The comforting reality of God

What could be more comforting to you than knowing the reality of God's love? The good news is that you can experience that love! Despite your sins, regardless of your past, no matter what you have done or who you are. The depth of God's devotion to you is shown in the words of the apostle Paul: "But God demonstrates his love for us in this, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5,8).
The terrible result of sin is alienation from God. Sin corrupts and destroys relationships, not only between people and God but also with each other. Jesus commands us to love him and our neighbors: "A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13,34). We humans are not able to obey this commandment on our own. Selfishness underlies sin and causes us to view relationships, whether with God or those around us, as trivial compared to ourselves and our personal desires.

However, God's love for people transcends our selfishness and unfaithfulness. Through His grace, which is His gift to us, we can be redeemed from sin and its ultimate result—death. God's plan of salvation, reconciliation with him, is so merciful and so undeserved that no gift could ever be greater.

God calls us through Jesus Christ. He works in our hearts to reveal himself to us, to convict us of our sinful state, and to enable us to respond to him in faith. We can accept what he offers - the redemption of knowing him and living in his love as his own children. We may choose to enter into that supreme life: “For in it is revealed the righteousness of God, which is of faith unto faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1,17).

In his love and faith we strive steadfastly toward that glorious day of resurrection, when our vain bodies will be changed into immortal spiritual bodies: "A natural body is sown, and a spiritual body is raised. If there is a natural body, then there is also a spiritual body" (1. Corinthians 15,44).

We can choose to refuse God's offer to continue our own lives, our own ways, to pursue our own self-centered pursuits and pleasures that will ultimately end in death. God loves the people he created: “It is not, then, that the Lord delays in fulfilling his promise, as some think. What they think of as procrastination is actually an expression of His patience with you. Because he doesn't want anyone to get lost; he would rather that all return to him" (2. Petrus 3,9). Reconciliation with God is the only true hope of all mankind.

When we accept God's offer, when we turn from sin in repentance and turn in faith to our heavenly Father and accept his Son as our Savior, God justifies us by Jesus' blood, by Jesus' death in our place, and sanctifies us through his spirit. Through God's love in Jesus Christ we are born again - from above, symbolized by baptism. Our life is then no longer based on our former egoistic desires and drives, but on the image of Christ and the generous will of God. Immortal, eternal life in God's family will then become our incorruptible inheritance, which we will receive at our Redeemer's return. I ask again, what could be more comforting than experiencing the reality of God's love? What are you waiting for?

by Joseph Tkach

More articles about the love of God:

God's unconditional love

Our triune God: living love