The love of God is great and extensive in such a way that both the wicked and the righteous, in their troubles of perplexities and sickness, are being blessed and care for by the living God, even with the sunshine and rain which come upon all men (Matthew 5:45).
Love is defined in 1Corinthians 13:4-7 as follows: love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, hopes all things endures all things.”
Since creation God has determined to give what is good to mankind. In Genesis 1:27-31 He gave man dominance over all things created in the world, and just after the fall of man He gave dominance to Noah in Genesis 9:1-3. Our living God is always concerned about mankind. David, in psalm 8:4, inquired of God’s glory and man’s dominion when he said, “What is man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man that you visit him”
God’s expression of love for humanity is spoken in Christ Jesus. In return, His highest expectation demands that man should accept His love and surrender to Himself in Christ Jesus. The writer of the book of Romans said in chapter 2:4, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance?”
Indeed “the lord is not slack (slow) concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, nut all should perish, but all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God wants to save us, giving us life eternal in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 3:36).
In Matthew 18:1-14 the disciples wanted to know “who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in the midst of them, and set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Children are fit for the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13,14), because they are innocent. When children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, the disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
The prophet Ezekiel made mention of the sinless state children, that they do not inherit sin (Ezekiel 18:4). “Behold, all souls are mine, the soul of the father, as well as the soul of the son is mine; the soul who sins shall die.” Christian are in a pure state until they are mature. “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “Be ye holy, as it is written, I am holy” (1Peter 1:16). God could desire to adopt only children for His kingdom, but He did not do that. Rather, he wants the sinner to repent and be saved (Luke 24:47).
In Matthew 3:8, 9 John the Baptist declared, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that god is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Listen again to Jesus in John 10:10, where He says, “Thee thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.”
Conclusion: My dear reader, embrace the love of God, which cause the death of His only begotten Son, that whoever believes and is baptized shall be save (Mark 16:16). Those who are being saved through obedience to the Gospel are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47) …By Samuel Osei Young.
