NEVER ENDING LOVE

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLT

            We are assured of salvation once we are redeemed.  The result of salvation is to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.  John Calvin¹ believed and preached that God hand picks those who would be in heaven with Him and those who would go to hell before time began. There is another school of thought which says that we are not predestined, but rather the plan of God to save mankind is what is predestined from the beginning of time.  In the end God will sort it all out, but for now we can ‘hang our hat on’², as it were, the fact that there is nothing known to man that can pry us away from God’s love.  We can turn our back on Him, but He will continue to love us anyway. 

            There is a major disconnect between Christians and the world.  Being imperfect we can’t seem to project the proper image of Christ to the masses.  Those who are skeptical look for any reason to disregard the Bible and Christianity, seeing it as a crutch or set of restrictive rules they must follow.  Knowing we are loved without condition can be a starting point to mend the disconnect.  If we took seriously our becoming more like Christ in each thought, word and deed, then like Christ, we would have a charismatic pull like some sort of magnetic field, that would draw others to us.  This would not be for our own gain at all, but for the glory of God.  Any good thing others see in us should be attributed to God, for if left to our own devices we would crash and burn every time. 

            Bask in the glow of your freedom as a child of God, but do not mistake freedom for the right to do anything you please.  Stick close to the Lord and follow His prescribed plan for living and you will do great things for His kingdom.  Always remember, God loves you with a never ending, unconditional and eternal love that can never be quenched. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹Born: Jehan Cauvin, July 10, 1509, Noyon, Picardy, France; Died: May 27, 1564, Geneva, Switzerland; Occupation: Pastor, author, theologian; Notable work(s): Institutes of the Christian Religion.

         “John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism, aspects of which include the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation. In these areas Calvin was influenced by the Augustinian tradition. Various Congregational, Reformed and Presbyterian churches, which look to Calvin as the chief expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world.

                  According to John Calvin, predestination is God’s unchangeable decree from before the creation of the world that he would freely save some people (the elect), foreordaining them to eternal life, while the others (the reprobate) would be “barred from access to” salvation and sentenced to “eternal death (180, 184).” Calvin was careful to distinguish the predestination of individuals from the corporate election of nations such as Israel (185). He argued that an explanation of predestination is only complete when it includes the election of individuals (187).“ [www.wikipedia.com]

                  In response I would only point to 2 Peter chapter 3 and more specifically verse 9.  If God wishes no one to perish, then why would He predestine some chosen by Him alone to be damned to hell for all time?

² To depend on OR believe in something.