Ever since I had the occasion to learn that by confessing Jesus Christ as my Lord and believing that God raised him from the dead that God would become my Father, I have always been very thankful. However, I must say that the depth of the love that God has for me has been made much more clearer to me lately due to the birth of our first son, Nathaniel. He was born a few short weeks ago and over the course of these past few weeks when reading God’s Word or thinking about the scriptures I have begun to understand even more the greatness of God’s love for me.
When our son was born at around three o’clock in the morning in our home, I could not help being so overwhelmed by his sheer helplessness and total dependency on us. I so wanted to do anything to help him to ensure that every need that he had was met. God’s love for us is perfect, how much more must He want to protect, help and care for us?
When my son cries (or even whimpers for that matter!) we are right there to make sure that everything is all right. If I, an earthly father, am willing to respond to my son’s cry so readily, how about God? Can you imagine for even a minute that if anyone genuinely cries out for God that He would not listen! It’s insulting to even consider the thought.
You know there are many things that my wife and I do for our son of which he is totally unaware. When I carry him around the house, I always protect his head so he does not get hurt by striking anything. When he is asleep (finally!) we make sure that his blanket keeps him warm and that the temperature in the room is right as well. His clothes are kept clean, his blankets are washed, his finger nails are cut, etc. All of this he has absolutely no knowledge of. How much is there that God does for us that we do not know about? Indeed the scriptures declare that He causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust .Even those who do not acknowledge God are blessed.
It is hard to believe the great extent to which a young baby can work his way into your heart even after such a short period of time. The last thing that I would want to consider would be to give up my son for anything – and yet I know that my son is not perfect. It Is Written that God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son so that whosoever would believe on him would not perish but have everlasting life. He had Jesus Christ die for you and for me. Jesus Christ, a son who never sinned, a son who never did anything contrary to his Father’s will died so that you and I could have life. How it must have hurt his Father’s heart to see His son go through the pain and suffering that he endured. In consideration of all that, how could anyone ever question the love that God has for us? To state it in another way, how could anyone turn their back on a God who so loves and cares for his people that he would sacrifice His own son for them?