God's love for elephants

i fully understand that this is a blog about elephants. they play a good-sized role in my life. but thankfully, i have a God who plays a much bigger role. i would like to share my thoughts about several attributes of God that wrap up into one broad attribute- love. it really doesn't have anything to do with God's love for elephants (the title).. but rather God's love for mankind.

a few weeks ago, my parents and i were talking with a fellow believer when he brought up an interesting concept: the limits of God's love. he went on to say he had heard of people who believe that God loves everyone. however, he felt that God couldn't love everybody, that it was hard to believe that God could love a reprobate sinner, and that He only loves a regenerate man. oh, and because God's love wasn't mentioned in Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon. yeah.

well.. i was in complete shock. Bible verses began to flood my mind as I realized how wrong he was. how can a Christian man deny that God loves everyone? i had never heard that viewpoint before. my feelings remain the same. shocked! and i'd like to share why he has got God all wrong.

the verse that everyone learns when they are a small child is enough to refute his point. John 3:16 "For God so loved the WORLD"... the Bible says "the world" to envelope every living creature on the planet. yes, he even loves the animals and plants. but His love in this particular verse is designated for all the humans of the world. the word "love" in the Greek is "agape" which means impartial, unconditional. so God loves the whole world regardless of who we are or what we have done "...that whosoever believeth in Him..." the word "whoever" also shows that this love does not show partiality. Anyone who believes can have eternal life.

impartiality is something that humans can hardly understand. this is probably one of the main reasons for the viewpoint that God's love doesn't extend to everyone. the problem is, we cannot fully understand God's love. Frederick Lehman actually realized that point when he wrote "the love of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell... how measureless and strong. It shall forevermore endure." you see, God's love is unconditional. it doesn't change, because He doesn't change. try as we might, our love doesn't come close to the vastness of God's love. think about a marriage relationship. that seems like such a perfect picture of love! however.. how many marriages fall apart because of cheating, or money, or simply giving up? even if none of that happens to your marriage, death will still bring you apart from the one you love.

now, consider the relationship between God and man. no matter how many times we are unfaithful, forget to share our money with Him, or completely ignore Him, His love for us doesn't change. what a rebuke. even death can't separate us from His unending love. but most importantly, our actions cannot buy or change His love. He doesn't pick and choose who He loves, because we all were the same from the very beginning: sinners! which leads me to my next point.

this man claimed that God could only love ones who have already cleaned up their lives. he mentioned "why would men turn to God if He loved them in their sin?" that statement makes me think he has forgotten where he came from. we were all sinners at one point, yet God has sought us out and saved us from that sin. consider the parable of the lost sheep. such a familiar story! the shepherd was concerned for that one sheep that was lost. the sheep wasn't searching for his savior. in fact, he was caught up in a big mess. the shepherd saved him and cared for him even after his little sheep had gone astray. my point is, that it has nothing to do with our actions. God's love remains strong even if we fail Him. and to the opposite side, all our efforts to be the "best Christian" doesn't earn God's love for us. in fact, all of our good deeds are considered as filthy rags. it's not by our own works that we're saved. it's God's love and mercy that chose to save us. so to answer that question: why would I turn to God in my sin? it's because He loved me so much to search for me and pick me up and turn me around. it's not my own actions that will ever be good enough... which brings me to my final point. :)

throughout the Bible it states time and time again that God loves everyone, whether it be through His actions, His exact words, or through logical thinking: (God is unchanging, God is love, God's love is unchanging... etc.) the Bible is the best source for refuting false viewpoints, but another weapon is personal experience! in my short time on earth, i've tried to lead a life that is pleasing to God. even though i attend church, read the Bible, don't do this and that.. i still fail God several times daily. and if this man was truthful, he would realize the same thing. we all come short of the glory and goodness of God. but no one falls short of His love. it's evidenced in my life. i see my sins and failures, but i also see God's love present too! chris tomlin writes, "You see the depths of my heart, and You love me the same! You are amazing, God!" God sees the most inner corners of my heart. even the ugly, unlovable parts, that no one else knows about! but He comes along, as a shepherd with His sheep, and brings me back to Him. that is true love. a love that we cannot comprehend.

so we should stop trying to put God's love in a box, just because we cannot understand it. His thoughts are much higher than our thoughts! His love is much deeper than our love.

as i close out for tonight, i want to bring up a familiar scene in the Bible. Jesus, a sinless man being crucified on the cross hangs next to a thief, who probably deserved this horrible form of punishment. the thief had no more time left on earth to do good deeds, please men, dress nicely, or go to church, yet the offer of love and salvation was still given to him by Jesus... just another piece of proof in the Bible that God's love is offered to all.