now and Forever

I was recently flying from Miami into the Carribean Island of the Dominican Republic. Now, I've traveled many places in the world and flying sky-high in that airplane never gets old. I always try to get a window seat because I'm always captivated by seeing how vast, beautiful, and great the world that God created is. Psalm 19 says that, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge [Psalms 19:1‭-‬2]." In other words, the greatness and glory of creation reveals the greatness and glory of God. Creation itself testifies of a majestic, all-powerful, artistic Creator. What we see in creation reveals a bit of who God is. Consider the sun, shining continually in all it's strength just as God commanded. I always ponder, well, if God created the sun, what kind power and Being are we dealing with here? Colossians 1:15-17 speak of how all things were created through Jesus and for Jesus. That includes everything we see on Earth and in the heavenly realms (you can go read it). But back to the airplane ride. As I sat in that huge aircraft, flying through the sky, what came to my mind is the Word "foundation." I tend to be a deep thinker most times, especially while flying. I was thinking about the foundation of the world, all that we see. Then, the foundation of our lives. God spoke to me and was saying, "I chose you before the foundation of this world I made, My son.

"I CHOSE YOU. I have loved you even before all that you see was here: "Just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In LOVE." -Ephesians 1:4-5

God wants you too, to understand that He chose you, and loves you both NOW & FOREVER. Right now, He wants you to understand that His love for you is passionate and strong: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I Am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!" -Zechariah 8:2

God is consumed with passion for His people. But it's also important for you to understand the transcendent, immeasurable and Sacrificial nature of His love. When I say that God loves you now (during your human experience) and forever I mean that His love for you transcends time as we know it..... Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.

Jeremiah 31:3

All we know is time and seasons because that's what God established here on the Earth (Gen 8:22) for people. But what I'm submitting for your consideration is that God's love is much greater than life itself as King David puts it:

Psalm 63- "Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!"

And peep this, even though we have fallen short of God's glory, and sinned in many ways, and made countless mistakes & poor choices, it does not disqualify you from receiving God's perfect Love in Christ. God actually knows the worst things about us, yet loves us the most (repeat that one to yourself). He knows! Yet He still TRULY LOVES YOU (more than anyone else). Christ even backs up His own Word by demonstrating (proving) His love for you! It wasn't just lip service.

"But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8

"Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger. But God's mercy is so abundant, and His love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved!" -Ephesians 2:3‭-‬5

Hallelujah! What an awesome and gracious God...! So, I want to close with this. You think that you're unworthy and dirty. You've done some things. You've said some things. You've seen some things. You feel condemned.  You feel ashamed.  Your doubting if God still loves you. You're confused. You're hurt. You may be feeling many negative feelings but I'm positive that God loves you and will see you through! God will redeem you from every kind of sin and failure! You must know that God's love for you is constant and endless! Catch that! It won't end because God Himself has no beginning or end! Build your life up-ON His power and love. Both NOW & FOREVER.  

You keep every promise you’ve ever made to me! Since your love for me is constant and endless, I ask you, Lord, to finish every good thing that you’ve begun in me! Psalms 138:8

Additional Scripture:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. -1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬7‭, ‬13

"And from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen." Revelation 1:5‭-‬6

"May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ." -2 Thessalonians 3:5

"Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally)." -John 13:1

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! -Jude 1:20‭-‬21