God is love. This sentiment, this idea, this seemingly simple yet beautiful description of our creator, is one many Christians are pushing and fighting for. John 3:16 is their banner verse, “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.” (NKJV) Even 1 John 4:8 tells us “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
At first glance, it seems like a good thing, like a way to encompass much of what God is and offers us. However, I have come to realize that this overly simplified concept is actually dangerous and is part of a path Christianity has happily traveled down, not realizing the dire consequences of this choice. The problem comes with how we define love.
What is love? That word in and of itself is complicated. In the English language, we have this one word to encompass everything from “I love tomatoes” to “I love my mom.” It covers platonic love, romantic love, committed love, and everything in between. Many other languages have multiple words to try and cover all that love is. For example, Hebrew has at least 4 and Greek has 8! What does the Bible tell us about love, and specifically about God’s love for us?
Along with John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5, and John 15:13 talk about sacrificial love. God’s greatest act of love for us was sending his Son, himself, Jesus Christ, to live perfectly (because we cannot) and to die to pay the price for our sins (so that we do not have to). If you’re like me, understanding a love like that is hard. I love my kids, I love my family, I love my friends…and I would probably even lay down my life for them if I was put in that kind of situation. But let’s face it, I’m human, and there are people here on earth that I would struggle to want to make that kind of sacrifice for. I have a human view of sin and look at it on a scale or spectrum. Jesus tells us, though, in no uncertain terms that sin is sin. So, for example, when I speak in anger or sarcasm towards my children on a day when my patience has worn thin, that is the same as when someone murders someone. Gulp. That one hurts. But we can’t stop there. There is more to the story.
If we continue on, John 3:17-18 says, “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John lays it out there for us: belief in Jesus is what keeps us from being condemned. The gift of salvation is offered in love and through grace to us all, but we have to accept that gift through faith in order to receive it. Jesus makes it to clear to us time and again that he is the only way back to God. Jesus did not come into the world (the first time) to condemn it, but to save it, that is true. But we are only saved THROUGH him. So if we are to love as God loves, accepting Jesus as our Lord and savior has to be a part of the equation.
To complete the picture of God as love, there is one more idea we have to embrace. Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (NIV) This highlights a concept found all throughout Scripture. God is slow to anger (in the NKJV translation it says he is long-suffering-as parents I am sure we can relate to this!). But that doesn’t mean that he never angers. God never stops loving us, and he goes to unimaginable lengths to bring us back to him. His desire is that no one should perish or live an eternity without him.
The Bible is full of stories that show us this. Think of Noah and the flood. It took him years to build the ark. People could have chosen to repent and turn to God. But their wickedness abounded. Think of the Israelites (okay there are countess examples there), but specifically God delivered them out of Egypt and captivity. Showed great miracles and was faithful. They turned from him when things got just a little tough. So, he allowed them to wander in the desert, provided for their every need, listened to their whining, and gave them the chance to know him again. Think of Joshua, facing the giants that were living in the promised land. He drew a literal line in the sand, choosing to believe and trust in the God that had rescued them from Pharoah and brought them through the wilderness. He boldly declared, “For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And God was faithful. They defeated giants and reclaimed the promised land.
What about the time it is taking for Christ to return? God is once again giving us time to know him, to choose to repent of our sins and follow him. The book of Revelation is full of examples of God turning up the heat, and then giving people time to repent. What those stories and characteristics also tell us, though, is that eventually we all must choose. There will be a line in the sand. And judgement day will come, when God will finally say “enough is enough.”
We are not so different from our Jewish brothers and sisters. They were looking for the Lion of Judah to come and save them. They wanted the mighty warrior to free them. When Jesus came as the suffering servant, as the sacrificial lamb, they didn’t believe he was the Messiah. They missed his saving grace because he didn’t come as they expected. As Christians living in the age of grace, we know and focus on Christ as the suffering servant, the sacrificial lamb. If we aren’t careful, we are going to miss the fact that he is coming back, this time as the Lion of Judah. Up until the very end, God will continue to provide opportunities for us to accept his gift of salvation. It always comes down to two choices. In the end, I hope and pray we will all choose wisely.
