God's Great Desire

Chuckle: "Why do drugstores make the sick walk to the back of the store for prescriptions, while healthy people buy cigarettes up front?"

Good Quote: “Love is not getting, but giving, not a wild dream of pleasure, and madness of desire— ... it is goodness, and honor, and peace and pure living.” --Henry van Dyke

GOD'S GREAT DESIRE:

"God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).

Some believe that God has elected and predestined certain people to be saved from their sins and inherit eternal life with Him, and that others not so chosen have no chance at salvation. However, here are some passages that prove, with certainty, that God's love and grace is universal and his salvation is available to every human being.

"For God so loved the world (every person) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever (anyone) believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).
"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone (anyone) who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:12-13 NIV).
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations (all people), baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).

If God's gift of salvation were not available to all, why would Jesus send us out to make disciples of all people? Why would Jesus say that "God so loved the world?" Why would the Bible say that God's great desire is for all people to come to repentance?"

One other problem is that some view the depths of their sin as just too great for them to deserve God's love, grace, and forgiveness. If you have ever felt this way, or know someone who does, just remember: "All (everyone) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 NIV). "For the wages (what we have earned) of sin is death (eternity in Hell separated from God), but the gift of God is eternal life in (through faith in) Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NIV). "God demonstrated his own love for us in this? While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NIV). "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9 NIV).

"For it is by (God's) grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).

God's great desire is that all people come to him in repentance and receive his gift of salvation. It doesn't matter whether we see ourselves as "good" or "bad" people, we are all equally covered by God's grace and equally in need of His forgiveness. We as Christians can rejoice that the work of salvation was performed by an infinitely powerful, loving, and merciful God. There will never be a deficiency in his work. Our salvation is as sure as the architect of that salvation, Almighty God Himself. Another of God's desires is that every Christian live every day in a close, loving, joyful, and serving relationship with Him.

Love, Jerry & Dotse