand God because if our finite minds can comprehend God then He can’t possibly be the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God of the holy Bible.
His love is so boundless that it doesn’t make sense to our human minds. He loves me. I’ve messed up more times than I can remember or count. I’ve ignored and been bitter and angry at Him. Why does He continue to love me? Why did Jesus give up the glories of Heaven to come down into a helpless baby that had to be fed and diaper changed? Why did He live in obscurity for about 30 years, then minister for only three, putting up with rejection, hate and murderous intent all for love of a people most of whom would reject His love?
Why did He allow Himself to be betrayed, go through such horrific torture, and hang shamefully on a cross for our sins? Why did He let Himself die? It was an immeasurable love that we can’t understand. So boundless it can forgive murderers, drunks, thieves, even pedophiles or the person who killed our child. (Wow, that was hard to type…) So boundless that He accepts the young ‘born agains’ and those who ignored Him until the last seconds of their lives. He chooses to love the stinky, the bitter, the hopeless, the obnoxious, and all those considered unlovable by most of society.
…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame… Hb. 12:2
Is this joy set before Him solely the joy of salvation and eternal life for those who believe? If so, I’m not sure my love would have done what Jesus did for the salvation of one in seven people* or maybe less. ‘Oh hey, you will save 15 billion people in the lifetime of earth, but 92 billion^ will reject you and go to hell…” Well, those stats wouldn’t really change my mind. Of course if the joy was simply to be in Heaven on the throne again, then maybe… probably not.
His boundless love doesn’t give us license to sin but it’s funny how the ones who point that out most often are those whose lives seem outwardly cleaner. I am wicked. I am a sinner. I am no better than the prostitute, drug dealer, gun seller, political liar, uncharitable rich man, human trafficker or any other sinner. The only difference is that I am saved by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ because of His boundless love. It’s the same immeasurable love Christ has for ALL. So much
that He stretched out His hands on the cross and died for you.
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rm. 8:38,39
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth and length
and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ… Ep. 3:17-19
But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died
for us. Rm. 5:8
Take heed, brothers, lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily,
while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hb. 3:12,13
…Today if you will hear His
voice, harden not your hearts… (v.15)
*Stats say 2.18 billion are Christians but
considering many are in name only I’m halving that amount which is still
generous.
^Carl Haub estimated there have been 107 billion
people on the earth to date. If this is
accurate at all and 1/7 of them are genuine Christians…