Father, I need You tonight. Things have been a little tough today. Personal stuff has taken a few bites out of me – some things I’ve brought upon myself and other things are, unfortunately, just a part of where life finds me. I cast myself upon your mercy and grace.
John 3:31-36 (<<click here to read the passage)
Life is all about choices. We can’t choose what life throws at us but each day we chose how we will respond to what life gives us. Many of us wield more power than we think. Someone tells us we need to do something, and we can acquiesce and go along but it is equally within our power to not cooperate. No matter how insane our choices might be, we ultimately decide.
Now I realize there are extenuating circumstances, but your average man and woman determine what they will and will not do…
I caught the glimpse of a video today in which someone asked the question, “Would a loving God really send anyone to the eternal damnation of hell?” The person being questioned answered, “No.” And you may be shocked but that was an absolutely correct answer!
By our own choice, we are condemned. Every person to ever walk this earth by the very nature of our being is separated from God. Just a few verses back, John stated,
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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17 NKJV
But you see there is the catch…that is where we draw the line. We don’t want to believe in His only begotten Son. Every second of our lives we are one step closer to being swept over the precipice which will cast us into eternity. It is as if we are flailing about in the overwhelming current of life, screaming, “I can do it myself! I don’t need Your help! Others will help me!” …but there is no one else…for everyone else finds themselves in the same predicament in which we find ourselves.
And all we have to do is believe!
…anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” John 3:36 NLT
Far too often we chose to white-knuckle grip all of the things we have amassed, all the worldly things that time will destroy. Our wealth, our cars, our homes…in the end they are utterly worthless. But time and time again we sacrifice not only the love that others have for us but most importantly God’s love as well! All because we will not yield to love!
God sends no one to their eternal condemnation. We alone determine that.
Lord Jesus, may we give up our selfishness and pride in submission to love. For as the Apostle John said in his epistle,
The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.] 1 John 4:8 AMP
Read that again!
True love is all about giving ourselves over to God’s love. Selfishness cannot coexist with it! Pride is cast out in its presence! You cannot do it on your own! Submit to God and live! He is your only hope!
Apr 25th, 2021, Sun, 8:19 pm
