I’ve said it myself thousands of times, “Was it not the love of God, I wouldn’t be here today.” And I’m sure you’ve heard it many times yourself.
Is it the truth? No. Even though it sounds very noble and thus seemingly crediting God, it’s rather my limited opinion rather than the truth. If such saying was true, then the love of God would only be applicable while I’m alive in this body. This would mean that God loves those who are alive, and hates those who are not.
When God wanted to show me his love, He didn’t give me certain privileges or material possessions. Instead, He sent and cause Christ to die on the cross for my sins and all the sins of the whole world.
If I was to start bragging that because I have “this or that” then God must love me, well what about those who don’t have them? Does God hate them?
Did God hate Jonah when He caused the plant to dry and thus rid the shade that kept Jonah from the scorching sun?
Did God show His love to us by placing us in what we would call “good” circumstances?
When Paul and his companions were saved from deadly situations, He concluded that it was the mercy of God:
“We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)
Paul’s hope was not in being saved from the peril, but in being raised from the dead by God.
Isaiah once said:
“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. ” (Isaiah 57:1-2)
Our hope is in the one who raises the dead. Jesus raised me from the dead and He breathed His Spirit into me.
God’s love for me is not manifested in me not being in a hospital at this moment, nor is it in not being in immediate perilous or life-threatening moment.
God’s love for us is demonstrated in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Knowing this fact surpasses all the fear of bad circumstances that could ever land in our way, simply because our hope is in the one who raises the dead. Jesus now has all authority. Even so, he raises the dead.
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” (John 5:21)
God’s love has not granted us access to a big mansion or a luxurious car or a hefty bank account. God’s love has granted us access to adoption into His family by the blood of Jesus.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1)
Let us stop seeking recognition from the world. The world can only recognize its own. Rather, let us rest in the fact that we are known by God as His children. If there’s anyone beneficial of being recognized by the world, it is Jesus. We share the gospel to bring recognition to Jesus and His love for us.
Jesus is the well of the living water, the Holy Spirit. 