The religious world in general, which claims to be Christian, freely proclaims, “I love God!” It has even been known to put bumper stickers on their cars which read, “Honk if you love Jesus.” They are even known to put up signs which read, “Jesus is Lord.” Do these things really mean anything? Recall the words of Jesus: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Look, in view of Jesus’ words, do you see the bumper stickers and the signs fading away?
Loving God must be produced; it must be based upon what God has done for us! It is not uncommon to hear, “Let me tell you what God had done for me.” Then, we hear, “I got a good job last week,” “My brother, who had cancer, was healed and now he is free from cancer.” Please don’t look at that sinner over there, for he too got a better job, and his brother was healed of cancer; for if you do, there goes “testimonials!” We need to understand that God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). It is not evidence that a person is being favored by God, just because he has better crop, gets a better job, or is healed of cancer! Before you hit the ceiling, just look around, do you see sinners of the worst kind, who are making more money year after year than a faithful child of God? Sure you do! So, when above it was written: “Loving God must be produced; it must be based upon what God has done for us!” It was not these physical things that happen, good or bad, which produced love within the heart for God.
No, love for God is first produced by understanding that he loved me when I was a hopelessly lost sinner! When my eternity was marked hell-bound with no reprieve! I must look at the cross and see love, the love God had/has for me. When I desire to tell you what God has done for me, this is where I will start! Here is undisputable evidence of God’s love and if this does not produce love in my heart for him; please tell me what will? While on the subject, it is not wearing a cross around your neck, it is not having those so-called paintings of Jesus in your house; no, it is the cross planted deep in the heart/mind; evidenced by keeping his commandments that proves my love for God. Oh yes, I know God loves me, for the Bible tells me so!
Here is what God has done for me. He has forgiven me of my past sins; those sins that separated me from him. I remember the day “my sins were washed away!” As the preacher said: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). I remember as Paul wrote: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). I remember arising from the watery grave of baptism wet with water, but cleaned by the blood of Jesus. So, you want to tell me what God has done for you; don’t tell me about the better job you got; just read from the inspired page. Yes, I love God because he forgave me of my past sins “for the Bible tells me so!”
Here is what God has done for me. He has, as a child of his, given me a way to be forgiven of the sins I commit from time to time. As John wrote: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Yes, John was writing to children of God; so even though I commit sins from day to day, God has still given me away to be forgiven. So don’t tell me about being healed of cancer, as I would rather be healed of my sins! I know it is true, “for the Bible tells me so!”
Do you find it hard to love God? Just look up, see the cross and the sinless one hanging upon it and love God! Then, don’t tell me of your love, show me!
— Frank R. Williams