God’s Love For Us

We were created in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Do you notice in this verse that it says not once but twice that we were created in His image? God created everything…and in all of creation nothing else was created in God’s image. Man was even allowed to name the creatures God created! (Genesis 2:19-20) God gave us dominion over all things, all creatures great and small…even all the Earth itself. (Genesis 1:26)

We are special to our Heavenly Father. Just think about all the things that God created. We have all seen pictures of indescribable beauty…a beautiful sunset over the ocean, or a majestic mountain wearing a white cap of snow. A stunningly colorful coral reef or a field of colorful flowers and grasses with a backdrop of trees. How about some of the views we see courtesy of astronomers? God created all these things, yet values us far and above all of them. Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Even the angels are not above us, for we will judge the angels! 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

Not only did God create us in His image and give us dominion over the world…He died for us. What parent no matter how much they love their child…can compare to how much God loves us? When Jesus died upon that tree, He did so willingly. That is key here, no one made Him do it…not even the Father. Jesus chose to give up His life for us. John 10:18 makes this clear…No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

God cannot lie, and must be true to Himself at all times, or He would not be God. God set the rules in the OT and enforced them. There were penalties to be paid for wrong doing. God stated very clearly that no sin would go unpunished. (Exodus 34:7) The penalty for sin is of course death. (Romans 6:23) Since we all sin, we would all die and then suffer the second death…permanent separation from God. So what was God to do about this? The Father sent the Son…Jesus Christ. Christ was the only one good enough to pay our debt of sin. He came here and lived a perfect life, free of all sin as a man, and at the same time He was God. Then Jesus gave His life as a ransom for us. The price for our sins was paid in full by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God…His own Son Jesus.

Do not doubt that God loves you, even if you don’t feel He is near at times. God answers prayer, but it is not always the answer we want. He does what is best for us. God does care, and He does love you. God the very creator of all things died for you, for me. Jesus values us so much He was willing to experience great pain and suffering, that we may be forgiven and have eternal life with Him.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

gth                                                                                                                                              6/15/11