God who loves

God is almighty and all powerful. He rules the entire universe. He causes nations, kingdoms and empires to rise and fall. He moves the sea to cover mountains. And... He loves His people.

What would be your response to that? Happiness? Curiosity?

Why would a being who is ultimately the most powerful there is - care to show love to others? After all, to love another involves being vulnerable. The object of that love could get into troubles, which means the one who loves will essentially be dragged into having to deal with those troubles. Even worse, after showing love to another, that love could be rejected. Is this a fitting attribute in the character of an all powerful being?

Commonly, the natural human mind would say no, it does not fit the description of a powerful being. A powerful human being would often protect their power status by not being vulnerable. But not so with the true God. God loves. Yes He does.

There is only one God. He is one in essence, but He is three in persons. See the other article about Trinity if this bends your mind. But, this here is why God loves. He does not exist alone. Rather, He exists with love in a perfect union of one essence with others in His perfect being. He is not a cold and impersonal God who cares nothing for others. He cares, He loves, He goes through much, all of which display His love.

In fact, to the God who loves, love is not optional. He loves those who are obedient to Him and He draws them close to Him and expects them not just to obey out of servitude, but to also love Him.

We love because he first loved us.

~ 1 John 4:19

Would God love me if I've done very bad things?

Yes, He would. Forgiving is a difficult thing to do. Anyone who's ever been unjustly wronged by another would know this. The bigger the wrong, the harder it is to forgive. When the wrong is super-big, it takes a super-human effort to forgive. The good news is God is stronger than a super-human. He is able to forgive you even if you have done very bad things. However, God is not a push over. He only forgives those who are truly sorry and desperately desire to stop doing bad things. The Bible describes God as the searcher of hearts, He knows the deep intents of human hearts. No one can fool Him. If you've done something very bad, but are truly sorry and seek to follow Him, God will forgive you and yes, love you. You heard that right.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

~ Galatians 6:7

Examples of God's love found in the Bible

When humans were hiding because they disobeyed God and were naked. God provided them with a covering although it meant having to kill one of His wonderful animal that He created.

And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

~ Genesis 3:21
When humans developed into a wicked and evil community who deserved to be completely punished, He saved Noah and his family who were obedient so that they did not perish in the great flood.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

~ Genesis 6:5-8
The people of Israel repeatedly rebelled and disobeyed God, therefore God to repeatedly discipline them, but God always remembers His promise to Abraham and provided help. Again and again, God showed His love through provisions and forgiveness.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

~ Romans 11:26-27
Jesus, God incarnate had compassion on the people following Him around and gave them all food to eat.

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

~ Matthew 15:32
Jesus, God incarnate had compassion on the crowd who were helpless.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

~ Matthew 9:36
Jesus, God incarnate, had compassion on a widow whose only son just died. He raised the son back to life.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

~ Luke 7:13-15
Jesus, God incarnate, had compassion on the crowd. He then healed their sick.

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

~ Matthew 14:14
Jesus, God incarnate wept when a woman's brother died. Jesus raised him back out of the grave in full view of witnesses.

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

~ John 11:32-36

These are just some of many examples. But the most notable one is: God gave the one He loves most, one of the persons in the One Essence God, one who had been together with Him for eternity to be undergo separation from Him. He who was blameless was to bear the punishment for the sins of human beings so that those who put their trust in Him as their saviour would be spared.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

~ John 3:16-17

If God is loving why does He send people to hell? Why not send everyone to heaven?

God is loving, but being the true God that He is, He is also just. Even the smallest sin must be punished. As we have seen above, He settled the matter by taking the punishment upon Himself so that all who accept in Jesus Christ to be their saviour from the punishment of sin will not be punished. Again, God is not mocked, those who accepts Jesus to be their saviour cannot fool God. They must genuinely turn away from sinning.

Conclusion

God is the true God who loves. He is not an impersonal God. He loves and expresses His love towards those who obey and follow Him.

Today we see God's ultimate expression of love in the many lives who turn to be His followers, proclaiming the good news of God's salvation plan for sinners like you and me. Today God has made Himself accessible to talk to and pray to by His people because Christ's has paid the penalty, this also shows how God loves and cares for His people and seeks personal relationship with each one. And the future of His people has been confirmed in heaven. Are you one of them?

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

~ John 14:2