When I was 19 I remember thinking to myself, “I know God loves me, but I’m too dirty for Him, I’ve made too many mistakes, i’ve messed up too many times, and I’ve walked away too much. Surely there is a limit to His love.”
Now that I have a son, I can see just how wrong I was.
My son is one week old today.
When I held him in my arms for the first time I made several promises to him, that, by Gods grace, I pray I will keep.
I told him I’ll love him for the rest of my life. I didn’t say, “until you’re 18, or until you get your licence, or until you move out of home.” No, I said that as long as there is air in my lungs, I will love him.
I told him I’d protect him always, I didn’t say, “unless it’s me against a lion, or three men bigger and stronger than me.” There was no clause to commitment.
I told him I’d pray for him every day. I didn’t say that would i’d stop if he was doing fine, or if he was doing poorly, I just said ill pray, no conditions.
I told him I’d care for him. I didn’t say it depended on how I felt, or he felt. I didn’t say “only if you get good grades or only if you date girls your Mum and I pre-selected” (Although holding him now, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea).
I told him I’d teach him the truth about God and life. I din’t say, “unless it offends you, or unless its awkward.” No, I know my responsibility is to speak the truth into his life, even when it hurts.
And I told him id fight for him. Whether he wants to be fought for or not. Wether he thanks me or doesn’t. There are no limits to what I would try to do for him.
So it is with God and His love for us. There are no conditions, no clauses, no limits.
It doesn’t depend on what you do, what you did, what you are going to do.
Paul says in Romans 8:35-39.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And 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. 39 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. (NLT)
That’s right, NOTHING, can separate you from His love. Not that thing you are thinking of right now that you think might just be the one thing, nope… NOTHING.
Yes there are consequences to sin, and there are great rewards for those who love God back and do what He asks, but His love is always there, unconditional.
This unconditional love doesn’t mean He isn’t just and fair either. He will judge all people one day and those who chose Him will receive eternal life, and those who didn’t won’t.
It’s not for lack of love that people are separated from God, (Jesus’ death and John 3:16 show us that) no, separation only happens when we chose it. He remains faithful even when we are faithless, yes He is still there loving us even when we don’t choose Him.
As I walked out of the hospital carrying my son, the lady at the discharge desk said, “try not to worry too much. My son is 31 and I still worry about him all the time. You never stop being a parent.”
Even though right now you may be trying to stop being a son or daughter, God never stops being your Father. All you need to do is come home to His love and you can reap the benefits once more, of His unconditional love. He loves you unconditionally, maybe today is the day you will start to love Him back.
Have a great week with Him in His love,
Andrew
- The Scarboroughs - 