◄ What Love ? ►

AMAZING LOVE! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Christ’s Love

In Revelation chapter 3 we read 'indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9

God and Man

Eternal God became incarnate Man, and the Man Christ Jesus has two comings. His first advent was His birth – a refugee, born in a simple, cold cattle stall. His second appearance is His return as KING of King and LORDS of Lords. At His first arrival, He was a homeless stranger. He had no place to call His own. Next time every knee will bow before Him and He will govern the whole earth.

First and Second Coming

At His first dawning, He was despised, rejected, hated of men - a Man of sorrows. At His second, He will be high and lifted up - His glory will fill the Temple of God. At His first appearance, He glorified God on earth, in full submission to God’s will. At His second, He will be glorified in the heavens and all people will be judged by Him. At the first, He came as a suffering servant.. learning obedience through suffering. At His second, He will rule with a rod of iron until Christ is all and in all. This is my Saviour, and this is my God – This is your Saviour and this is your God too.

Earth and Heaven

Mortal man has been redeemed and made to sit with Christ in heavenly places. Why oh arrogant man, why oh foolish woman do we expect any better treatment? Who am I and who are you to that we should not walk the same path as He trod?  This earth is not our home – we are passing through until our second coming. We were born into this world, dead in trespasses and sins – cast out from God.

Family of God

But then, we were born of the Spirit, from above, becoming part of the family of God.  And so as believers we walk in the self-same steps as our Saviour and King. As the heavenly seed of Christ, we follow our Master – reflecting Him.

Stark Contrast

Our first sojourn is in a world of sin – outcasts from society - scorned and despised. At our second, we will come with Him in the clouds of glory – His beloved bride! Our first stay is in an evil world system and we mustn’t become embroiled in its lusts, but the next time we have power over the nations – we will rule and reign with Him! At our first appearance, we’re hated. We are not of this world, just as Christ was not. At our second, we will sit on His throne and they will worship Him, before our feet! At our first dawning, we are to be despised, rejected, hated of men – men of sorrow. At our second, we are to be high and lifted up, for we are pillars in God’s temple!!

Suffering and Joy

On earth, we glorify God by obediently submitting to His will – no matter what. At our second, we will glorify Him in heaven as we sit with Him on His throne. And, as we sit together with Him on His throne we will judge men and angels!  Here we have tribulation and suffering for we too must learn obedience through suffering. Then we will rule with Him with a rod of iron until Christ is all and in all.

He has Overcome

He did this for you and He did this for me. We should think about this in our complainings and doubts. How dare we whine of our loss; our little problems; our petty desires. Should we not count all things loss for the excellence of knowing Him?  Should we not accept that in this life we will have many troubles and sorrow?  But He has overcome this world, for love of you for love of me.

Fellowship of Suffering

Should we not similarly be prepared to be overcomers and not lie down in despair?  Should we not love the fellowship of His sufferings for this brief span? Knowing that He walked this self-same path of suffering – only for love of us - so that with Him we may spend an eternity in the fellowship of our Beloved?

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be,
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still, the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile heaven.
I know the life His wounds impart;
I know the Saviour in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

AMAZING LOVE! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, should die for me?