IMAGINE spending time choosing and paying for a very rare and expensive gift and offering it to the one you love only to have that person refuse to accept it or worse, toss it aside as if it has no value. You would think it rude and unacceptable behavior and you would be hurt. You might never want to do anything nice for that person again. Well, this is something we humans do each time we reject God’s love. The difference is He is always ready to forgive and start over. This is because He has undying love for all of us and He not only forgives, He continues to love, unconditionally and without change. Even with sin on our souls He sees worth and continues to offer His supreme gift. He leaves it up to us to decide whether to accept and dedicate ourselves to His offer or decline it.

WHEN we think of love in human terms, we think of the emotion which binds two strangers together as one with such a strong and positive feeling it consumes every waking moment. A feeling so powerful it colors everything brighter, richer and more vibrant and brings a glow to the faces of those in love. They are a delight for others to observe. And there is the pure and unselfish love of a parent for a child which closely mimics God’s Love or the love between siblings and blood relatives which binds family together. Because God is love He gives each of us just a “taste” so to speak of what great and perfect love awaits us should we choose to accept Him.

UNFORTUNATELY, human love between two people is not always lasting or the forever and forever kind. It could be here today and gone tomorrow. It can fade away with time and proximity. How many of us have professed undying love to someone only to find that years later we can hardly recall the person to whom we thought we could not live without. Maybe even the thought of that past love is totally distasteful to us now. There is also the estrangement which can occur between family members who never seem to forgive each other.

SINCE the beginning of time when the earth was created, God’s love existed. Many of us turn our backs on this precious gift or simply do not recognize its value in our lives. To some it is there at the edge of our consciousness but we do not let this matter command any time in our everyday world. It is like an old shoe in the back of our closets. We do not focus on it and it remains there unseen and unappreciated until we need it.

WEBSTER defines love as a emotion of intense fondness, a deep affection or attachment. It is also described in theological terms as God’s benevolent concern for mankind. Unlike earthly love we do not have to qualify for it. We don’t have to be beautiful or handsome, rich or famous or geniuses. It is simply there for us as long as we live. We do not even have to acknowledge it for that love to exist. And God patiently waits for us to recognize its worth. Some choose to ignore its reality and turn their backs on our Heavenly Father, not realizing that along with his love, He is offering us the keys to His Kingdom, a place of immense happiness and joy which lasts forever. With the gift of His Only and Most Precious Son, He has given us a legacy of extreme love through the ages and continues to love us even when we are most ungrateful. Rather sad testimony that many don’t reciprocate when His Love is so unconditional. Some recognize it but are unwilling to let Him into their lives.

JOHN 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life...” In reference to God the Son, read John 15:13 which says that “Greater love has no one than this, that to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Read also Romans 5:8. These are strong and vital statements. There are numerous passages in the Old and New Testaments alike which speaks of God’s endless love for us.

GOD allows us to see and experience the magnitude of His love for us. Any love we feel is minuscule compared to God’s great love for mankind. And yet many of us shun this as not being what we want or need. But each day we enjoy its benefits even as we are ungrateful for it.

THE great patience that God has is another great example of His everlasting love. In the Old Testament, He exhibited extreme patience with the Israelites. He led them out of slavery, fed them from Heaven with precious manna, spoke to them directly, only to be rewarded with complaints and strong willed protests. Some even set up false idols in spite of all God did for them. And still, God gave them endless chances to become closer to Him. Even today, His Son knocks upon our doors, offering this free gift to all who will listen to Him.

IF royalty came to our humble homes.. a king, for example we would bow and stammer and apologize for the state of our homes,and rush about trying to make things fit for such a royal presence. Well, God is bigger than royalty since He is the creator of everyone and everything in this universe, including Kings, Queens, presidents, etc. So we should not take for granted the greatness of Our Father who is a constant presence in our lives.

GOD has reached across the centuries to extend love to all, calling each of us by name. Before we were born He knew every single one of us. And He, like a proud and loving parent who makes out a will for his children, made provisions across the centuries for our salvation. Over 2,000 years ago God gave His ultimate gift of love by sending His Son Jesus as a sacrifical Lamb to wash away our sins with His Precious Blood. And with this miracle and sacrifice Jesus told us, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me".(Rev 3:20). One could interpret this as a direct invitation of love to be with Him in joy and festivity forever.