IS JESUS RELEVANT TODAY ?
PART 4
What Did Jesus Say About Us?
Made for a Relationship with God.
If you were to read through the New Testament, Jesus continually spoke of our immense value to God, telling us that God created us to be His children.
Irish U2 rock star, Bono, remarked in an interview, "It is a mind-blowing concept that the God Who created the universe, might be looking for company, a real relationship with people. "
In other words, before the universe was created , God planned to adopt us into His family. Not only that, but He has planned an incredible inheritance that is ours for the taking. Like the Father's heart in Jesus' story, God wants to lavish on us an inheritance of unimaginable blessing and royal privilege. In His eyes we are special.
Freedom To Choose
In the movie, Stepford Wives, weak, lying, greedy and murderous men have engineered submissive, obedient robots to replace their liberated wives, who they considered threats. Although the men supposedly love their wives, they replaced them with toys in order to force their obedience.
God could have made us like that, - robotic people. (People) hardwired to love and obey Him, programming love into us like a screensaver. But then our compulsory love would be meaningless.
God wanted us to love Him freely. In real relationships we want someone to love us for who we are not out of compulsion. We would prefer a soul-mate over a mail-order bride.
Soren Kierkegaard summarized the dilemma in this story: Suppose there was a king who loved a humble maiden. The king was like no other king. Every statesman trembled before his power .... and yet this mighty king was melted by his love for a humble maiden. How could he declare his love for her ? In an odd sort of way his kingliness tied his hands. If he brought her to the palace and crowned her head with jewels ... she would surely not resist - no one dared resist him. But would she love him? She would say she loved him of course. but would she truly?
You see the problem. Less poetically put. How do you break up with an all-knowing boyfriend?
Irish U2 rock star, Bono, remarked in an interview, "It is a mind-blowing concept that the God Who created the universe, might be looking for company, a real relationship with people. "
In other words, before the universe was created , God planned to adopt us into His family. Not only that, but He has planned an incredible inheritance that is ours for the taking. Like the Father's heart in Jesus' story, God wants to lavish on us an inheritance of unimaginable blessing and royal privilege. In His eyes we are special.
Freedom To Choose
In the movie, Stepford Wives, weak, lying, greedy and murderous men have engineered submissive, obedient robots to replace their liberated wives, who they considered threats. Although the men supposedly love their wives, they replaced them with toys in order to force their obedience.
God could have made us like that, - robotic people. (People) hardwired to love and obey Him, programming love into us like a screensaver. But then our compulsory love would be meaningless.
God wanted us to love Him freely. In real relationships we want someone to love us for who we are not out of compulsion. We would prefer a soul-mate over a mail-order bride.
Soren Kierkegaard summarized the dilemma in this story: Suppose there was a king who loved a humble maiden. The king was like no other king. Every statesman trembled before his power .... and yet this mighty king was melted by his love for a humble maiden. How could he declare his love for her ? In an odd sort of way his kingliness tied his hands. If he brought her to the palace and crowned her head with jewels ... she would surely not resist - no one dared resist him. But would she love him? She would say she loved him of course. but would she truly?
("It is just not working out between us, but of course you already knew that.")
But to make freely exchanged love possible, God created human beings with a unique capacity - free will.
next post 5th July
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