Does God Love Me?

Does God Love Me?
Let God show you just how much He loves you.We ask, “How do I know God loves me?” Calvary is the proof. How can anyone doubt God’s love when he comes face to face with the message of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb? Sometimes we get the message of Calvary confused with human suffering. We are aware that death on a cross was a disgraceful death reserved for traitors, murderers and scoundrels of every kind. We often talk of the suffering from the nails pounded into Jesus’ hands and feet. But many people have suffered and died on crosses. History even tells us that some of the earlier followers of Christ were crucified upside down. Many people today are dying horrible deaths as well. So what makes the cross of Christ different? The difference is that on the cross Christ bore the penalty of your sin and mine. Many have suffered, but none have suffered the way Christ suffered. All the lying, cheating, immorality, slander and outright rebellion against God – He paid the price for all of it, for all time. Our sin was so great, that God the Father turned his back as the Savior cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me!” (Mk. 15:34 NKJV). While His physical life was slipping from Him, Jesus could have just whispered, “Come and help Me,” and thousands of angels would have wiped that mob from the face of the earth (Mt. 26:53). But our blessed Savior suffered and died because He loved us. Because of Christ’s atonement on Calvary’s cross for us, we can be sure of this: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). If we accept His sacrifice on our behalf, our sins are never to be remembered again. The essence of Calvary and that first Easter morning are all wrapped up in these most well-known words of Jesus: “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” (Jn. 3:16). These words tell us of the greatness of God’s love, and the emphasis is on that little two-letter word “so.” God loves us so much! We ask, “How high is God’s love?” The Bible tells us that because of Christ’s great sacrifice on the cross, the love of God reaches from the depths where you and I are found, into the very presence of God. God’s love reaches down and lifts us to the heavenlies. It’s that high! We ask, “How deep is God’s love?” It is very symbolic that the cross had its base planted deep in the earth. That represents the love of God which reaches right down to where man is, deep in his degradation and sin. The love of God is deep enough to reach down and lift us up. No matter how far we have sunk, the love of God goes deeper! We ask, “How wide is God’s love?” He hung on the cross, His arms opened wide. This too is symbolic because the Bible reminds us that whoever will, may come (Rev. 22:17). The great Master Builder of all time, through His atoning sacrifice at Calvary, rescued us from sin and death. The love of God is as wide as our human need – wide enough to embrace all who come! The Savior put His arms around this sin-cursed world and said, “I Love you so much!” Won’t you admit you are a sinner, accept God’s forgiveness, and let Him show you just how much He loves you? By Martin Girard