There is something that many people in our society today have picked up "If it feels good, do it!" We live in an age when self-love, self-pleasure, self-seeking and self-promotion is the order of the day. Many of our problems in society can point back to the love of self. There's a big problem with that mentality. Every time we've chosen loving ourselves vs. God's sovereignty, it's not ended well. We can look at God's love language from the first command He gave Adam and Eve, and see the two choices God still gives us: " 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'” (Genesis 2). The two choices have not changed since then: "Love me, obey my commands, or serve yourself and choose death." Some have called this tyrannical. The true Tyranny would be if God gave no choice. God is the creator, the owner, the "landlord" of all of creation. He could have been as every Landlord is today: pay the rent, live according to the contract, or get out," but instead, He gave a choice "love and serve me, or choose your own way and perish." What is more, His kindness didn't stop there: He let them live on longer than He was entitled to! Instead of wiping them out instantly and starting over, He made a sacrifice for them (He made them clothes of animal skins, covering their sin by a sacrifice He made), and would ultimately provide His own son to atone for the sins of many! God didn't destroy us, as was His right. Instead, He chose to give us a way out through His Son, the ultimate Sacrifice in Jesus Christ. Yet, Jesus echoes His Father's commands: If you love me, you will keep my commandments. The ultimate act of showing love to Jesus is in obedience. Our feelings lead us astray, but following Jesus, even when it doesn't make sense shows our love for Him. He knows better than we do. Our mistakes and choices apart from Christ lead to our destruction, but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
John 14:1-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Footnotes:
a. John 14:1 Or You believe in God
b. John 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you
c. John 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know
d. John 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also
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