The Love of God

Imagine a young man. Let's say he is 22 years old. He lives in the poorest region of India, or maybe Cambodia. He's got a horrible disease that causes him extreme pain, all of the time. He is too poor to receive any medical attention, and he is in such a remote location that there would be little chance to get any even if he could afford it. To make matters so much worse, this man has never been exposed to the name of Jesus Christ.

How well would this man respond to someone coming to him saying, "Hey, man, I just wanted you to know... God loves you"? I wonder what kind of reaction he would give. Whatever it was, I imagine disbelief would accompany it. This illustration demonstrates a principle that I think not many will receive.

The love of God cannot be experienced apart from the cross of Christ.

You will have no way of convincing that poor, sick man that is in extreme pain, that God loves him - unless you first explain the cross of Christ. And frankly, the cross of Christ will not make any sense to him either, until you explain the unholiness of man. And even then, the unholiness of man will mean little until you explain the holiness and righteousness of God.

So, where do you begin to show the love of God to that man laying in agony? By talking about the holiness of God! Doesn't make sense at first, but without that, the message gets lost somewhere.

Just a thought...