Gospel

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD By Henry Jaegers

by Henry Jaegers
12/08/19
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THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

By Henry Jaegers

"For God so loved the world" (John 3:16 part one)

It is Sunday morning, December 8 2019 at 5 AM. I have been awake since 3 AM meditating on these six marvelous words and I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to share these thoughts with you.

What is there about this verse that is so compelling that "God so loved the world"? It is the message of infinite, absolute, and almost undescribable love. Although it is that, yet I am going to share with you a little that I understand contained in these few words.

Consider first: Who is this God?

First, he is invisible but that does not mean he is nonexistent, indifferent, or unavailable. Although he can be seen only with the eyes of faith, in his infinite love he has given us evidence that we can behold and understand about His love.

Consider the love He is shown to us in His creating of the world. The first five days he put together a world in perfect sequence and harmony, each having a specific purpose for its being. After five days when the creation was complete, God said, "it is good". But God was not finished, for on the sixth day, he put together his crowning work; that is, the creation of man and on the sixth day he declared "it is very good".

But once again, we see God's love further unfolding as he created man and entrusted him with a free- will. He gave him a simple commandment in order for him to know right from wrong. Consider how great God has displayed his love in creating this man.

But God foreknew about the possibility that man someday might make the wrong choice and destroy himself. But God in his infinite love provide a way for man's restoration and the time that he might fall.

As the story unfolds, we see man did make the wrong choice and the guilt that occurred caused him to hide himself and make a temporary covering for his guilt. But God in his love, though man thought he was hidden, displayed that he was not hidden from the heart of God. As God walked in the garden, he cried out these tender words: "Adam, where art thou”? God knew where he was and God, in his infinitr love, took the first step in order to restore this fallen child. We must never forget, that no matter how hard we may fall, God always has restoration in mind. Think of these words found in Jeremiah chapter 29:10, "l know the thoughts that I think of you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to bring you to an expected end”.

Recently, I was studying in the book of Esther and noticed in this book, there is no temple, no law of God mentions, no sacrifices, no priests and most of all, the name of God is not mentioned once in this book. But although his name is not mentioned, as we see throughout the narrative that unfolds, God, although not mentioned is seen working behind the scenes. Enabling, providing, and protecting his people and seeing them through to a perfect end when during this time in history, the Jewish nation was destined for total annihilation, and although God is not mentioned once in the book, there is no doubt that he was working and bringing his people to an expected victory.

but God's love is not restricted only to those who love him.

Consider next how much God loves us.

 We see it in these words "so, loved". There is no human way to measure the love of God because our human minds cannot fully comprehend its depth. God is not like man. He does not need a reason to love us. Simply put, he loves us because he is infinite love. He loves us because he loves us and that's all we need to know. He does not have to have a reason to love us and we do not need to be able to understand it all. In the book of Malachi, God expresses his love to Israel and says "I have loved you saith the Lord". But I understand those words have a fuller meaning in their Hebrew context. It means, I have loved you, I am loving you, and I will never stop loving you. That's what it means

How may we measure this great love of God or explain it?. I recall the words of one man who tried to do so. We do not know the name of this man who wrote these words, but they were words that were inscribed on the wall of an insane asylum by a man believe to be demented. Think of these words that were found.

"Could we, with ink, the ocean fill,

and were the skies of parchment made;

were every stalk on earth a quill;

and every man a scribe by trade.

To write the love of God above,

 would drain the ocean dry;

nor could the scroll

contain the whole though

stretched from sky to sky”.

Think about it this way. Take all the oceans of the earth and make them one great ink-well. Then take every cornstalk, or any stalk resembling it, and make a writing pen out of it, then take every man who ever lived and make him a professional writer. Suppose all of that could happen? The words continue:

“To write the love of God above

 would drain the ocean dry,

nor, could the scroll contain the whole,

though stretched from sky to sky.

There, it is an attempt by one man who tried to explain in human words the love of God that he understood. I heard another man say it this way, "it's better felt, than telt".

But most of all we see these last words "the world". God, so loved, the world". The world that God is talking about is not the environment or the animals. It's talking about every man who has ever been born into this world whether they love God or didn't love him whether he was known by them or unknown, God's love still extends to all.

Is this not indeed the greatest story ever told?; Have you understood this love; embraced it and claimed it as your own. The knowledge of the love of God is the greatest knowledge that a man could ever have. Will you embrace that love today as your own?.