He came to help us

 

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (John 3:16-18 MSG)

For some of us, our ears have become desensitized to this most powerful message of John 3:16. For God so loved the world, blah, blah, blah … yeah. We know. But …

He gave His Son. I remember when my one and only son went on his first tour of Iraq. I reflected on “giving up” a son. I thought about Abraham preparing to sacrifice his only son. Striving against all that was in him - to obey God no matter what. To trust God and His love no matter what. Because God wanted a testimony to His character. 

Anyone can have a whole and lasting life. For those of you who knew me years ago, you may have wondered how wild I would go before surrendering and believe in Him. But God is relentless. I had siblings who I didn’t think, didn’t know, if they would come to believe. It was not until later in life that the knowledge came to me – they all know and believe in the risen Lord. Never lose hope on anyone. The Lord is in active pursuit.

He came to help. How many of us, how many times have we seen God as an angry, punishing God? Standing at the ready with a ruler in His hand, ready to smack our knuckles. When it is with “tears” He watches us make poor choices and suffer consequences. With great tenderness He reaches down to guide us down the right path. How He longs for us to understand His full - encompassing mercy. All your sins have been paid for – This one-of-a-kind Son came. He came. Believe in this good news!