The Fury of God's Love

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved."
~Ephesians 2:4-5

I remember when my kids were babies and I loved them so much, and thought there was nothing I wouldn't do for them. I would die for them, I would kill for them, I would do anything for them. And I still would. Most parents feel that way I'm sure. We might say we would die for our family, but chances are, we're never going to have to prove that. In reality, there's only one person who ever died for humanity. There's only one person who ever died for you. There's only one person who ever died for me. That's Jesus Christ. He said that He loved us, and He proved it by dying for us.

The love of God is so far beyond our reach that we have a hard time understanding exactly what it means. We think of it in the love we have for our children, or our spouse, or parents, or friends. But the love of God is so far beyond what we can think or imagine. We have no concept of the far-reaching manifestations of the love of God.

God's love began before humankind was even formed on the earth. God's love for each of us was formed long before we were. And no matter what humans did, or how far they strayed from the Creator of all that they had, God continued to love them, provide for them, and to make a way for them to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. And when the law and sacrifices no longer accomplished that task, God Almighty made Himself human, left Glory to be born on Earth, and grow up the same way we do. But then His purpose, his provision for each and every one of us, culminated the day that Christ died on the Cross. I'm sure the devil thought he'd won but he hadn't seen God's endgame! He pushed His plan into the Heavenly realms when Jesus rose again on the third day.

"There's a wideness in God's mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God..."
(God's Love by Rich Mullins)

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we too, are caught up in that "reckless, raging fury." This is the kind of love that transforms the worst of human beings into something precious and sweet before God. This is the kind of love that changes lives, that brings alcoholics and drug addicts out of their addictions. This is the kind of love that brings men who have committed the most atrocious crimes to their knees in repentance before God. This is the kind of love that can change your life no matter what is going on in it. This is the kind of love that can keep you from repeating the mistakes of your past. This is the kind of love that transforms your past into a life worth leading. This is the kind of love that only Jesus Christ can offer each and every one of us.

"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)."