God’s Pursuing Love

The story of the Bible is really the story of God’s heart. God’s pursuing love is on display. In the beginning, God spoke the universe into existence, then as soon as He had prepared the perfect place, He created a people. Adam and Eve did nothing to deserve being created and placed in a perfect environment. God, out of His grace and generosity, created them for relationship. He lavished blessing on them. He gave them each other, He blessed them with abundant, delicious food. He provided work to do, He enabled them to start a family. In the midst of all His generous provision to them, He established a test to reveal their own hearts. He gave them one restriction. He commanded them not to eat the fruit of one specific tree in the middle of the Garden. He warned them of serious consequences if they disobeyed. They would die.

But then, the Tempter came. Satan, in the form of a serpent, caused them to doubt God’s word. “Did God really say. . .?” Then he contradicted God’s word. He said, “You will not surely die.” Then, he disparaged God’s character. He suggested God was keeping them from that fruit, because eating it would make them like Him.

Despite everything God had done for them, they gave in to Satan’s temptation and disobeyed God. The world has suffered the deadly consequences ever since.

The irony in all of this is that God is all knowing. Nothing surprises Him. He knew before He created mankind that people would choose disobedience and death would be the result. He knew the death of His Only Son on the cross would be the only hope of redeeming and restoring what sin destroyed. Knowing this, He created us anyway.

The fault is not just with Adam and Eve. Every one of us has stepped outside of the boundaries God has given us. The boundaries, incidentally, were placed for our own good. If we try to live according to what God has commanded, it opens up blessings for us. When we ignore His guidance, we reap unnecessary pain.

 

All have sinned–every one of us–no exceptions. Sin separates us from God. He offers us redemption for that sin through Jesus. He died in our place. Everyone who calls on His name will be saved. Knowing Him gives us a place in His family. He overcame death to give us eternal life with Him. Those who refuse Jesus remain separated from God the Father.

 

Pain is an unavoidable consequence of living in a broken world–a world damaged by sin. Not every difficulty we experience is the result of personal sin. But when we rebel against God by rejecting His ways and insisting on our own, we can expect His discipline. His discipline is corrective. He judges sin, but He doesn’t stop loving people. God’s pursuing love continues to reach out to bring people to Himself.

When our children were small, their behavior required discipline at times. But nothing they could do would change our love for them. When my husband and I disciplined our children, it was never with the intent to toss them out of the family. Our discipline was intended to guide them and help them become civilized people. We are not perfect parents. There are things we could have done better, but we never gave up on our children. (And, thankfully they never gave up on us either.)

God is a Perfect Parent. He takes no pleasure in punishing wicked people (Ezekiel 18:23). His discipline is corrective, to draw people back to Him, to restore the relationship. God’s heart is on display throughout the Bible. His pursuing love follows after rebellious people, offering the chance to turn to Him and live.

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.                                                                                                                                                        Revelation 3:19 NLT

 

Blessings,
Phyllis

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Copyright 2023 Phyllis L. Farringer