“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: …” John 15:9
Have your years gotten sweeter? Is your life one of joy, contentment and peace? Are you living in the light of eternity knowing your sins are forgiven and you’re on your way to Heaven?
Jesus sought me. Jesus sought you. Yes, He did. He came to earth as man but was still the Son of God, Who died for us. Luke 19:10 proves that He sought us! “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Remember the lost sheep? Jesus went out, leaving the 99 sheep, and brought back this one lost. Mercy as we know means being treated better then we deserve.
Of Jesus’ love that sought me, when I was lost in sin;
Of wondrous grace that brought me back to His fold again;
Of heights and depths of mercy, far deeper than the sea,
And higher than the heavens, my theme shall ever be.
Years ago, my husband was offered a trip of a lifetime and that was to go to Israel. To think that some of the places he went were places that Jesus had walked over 2,000 years ago is just incredible. Jesus, powerful, forgiving, saving and loving that He has reached across the years to save us all!
When Peter said this in II Peter 3:9, I believe by “any” he meant from the time of creation ’til the time the world ends, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” His love spans all ages. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
He trod in old Judea life’s pathway long ago;
The people thronged about Him, His saving grace to know;
He healed the brokenhearted, and caused the blind to see;
And still His great heart yearneth in love for even me.
Have you ever read the account of Jesus’ trial and death? The Gospels are amazing because they each tell the life of Jesus but from a different perspective. They stripped Him and put a robe on Him and a crown of thorns on His head. They spit and smote Him and mocked Him. They then nailed Him to a cross to die. It was a horrible death but why did He go?
His love compelled Him, too. He bore our sins on the cross but He gave us eternal life when He arose the third day. Life eternal becomes ours when we call on His name. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” ( Ephesians 1:7)
’Twas wondrous love which led Him for us to suffer loss,
To bear without a murmur the anguish of the cross;
With saints redeemed in glory, let us our voices raise,
Till Heav’n and earth re-echo with our Redeemer’s praise.
What does this mean for us? It means that each year we are saved; each day we are making our way towards heaven; each day we suffer a trial or a bump in the road we can say “sweeter as the years go by.” He saved us! He redeemed us! Those years after our salvation just get sweeter and sweeter!