Get Together – What Kind of Love Is This?
John 3:16 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.
I can remember back in the late 1970’s when there was a guy named Rockin Roland that would just so happen to have a good seat at what seemed like every ball game that I was watching. He would hold up a sign that said John 3:16. If it was a World Series game on Friday night, he was behind the backstop. If it was the college football game of the week. This was before there were football games on practically every channel, he would have a prominent seat and be holding up that sign. To my recollection, I did not go and find a Bible to see what that meant. I was more concerned about was I going to win my bet on the football game than I was than what John 3:16 meant. However, praise God that I know what that means now!
Think about this for a moment. Would you go and let people drive nails into your hands and feet for people that would be more concerned about the outcome of the ball game than where they would spend eternity? Would you be willing to hang on a cross for people who would say that we do not need you or want your name mentioned in the public square in this country? Would you or I be willing to hang on a cross for someone who had done drugs all of their life? Would you or I be willing to hang on a cross and be mocked for several hours by pagan soldiers and the religious leaders of that time?
That is what kind of love this is. For any of us that are willing to repent of our sins and to put our faith in His shed blood He is willing to forgive us of our sins at any time in our lives that we do that. One man asked him on that day to remember him when he came into his Kingdom. Just a little while before this man had mocked and reviled the Lord: Matthew 27:44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. But when He asked for mercy he received it. Luke 23:42,43 “Then he said [a]to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
It is a love that offers a pardon to the hardened sinner. It is a love that gives the sinner the freedom to choose whether to accept this love, or not. The other thief on the cross shows how hardened the human heart can be. He continued to rail against our Lord to the very end.
We get a choice. We can either accept this offer of mercy and grace, or reject it. To accept it is to live eternally now and in Heaven forever and ever . To reject it is to be alienated from God now and moreover, to spend eternity in hell. We are told in John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Therefore, to answer the question that I asked earlier concerning what kind of love is this. It is a love that is sacrificial, freely offered, and offered to the vilest sinner at any time. Then we have to make the decision do we want to repent of our sins and accept this love, or do we want to reject this offer of eternal love and try to do it our own way. My prayer for all that read this is that if you have not received His mercy, love, and forgiveness that you will say Lord Jesus I am tired of trying to do it my way. I am ready to commit to Your way.
For those of us who have I pray that we will continue to grow in our love relationship with Him. I also pray that we will point others to the One who loves us no matter what condition that we are in, but loves us too much to leave us in that condition.
LET US PRAY
Lord Jesus we thank You that You love us so much that you were willing to take nails in Your hands, and in Your feet to bleed and die for us on a hard cruel cross. Thank You for the love that meets the sinner in our lost estate. Thank You for Your love that does not leave us in that estate. Thank You for Your love that brings salvation, and transformation in our lives. Thank You for a love that will enable us to live with You in Heaven forever. Thank You for a love that will help us to become the people You desire for us to become in our journey with You here on earth.
In Jesus Name
Amen
We love you all!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
Real Party Ministry 