I have a question for you, does your phone love you? Do the little words and pictures on the screen provide you with a sense of belonging? Do you find significance and purpose for your life on Instagram and Facebook? Are your Instagram followers going to be there when your life does not look like it has been put through a photo filter?
In this series of articles, I have wanted to remind us of some eternal truths in the middle of our uncertain and chaotic world. The first article reminded us about God’s good nature and sovereignty, while the second article reminded us that because of the fallen nature of man we cannot look to earthly solutions for lasting peace and joy. In this article, I want to remind you that Jesus loves you, so that when our Facebook and Instagram lives fall apart, we will know where we can turn.
Perhaps you are at the point where you feel worthless. You recognize that through your failures, sin, and lack of effort you have not lived up to your potential in the eyes of the world or God. Your life does not match the image that other people put out there, or perhaps you feel worthless because you know all to well that you are a sinner. Well, I have some great news for you!! Jesus came to save people just like you. He talks specifically to you saying, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), and "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). When Jesus tells us that God loves the world (John 3:16), He is not talking about people who have it all together, but rather to His enemies (Romans 5:7-10).
Maybe though Jesus’ love is hard to experience right now just because this year has been hard. Perhaps you are simply depressed because you do not have hope that the pandemic will ever end or that we can really have peace in our world. Maybe you are sick or in grief because you have lost someone. How does Jesus’ love help in the middle of trouble that you did not cause and that you cannot fix? How can sickness, death, and war even be reconciled with the love of Jesus? Well, the Bible tells us that Jesus’ goal for us is not primarily to make us healthy, wealthy, and safe in this life, but rather to transform us into the type of people who can handle adversity by learning to truth Him in all circumstances. In fact, James 1:2-4 and Romans 5:3-5 make it clear that He brings trouble specifically to help us form character. Like a bodybuilder using heavy weights to build muscle, God uses trials to help us build better character. He says, that all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), so we can see trouble as an opportunity to trust Jesus more.
Jesus’ love is so solid that we can have hope that no matter what happens in this world, we can find real love and purpose. As the apostle Paul says at the end of Ephesian 3, nothing can separate us from the love of God. He knows you without the screen, without the filters, without the makeup, and without hitting the like button. He loves you right where you are. Will you come to Him just as you are and let Him love you in the good and bad? Will you let His love be the grounding of your life? Jesus loves you this I know, for the Bible tells me so!!
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