Tag Archives: God’s Love
What is Love?
Leave a reply
I like using the YouVersion app for reading the Bible. One feature is a daily verse. Today’s verse reads:
Hebrews 13:16 “And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” (NET)
The book of Hebrews was my father’s favorite book of the Bible. He would read it every day. Because he had MS that became more of a challenge as the disease progressed. MS made it hard for him to be a father to me. I had my own challenge as a hearing-impaired child. So my mother became like a single-parent, caring for us kids, but also caring for her husband. Continue reading
Love Me, Obey Me
John 14:21 “The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.” (NET)
Mars?
The planet Mars is in the news fairly often. NASA, if not some private enterprise such as SpaceX, or a host of other countries, apparently will someday get back to the Moon and/or go to Mars. It seems strange that my generation, in its youth, reached the moon and planted the American flag. That was almost 50 years ago. Since then, no one has gone beyond orbiting the Earth. You can blame it on politics or lack of vision, but it’s awfully slow going. We have the technology, but not the will. At the rate it’s going, I won’t be around to see people from Earth getting to Mars! I’ll have to watch it from Heaven.
Yes, I’m curious about Mars. Most likely it has been a dead planet, void of life ever since it was created by God. But, it’s part of His creation and that makes it a wonderful piece of real estate for whatever reasons. Permanent bases, resorts, hotels anyone? The science fiction triology about Mars by author Kim Stanley Robinson covers the possibilities. For the most part, Mars becomes a second Earth, copying all the issues and problems of Earth. The triology is a visionary piece of fiction about a future Mars we colonize and terraform. So much for science fiction and one man’s viewpoint.
A popular acronym made from the letters in the word BIBLE is “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”. Of course, that acronym only works in English. It has some meaning for English speaking Bible believers, but the acronym is, in of itself, only a happy happenstance of the English language.
However, what if we take that in another way of “leaving”? Bible believers would tell you they’re going to Heaven. But, if you’re talking science fiction, or in our case, actual possible future science, what about leaving Earth for Mars (let alone the Moon and a whole bunch of other places in our Solar System)? What does God have to say about that? Nothing. But then, God says nothing about all of our technology. Technology is a two-edged sword. It is what we do with it that matters. It can be used for good or bad. As long as it’s used for good, technology can be fruitful, Kingdom work.
God says believers go to Heaven after they die. But I ask, before they die, they can move to Mars, right? I’m assuming that Rapture, which is when Jesus returns to gather up His believers, will work the same from Mars as from Earth. Also, if Deafness is not cured by then, there will also be a Deaf Church of Mars and Deaf people worshipping God among all the other churches. So, how wide, how long, how high and how deep is God’s love? (Ephesians 3:18) As big as His entire Creation, the Universe!
Understanding God’s Love
Ephesians 3:18 “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;” (KJV)
This verse shows the amazing scope of God’s love. We will look at God’s creation and His creativity. What a wonderful world He made! He helps us to understand His Love.
How High? Mount Everest in Asia rises to 29,029 feet above sea level. Geologists may argue about an island mountain in Hawaii, Mauna Kea, that starts below sea level and rises above sea level as being “taller” than Mount Everest. For most of us, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. I doubt if I will ever get to Mount Everest. I have been on top of some of the Smoky Mountains. I even climbed a part of one with my husband and my brother to the top. Whew. When you get to the top of the mountain, it is so beautiful! You can see forever. Makes you feel how much God loves you to be there.
How Deep? Mariana Trench, Challenger Deep, at 36,070 feet below sea level is in the Western Pacific Ocean, East of the Philippines. Whew! Again, I will never get there. But I have been to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is so big, and it goes to the horizon! When you walk into the ocean, and jump the waves, it feels so wonderful with the water washing over you. You begin to understand how truly deep God’s love is for you.
How Long? Florida has the longest coastline in continental United States at 1350 miles. Alaska is the longest at 6640 miles. I think most everyone has taken a long road trip! Some of you drove to Key West. A beautiful drive along the keys. John and I saw different parts of the country. Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and of course, Florida! We have also flown to California, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. We live in an awesome country. We also visited foreign countries such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Grand Cayman Island, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Malta, Corsica, France, Monaco, and Tunis, Africa. We are thankful we saw these places, and each place is beautiful. God made it all and it was good. Going on long trips. Why? To see family and friends you have not seen for awhile. When you see them again, it’s like you continue where you left off. It is so wonderful to spend time together with family and friends. This gives us a feel of God’s love and how much He does love us. But so much more.
How Wide? There isn’t anything that is “broader” or the “widest.” But, going East or West is different. If you go East, you are always going East. If you get back to where you started, you are still going East. But, if you turn around 180 degrees, you are facing West and can go West. If you go North or South, you do have boundaries in the North pole and South pole. You can go far enough North to go South without turning around. But East and West have no boundaries. In either direction you can go forever without end.
It is not possible to measure God’s love. We can’t climb above it. We can’t dive below it. We can’t drive beyond it. We can’t go anywhere beyond God’s love. There is no end. All we have to do is look at the cross. God shows how much He loves each one of us by dying on the cross for us. Jesus stretched out his arms wide on the cross, and showed us how much He loves us. Jesus died on the cross for you. Amen.
The Rose Garden Blog 