A ticket and a permanent helper.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8(b)
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
1 John 4:16(b)

God is love. If you have any doubt about whether God loves you, today’s Bible verse settles the issue. But it confirms twice God is love n 1 John 4:8(b) and 4:16(b). God is love means God=love. I know some people think God is angry at them. Bible never says God is wrath, does it? No, it never. Instead, it confirms God is love.

You see, the primary nature or attribute of God is love. God has other qualities. God is Holy; God is merciful; God is just, God is righteous, and God is the judge, etc. All God’s attributes are harmonious even His anger and wrath. However, God’s primary disposition is not wrath. He is lenient to love you more. It is one thing to know that God is love, but more importantly, you must know He loves you personally. Do you know God proved it so that you would never doubt about it? Let me explain what I meant.

Beloved, God is the originator of love. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” We learned what love is from God. May I tell you Devil is not love. He would not love. He is the destroyer, liar and murderer from the very beginning. (John 8:44). Love originated from God. We learned the first alphabets of love from God. We can truly and richly love if we abide in God’s love. You see the earth is filled with lie, hatred, injustice, and unfairness because of the absence of God’s love in people’s heart. God’s love in people’s heart makes beautiful changes. This is why we need to preach God’s love to all people including those who are bound in prison.

It is out of love that God formed Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life to become a living being.
Though our first parents –Adam and Eve- disobeyed God’s commandment, because of His love, he came searching for them by calling Adam’s name. It is the love of God that prompted to gave them clothing when they complained they are naked and ashamed. It is because of the love that he promised a seed who would crush devil and redeem the seed of the woman. God’s love for you is described in all of his covenants and promises.

The classic demonstration of God’s love is publicly revealed by sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to rescue you from sin and its curse. God loves you, and that is why Jesus came in a rescue mission.

Romans 5 says, generally speaking, most people would not be willing to die for a good or upright person. However, someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is exceptionally good or beneficial. In other words, people generally would not be ready to die for another person even if they are useful and helpful. Then verse 8 says how God publicly showed His love toward you. Listen it says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It is not because we were good that Jesus died for us. We are sinners and transgressors, but still, He loved.

On top of that, God wants you to live with Him in heaven forever enjoying his perfect, unconditional love. When you love someone, you will do all the arrangement for that person to come and live with you. You would buy the travel tickets, and you even send a helper on the way so that the one you love can come home safely. This is what God did for you. He bought the ticket so that you can come to heaven freely with no cost. The price of the ticket was the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. That was the only way God could rescue you from the kingdom of the devil and transfer you to the kingdom of His beloved Son. God even gives you a helper and comforter on the way so that you can safely reach heaven. His name is the Holy Spirit of God. God gives His Holy Spirit the moment you accept Jesus as your savior and Lord.

The nature of true love is this –it never demands forcefully on people. God’s love does not force or demand you. By understanding how much God loves you, it is His greatest desire that you would respond to Him by accepting His gift for you, Jesus Christ, as your savior and Lord. Then God pours out his love into your heart by sending His Holy Spirit inside you.

Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” You see, until you come and accept Jesus, you have only one mechanism inside you, and that is called flesh. You think fleshly. You act fleshly. You respond fleshly. However, at the time of your acceptance of God’s love in the person of Jesus, then God’s Holy Spirit comes to live inside you. He is the helper, comforter, guide until you reach heaven. Your old flesh is still in you while you live here, but as you yield to the Holy Spirit in obedience, you will be filled more and more by the Holy Spirit. You are transformed to the image of Jesus Christ day by day. The Holy Spirit and the Bible, the word of God, shows the light to walk in this dark world until you reach the final destination, heaven. This is why Jesus said I will not leave you as orphans.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you I can come to you confidently because you are love. You proved your love by sending your Son, Jesus, for my sins. I am sorry for my sins. I trust Jesus died in my place and rose again. I willingly come and accept your loving call. Please save me and give me eternal life in heaven. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”