Photo Courtesy: Alicia Quan on Unsplash
Since the beginning of time, men have the tendency to be distracted which in effect cause them to turn their backs on God. The reason could be because of their unbelief and fickle-mindedness. But despite of this, from history we can find the proof of God’s stubborn love towards mankind. You may ask, ‘But why did God allow this to happen when He may have created us perfect, without weaknesses?’ Well, God never makes mistakes. God created us all for His glory. Just imagine living in a world with people acting like machines, having no free will. That is not what He wants. God finds pleasure in knowing His creation made the choice to submit to Him and obey His will.
In the time of Adam & Eve, their innocence was lost (Genesis 3:6-7) as they failed to follow the instructions of God (Genesis 2:15-17), destroying their relationship with Him (Genesis 3:22-24). They could have died immediately as a result of their disobedience, but it was never part of His plan. Instead, salvation was provided (Genesis 3:15) so that man can redeem themselves.
The result of the fall made Adam and Eve acquired the knowledge of good and evil – or the conscience, and this knowledge was transmitted to their race. And their responsibility is to do good and not evil. But their conscience was defiled (Genesis 6:5-7, 11) leading them further away from Him. Even when they continued with their wicked ways, God didn’t want to consume them right away. So He called Noah, whom He found favor (Genesis 6:8) as he is righteous (Genesis 6:9). He ordered him to build an ark, an ark that whoever will board will be saved (Genesis 7:4, Hebrews 11:7). But when it is about time, none responded to the call except Noah, so he and his family were the only ones saved from the great flood (Genesis 7:1).
The question is ‘Was this experience enough reason for Noah and his generation to stay faithful in the sight of God?’ The answer is No! Noah still sinned which even caused his son Ham to commit sin as well (Genesis 9:21-22) and it continued until his descendant. They disobeyed God and continued to challenge His power and authority like in the story of the tower of Babel.
These being said are already enough reasons to give up on loving mankind. But God refused to, He never faltered in His determination to win His people back, but instead He thought of ways for His children to stay and remain in His presence. He tried a promise — a promise which He had given to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7, 13:14-17). But still it was insufficient, His children couldn’t trust it, with their unbelief, they left His side, and followed their own will. Then out in Egypt, they suffered because of their disobedience. And the Lord once again heard His people’ desperate cry for help, so He called Moses to deliver them from bondage. But instead of being shown appreciation for all the great things He has done, what He had received were complains and murmurings (Psalm 106).
Substantial reasons had been filed up, enough to choose to stop, but He couldn’t, because of His stubborn love. His desire is really to have a real fellowship with them, a genuine connection, as a result of His children making a decision to choose Him to rule over their lives. He already designed a plan, something that needs to be executed so everyone can be restored back to their original state as He had created them in the image and likeness of Him. And so He continued. To reach His goal, first, He needs to fix them. He wouldn’t tolerate sin because He is a holy God (1 Peter 1:16), but it is His will for His children to come to repentance and be saved.
A perfect sacrifice had to be offered to cleanse them of their iniquities, but none of them is qualified as none of them is righteous (Romans 3:10), so then, He gave His only begotten son (John 3:16), Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The perfect sacrificial Lamb, the Savior He had promised, who was betrayed, cursed, beaten, crucified, and had experienced death on the cross, in order for this generation, through His grace, can be saved.
And so history had shown the stubbornness of mankind, from generation to generation, they continue with their wicked ways. And up to this present, the life that was sacrificed on the cross, held no value as we continue to pursue the call of our flesh. But despite of it, He continues to call for us. He is even willing to sweep away our sins, and forget it, so that we can return to His side (Isaiah 44:22). And that while we were yet sinners, He is ready to die for us (Romans 5:8). That even death should be our punishment (Romans 6:23), He wouldn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9), instead He wanted us all to have a gift of eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Though we harden our hearts and commit sins, He will continue to call for repentance (2 Peter 3:9). That our ignorance doesn’t matter, because He will extend His hand through someone who will introduce Him to us (Matthew 28:16-20). And even how many times we leave His side, His Spirit, that He had given us (John 14:26), to teach us, to comfort us, and to guide us, will remain to speak to us to woo us back to Him. This is God’s stubborn love — a love which He refuses to give up. He’s determined to keep going. He’s not willing to change His mind despite the good reasons to do so; from dispensation to dispensation, He is willing to forgive, if only we ask, and He will give us an opportunity of redemption by choosing Him, just like how He chose us (John 15:16).
So let us not waste this opportunity and be reminded instead, that despite His stubborn love, His judgment will also come. Just as it came to Adam and Eve, as they were expelled from Eden (Genesis 3:17-19, 22-24). Just how the flood came and consumed mankind who continued to do evil in His sight (Genesis 7:11-12, 23). Just how He confounded the tongue in the generation of Noah (Genesis 11:7), and How He let His children be enslaved in Egypt (Exodus 1:7-14, 2:23-25), and after His deliverance, He let them wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 32:13). And in this period, JESUS will come again and the faithful will be caught up together in the clouds to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Judgment came before and very soon, it will come to us. The choice is ours to make. Do we choose eternal damnation in the lake of fire or choose eternal life in the presence of God? So choose wisely and CHOOSE JESUS NOW!
