“…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” – 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
One of the first Bible verses I learnt as a child is John 3:16, which states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life.” That was reinforced by the Sunday School song, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” That Bible verse served as an invitation to me, while the song, which was an assurance, still resonates with me today. I believed then, and as a result, I became a young Christian believer.
John 3:16 not only tells us of the love God has for us but the extent of that love. What a price our heavenly Father paid just to prove His love for you and me. Jesus, his only Son, was the ultimate sacrifice for all our sins. It doesn’t matter where you were born, who you were born to, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, black or white, eloquent or not; He simply loves us unconditionally. When you believe this, just accept Him into your heart and life, that’s all He asks, and then you are able to replicate such love to your neighbours.
The prophet Jeremiah, in chapter 31, verse 3, states – “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying, Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love…”. An everlasting love is one that will never end. It endures forever. Maybe you’ve heard these words: “You mean nothing to me.” “I don’t love you anymore.” I can’t anymore”. Perhaps you feel unloved, uncared for, neglected, forgotten, heartbroken, or depressed, but just remember that John 3:16 is still relevant today. His love is still available to whoever will believe in Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV) says, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you…” God knows us intimately. He also knows those who are yet to be born, and He loves them. Jesus was the atonement for every human being on the face of this earth, demonstrating His love. Will you believe in Him today so that you will not perish but have a life that continues beyond physical death? I trust God you will.
Read: Isaiah 54:10; 1 John 4:11-12
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 18: 25-36; Matthew 23; Job 33; Job 34
