"For this is how God showed His love towards all mankind,
He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes
in Jesus should not perish, but will have the gift of eternal life."
John 3:16
Today is officially known as Valentine’s Day...
He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes
in Jesus should not perish, but will have the gift of eternal life."
John 3:16
Today is officially known as Valentine’s Day...
I don't know if its celebrated all over the world. But here in the United States it's a time for couples who are in love, to exchange gifts with each other as a way of affirming their mutual affections.
While for most of us, the universal sign of love is a heart. Be it made with one's fingers or drawn on paper, or painted on a sign, the image of a heart says it all.
But with God, I believe His image of love is a cross. And it's a rugged and splintery looking cross that has no natural beauty of itself. Rather its beauty is in what it represents.
The cross that God's Son Jesus was nailed to, while experiencing excruciating pain, was allowed by God the Father. His Son's sinless blood was to be the payment for our sins. Thereby making it possible for those who place their faith in Jesus, to have forgiveness for all our sins - past, present, and future. As well as receive the gift of "eternal life" which allows us to enter into Heaven when we die.
All said, the story of Jesus on the cross at Calvary is a love story. It's not a legend. It's a truth that will exist throughout all eternity. And how each of us views the person of Jesus will ultimately determine one's eternal destiny - Heaven or Hell.
Either we will repent of and acknowledge our sins and place our faith in God's Son, and thus receive forgiveness, or we will reject Jesus and go our way into damnation. The choice is ours to make.
"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8 NLT).
As the Scriptures declare, "God is love" (1 John 4:7-11). In essence, the story of Jesus is a love story. And on this Valentine's Day, it's a good story to know.
D.B.
While for most of us, the universal sign of love is a heart. Be it made with one's fingers or drawn on paper, or painted on a sign, the image of a heart says it all.
But with God, I believe His image of love is a cross. And it's a rugged and splintery looking cross that has no natural beauty of itself. Rather its beauty is in what it represents.
The cross that God's Son Jesus was nailed to, while experiencing excruciating pain, was allowed by God the Father. His Son's sinless blood was to be the payment for our sins. Thereby making it possible for those who place their faith in Jesus, to have forgiveness for all our sins - past, present, and future. As well as receive the gift of "eternal life" which allows us to enter into Heaven when we die.
All said, the story of Jesus on the cross at Calvary is a love story. It's not a legend. It's a truth that will exist throughout all eternity. And how each of us views the person of Jesus will ultimately determine one's eternal destiny - Heaven or Hell.
Either we will repent of and acknowledge our sins and place our faith in God's Son, and thus receive forgiveness, or we will reject Jesus and go our way into damnation. The choice is ours to make.
"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8 NLT).
As the Scriptures declare, "God is love" (1 John 4:7-11). In essence, the story of Jesus is a love story. And on this Valentine's Day, it's a good story to know.
D.B.