I never cease to wonder at the unceasing and relentless love of God for man. What strikes me more than anything else, is the fact that in spite of the natural man's relentless efforts to distance himself from Him, God's love has not waned a bit. He continues to seek and to save those who are lost.
As I wondered about this, I began to think about what was written in Ephesians 1:4, 'Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes'.
Imagine! Before you and I came into this world, God loved us! Before we had a name to identify us, God already knew and loved us with an everlasting love. How awesome is that?
When a couple decides to adopt a baby, they are subjected to many checks as well as made to satisfy legal requirements before the child is handed over to them. Imagine looking at a baby, not knowing where it was born or by whom, yet a love that cannot be explained moves them to adopt this particular baby and they decide to commit to taking this baby and raising the child as theirs.
God made such a decision thousands of years ago. "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself though Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." (Ephesians 1:5)
People adopt children for various reasons, some because they could not have biological children and others for charitable purposes. The reasons may be different, but the motive is the same, they want a child on whom to pour their love upon and raise as theirs.
Scripture tells us that God decided in advance to adopt us. He knew man was going to stray from Him and He had put the machinery in motion to ensure the adoption of man even before man fell at the Garden of Eden.
Just like would-be parents of an adopted child have to satisfy legal requirements to get custody of the child, God had to satisfy the legal and spiritual requirements for adopting sinful man. He had to pay the price for redeeming man. This price was paid through the ultimate sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and to pave the way for our adoption as sons and daughters of God.
I have heard people say, 'Can God love me the way I am, with all I have done?' The answer is Yes! He did not start loving you now, yesterday or last year. He loved you before you knew who you were! You can never be too far away from His love!
I am so glad that nothing distracts God from His love towards us. He is not like man who professes love one minute and the next, falls out of love. He said, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3)
Doesn't it fill you with awe that in spite of how complex and huge God's creation is,you are the focus of His love?
I don't know about you but for me, it does!
Steve Popoola
Biblepraise Fellowship Online ©2013,