“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ” 1 John 4:9-10 NIV
Many things in the world seem to work against people experiencing the real and true love of God. People touched by sex addiction may have a difficult time relating to real love, because lust has often corrupted their lives. Too often lust is equated with love, but a mindset of lust can inspire destructive behaviors such as adultery, incest, molestation and other abuse. Lust can transform a home intended to be a safe haven into a den for destruction and abuse. People who have lived in such environments will have difficulty believing that God loves them. Some may understandably ask, “How could a loving God allow this to happen to me?”
Sometimes there is no satisfactory way to explain why God allowed hurtful things to happen in our lives. The scriptures tell us that people’s sin opened the door to evil in our world, which now causes pain, destruction and death on a recurring basis. Since the first humans brought sin into the world when they rebelled against God, all people inherit a sin nature by default. Additionally, we have an Enemy, Satan, who is bent on destroying us and keeping us from having a relationship with God. In His mercy and grace, God offers forgiveness and healing from the destruction of sin through Jesus. He lovingly invites each of us back to Himself to experience the real love that we desperately need.
If you would like to re-connect with God, please take a moment now and pray to God, asking Him to reveal His love for you as you read the remainder of this page.
God loves us as a perfect father loves his children: Luke 15:11-32 provides a wonderful illustration of the fatherly character of God’s love. The father in the story is generous, forgiving, merciful and joyful with his son, who returns from making major mistakes in life. Even though the son had squandered his entire inheritance on wine, women and entertainment, the father welcomes his repentant son unconditionally. He even gives a feast in his son’s honor to celebrate his return to the family.
God loves each of us in the same way. Though we may have made some bad mistakes in life, God welcomes us back with open and loving arms. When He sees that we are truly sorry for our actions, He does not condemn us. He loves us and heals us, and empowers us to live a new life, free from the old bondage to sin. Some other verses that show the fatherly aspect of God’s love for us are: 1 John 3:1 and Psalm 103:13.
God proved His love for us through Jesus Christ: Consider what God did when He sent Jesus into the world and then allowed him to die a slow and agonizing death on the cross, without intervening to save Him. God knew that the only way people could ever be reconciled to Himself would be through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10:10). His love for us superseded His love for His own Son!
God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).
God has lovingly delayed the final judgment of humanity so that people will have ample opportunity to discover Him and turn from their sin. There will be a final judgment, and only God knows when that will occur. Those who have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus’ on the cross will spend life in eternity with God! Those who reject Christ, will spend eternity in destruction:
“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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18 NKJV
We encourage you to seek God and believe that you will find Him. The Bible says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV). As you consider what Jesus Christ did, ask God to reveal the depth and reality of His love for you.
If you would like to know more about Jesus and how to invite him into your life, please visit our Peace with God page.