Introduction
Who can understand the mystery of God’s love? We cannot fathom the depths of this truth, though love is easily considered His most famous attribute. It is easy to sanction the love of the Father when we understand it to be personally true. The great mystery of the Creator is that He loves at all times, unmeasurably, even when we cannot see it or attest to it.
A God of Love
His Love Manifested in Creation
His love is manifested in infinite ways. The Father shows us His love through creation. A perfect God who could be content to Himself chose to create. He gave the earth order and purpose in his design. He had plans and purpose for mankind before they were even birthed. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds the believer, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
This is the measure of love that the Father has toward his children.
His Love Manifested as Providence
His love is evidenced to us through His providence. Many testimonies of dedicated believers can arouse worship to the Almighty through His providence. It is providence when God’s love is evidenced in his provision for the needs of His children, in terms we would understand as coincidences.
Unexpected miracles, undoubtedly supernatural circumstances, are embedded in history. The Old Testament contains countless instances of God’s providence. The Lord God was working behind the scenes in Esther, carefully weaving the events together to bring a story that glorifies his provision for His people. So many coincidences occur that only the omniscient designer could be responsible. He had instigated enmity between Mordecai and Haman. He had prepared Esther to be the Queen among hundreds of other candidates. He had caused insomnia in King Ahasuerus so that his servants would read him boring minute details, and just happen to run across the account of faithfulness in Mordecai.
The prophet Isaiah 46:9-10 reminds us, “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” Providence is a measure of His love.
His Love Manifested in the Sacrifice of His Son
His love is ultimately substantiated in the sacrifice of His son. This is the absolute highest measure of the love of the Father. The first revealing of this is in the act of God the Father giving his only son. What an extravagant act. For any fleshly father with love for his son it would be indisputably impossible. The second revealing of the Father is in the act of sending His only son. He sent his only son, a pure and righteous being, to a world drenched in sin, shame, greed, idolatry, and evil. He did this to show His love towards sinners made in His own image.
The third revealing is in Christ becoming the propitiation for our sins. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (I John 4:10). Hallelujah! What a God of Love! He sent his pure son to us to save us from ourselves! The fourth revealing of the God of Love is in his plan to give us the freedom to chose forgiveness and redemption. We were once dead and in darkness, but the Most High gave us freedom and life in His light.
It is the very nature of the Creator to reveal Himself in these ways because it defines His character. It is the only explanation for these acts of service towards a finite and undeserving people.
His Love Manifested for All Mankind
His love is manifested through creation, providence, the sacrifice of His son and finally in His children. Christ became our advocate. ... He gave us the privilege of having access to Him. He tore the veil, and we can lift up our prayers to Him and He hears us. What other worshippers can boast of that from their gods? Our father hears our prayers and cares for us. He knows us by name and takes care of our every need, even more than the birds of the air. The loving Father has sent us a comforter, the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the believer in the physical absence of the Christ. The Holy Spirit directs are minds and actions towards Heaven.
The precious love of the Most High God has saved us from the bondages of sin and destruction. In our iniquity and shame He made a way to secure our very souls. When we call upon His name and believe in Him we are saved through His ever abounding grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved from the penalty of sin.
As faithful Christians we continue to work on our salvation. The Holy Spirit frees us from the power of sin. It has no hold on the us. We can call upon the name of the Lord and he will deliver us from our temptations. He has always provided a means of escape for us. How gracious he is to us.
When Christ returns we will be saved from the repulsive presence of sin and will be swept into the glory of Heaven. Matthew 5:10-12 conveys our reward, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Application
Having a deeper working knowledge of the heights and depths of God’s love we one correct response available to us. We must show the love of God to the rest of the hurting world. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) commands us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” This is the picture of God’s love manifested towards others. As Christ was concluding His ministry here on earth he emphasized love, love, love. He instructed us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Now we realize that we are born of God, being made in His image, the image of love. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also out to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (I John 4:11-12). The love in us drives out the fear, and we are able to shine clearly the light of God’s love for mankind. When we react to a harsh situation kindly, we are professing the love of Christ. When we are angry and do not sin, we are picturing the forgiveness of a loving God for a generation that does not know to care. When we care for each other, the widows, the orphans, the homeless, the hurting, the angry, the wild, the lonely, the destitute, we are emptied vessels transferring the love and hope of the Father to those whom he cares for. Love is the only thing strong enough to awaken the deadness in the desolate hearts of men.
Conclusion
An infinite God has chosen to create and love a degenerate world. Some may blame him, and attribute to him wickedness and cruelty for allowing homicides, genocides, wars, and personal pain. But the God of Love, who is Love, whose character reflects love, who has embodied love, has entrusted this world with the mystery of His love. He allowed sinners to have a free will and to chose to love Him back. And the only way this could happen was if we could understand that we are desperate need of Him, of His love. He has hidden infinite clues throughout his creation, through his people, and through the testimonies of His children. His story points to his ultimate sacrifices for love, to gain our attention, to share our passion for pursuing love to others, that they may know Him also. It is our duty to share with others living in darkness the keys to the mysteries of love that we have unlocked. With God working in us and through our lives we can be a part of unlocking the bondage that sin has on us.
Sources Consulted
Fisher, David A. “Teaching God's Providence in History.” Christian Curriculum, Music, Distance Learning, & Books | BJU Press. Fisher, David A. “Teaching God's Providence in History | Articles | Resources | BJU Press.” Christian Curriculum, Music, Distance Learning, & Books | BJU Press. http://www.bjupress.com/resources/articles/t2t/teaching-gods-providence-in-history.php (accessed March 23, 2011).
Lloyd-Jones, David Martyn. The Love of God. Vol. 4 of Life in Christ : Studies in 1 John. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1994.
Steele, Daniel. “Love Revealed.” In Love Enthroned. Salem, 15. Salem, OH: Convention Bookstore Publications, Schmul, 1977-1961.
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