The Love Challenge (Part Four)

I am busy sharing what I have learnt about love from 1 John 4.

We have reached 1 John 4:10: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Pause for a moment and put yourself in Father God's position. Picture the occasion in heaven where Father God realised there was only one way to set the people, whom He loved so much, free from the bondage that sin brought on them. He had to arrange for someone to pay the penalty of sin on behalf of the people whom he loved so much.

With the required respect, I'm going to paint an imaginary picture of what happened in
heaven before Jesus’ birth as a man. They were sitting in the glorious throne room in heaven.
"Jesus," Father God said, "we need someone to stand in for humankind to pay the penalty for their sin. Would you mind doing it?"
"What would that entail, Father?"
"Well, first you would have to sacrifice this glorious life of yours and live among sinful men for several years. You would not be popular; in fact, many will be quite hostile towards you. Things will build up to the point that you'll be put on trial and die to set man free from having to die themselves." Father God then smiled happily. “Then our relationship with man will be restored for all those who believe you have done it.”
"I'll do it, Father."
"You'll have to realise that it's going to be a hard sacrifice on your behalf."
"Father, for you and for mankind whom you love so much, I'll do it."

Jesus, God's son, lived on earth for 33 years, not having an easy life, but love helped Him persevere. Then it was time for Him to pay the penalty, to become the sacrifice for mankind's sin. Did He feel like doing it? No. How do we know it? Through His prayer in Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39: Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” He didn't feel like going through with it, but His love for mankind and for His Father made it possible for Him to do it. Could Father God have stopped it? Yes, He could have, but His love for mankind made Him turn His face away.

With the utmost respect, I say the following.  Although I wouldn’t want to be God with all the responsibility He has and all the flak He receives from mankind, He does live in the comfort of the glory of heaven, if I understand it correctly. Man had the perfect life in the Garden of Eden in a very personal relationship with the Lord, but chose to disobey the Lord and destroy the relationship He had with Him. Was the Lord obligated to restore the relationship? I mean, man was at fault and deserved the consequences. Why would the Lord inconvenience Himself and disrupt His glorious comfort to help man? It was because of love that is patient, kind, does not envy, is not proud, does not dishonour others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). 

For this same reason, this love that lives in us through the Holy Spirit, who is Love, should we inconvenience ourselves to love and help others. This is the topic of verse 11, which we’ll discuss next time.

To be continued