Beyond Belief to Love

Isn't it beyond belief that God would condescend to our needs? He had, and has, every right to demand holiness. He had given the law, the priests, the leadership, the sacrifices, etc. Humanity had all it needed to understand and maintain the unique relationship with God. But sin changes lives. The law became god. The priests became political. The leadership became lazy. The sacrifices became scheduled more than spiritual. God had no logical reason to come to us. He had created. He had fed and clothed them. He had protected them. He had fought for them. He had forgiven them. He had warned them.

Why should God do more? It is beyond belief…to love.

I love the book, Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.

Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening. "Guess how much I love you," he said. "Oh, I don't think I could guess that," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "This much," said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go. Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. "But I love you this much," he said. Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you as high as I can reach," said Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you as high as I can reach," said Big Nutbrown Hare. That is very high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that.

Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet. "I love you all the way to my toe!" he said. "And I love you all that way up to your toes," said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head. "I love you as high as I can hop!" laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down. "But I love you as high as I can hop," smiled Big Nutbrown Hare- and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above. That's good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that.

"I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you across the river and over the hills," said Big Nutbrown Hare. That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think anymore. Then he looked beyond the thornbushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be farther than the sky. "I love you right up to the moon," he said, and closed his eyes. "Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "That is very, very far." Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to the moon- and back."

We can’t account for love. It is hard for us to understand, right? We write people off. We have irreconcilable differences. We denounce. We divorce. We destroy. We abandon. We hate. We leave. God loves.

At just the right moment, God stepped in with love. A love that says…

It doesn’t matter where you have been because my love is greater. It doesn’t matter what you have done because my love can forgive you. Not to believe the lies you’ve been told because this love is forever.

This is beyond belief, right? Isn’t He way up there? Aren’t we left to natural law and physics? Though God may be silent He is not absent. Though you may not have answers God still does.

The Jews had gotten it just the way they wanted. They had it all figured out. But they were not happy and God knew it. At just the right moment, God stepped in with love. It all began with a man by the name of John. This is not the John who wrote this book, he comes later. No, it began with John the Baptizer. He was loud and raucous. The Pharisees even came all the way out of there security of the temple to examine what was happening. He preached a message of repentance and expectation. He was preparing the way for the light.

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,*7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1.6-9

This light is Jesus. He leads us out of our dark places. He leads us beyond our dark memories, our dark side. For those who believe and accept him, he gave the right to become children of God!

What? How can he do that? Who gave him the right? This is unbelievable! There’s the problem. Somehow in the back of our minds we have this judge and jury that examines the claims of people. If it seems unbelievable, then it must be. After all, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually isn’t. Right?

So the writer, John, is telling us that Jesus is the son of God. He is the light for our darkness. He is the promise for our problem. He is the strength for our weariness. He is the wisdom for our ignorance. He is the light. John is telling us, right up front, that He was sent by God to give away the family jewels.

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

John 1.12-13

For those who believe him and accept him, they receive the right to be children of God.

How fantastic? God’s design for the family is that it would be child-centered, not child-controlled. God, through Jesus, is offering us the opportunity to be at the center of His attention, His love, His home.

Do you realize what this means? By believing the claims of Jesus and accepting his activity on the cross as sufficient for you, then everything can be different…better.

That horrible home life can be exchanged for a home with God.

That difficult upbringing can be exchanged for the loving leadership of God.

The beating, the abuse can be traded in for a new home, new life, a new moment.

That is beyond belief! That is love!