Body
'OH, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!' No, I certainly don't mean it as a cursing, angry, or impatient response to some irritating behavior of another. Rather, I mean it as a longing desire to know more of God's love for a sinner like me! Sadly, many people reject both God and the fact that part of His very nature is love. Many reject the Bible, as well as even the existence of God, asking, 'How could a loving God send anyone to hell?' Or they might phrase it, 'How could a loving God allow all the suffering in the world?' While these are legitimate concerns, let's look at this from a biblical mindset. The Apostle John clearly stated, 'God is love' (1 John 4:8,16). Therefore, everything God does, He does from a spirit of agape love. Does that include when 'He destroyed all living things' as stated in Genesis 7:23? That doesn't seem very loving. Well, what actually happened? Genesis 6:5 says, 'Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' The sin nature within mankind led everyone to rebel against God - except for Noah and his family. Even the very intentions of their hearts, before actually sinning outwardly, were evil. How did God respond to such blatant rebellion? He loved them. Therefore, God made Noah 'a preacher of righteousness' (2 Peter 2:5) and gave everyone 100 years to hear the truth, repent, and become true worshippers of Jehovah God. Despite such love and grace, not one person repented or turned from their paganness and put their faith in the promised Messiah (Jesus). IOW, their death was on them, not God. The Bible's best known verse is John 3:16, '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.' God offers forgiveness and eternal life through the death of His own Son. Now that's love! Oh, for the love of God!