Thursday, April 3, 2014
Ephesians 3:18b … how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
GOD'S LOVE REACHES FAR ENOUGH!
We don't know his name, but he was one of the two crucified with Jesus. A malefactor, a thief, a miscreant, a sinner, he rightly confessed he was getting what he deserved. Could God's love, would God's love, reach out to a man like that?
The distance between the sinner and God is so far, much farther, really, than the farthest star. Nothing in all the universe could ever bridge the gap. Not all the gold or silver. Not all the civic or charitable deeds ever done. Not the deepest feelings of remorse or regret could ever bring the sinner close to God. Nothing could, that is, but God Himself.
But can God's love reach far enough for you? Far enough for me? God's arm was long enough to grab hold of the thief-sinner that day on Calvary. It was a true miracle! The Spirit worked through the words our dear Lord spoke as he hung on the cursed tree. Through those grace-filled words God reached for the man's soul and caught it. In pleading faith the lawbreaker spoke, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." With certain promise the Savior replied: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
God's love can reach as far as it takes to save the sinner. Nor is any man, woman, or child beyond the reach of God's love, for Christ died for all. No matter your sin, no matter my past, no matter our present, God's forgiving love can reach, and has reached, far enough. Just look at Jesus on the cross and you'll see how true that is.
Oh, the height of Jesus' love!
