God Died

He who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

(Zechariah 2:8)

 

God is love.

Scripture says it so often

so we can't miss it.

 

It is of love,

 

as well as

holiness,

and justice,

 

that He emptied himself

of inexplicable splendor,

took the form of a man,

common dust of earth,

and endured hunger,

and thirst, and pain.

 

And death.

 

It is why He let us spit at Him,

punch His face,

slice His back

into bloody shreds,

hammer spikes

through His hands and feet.

 

Love let us do that.

Love for you. And me.

Our families and neighbors.

Friends and strangers.

 

God died as he died

to take on Himself

the penalty of our sins

so His love,

 

as well as His

holiness,

and justice

 

could declare us

blameless,

guiltless,

spotless in His sight,

that we could be with Him

forever.

 

But sin . . .

 

To do what we want,

when we want,

for as long as we want,

because we want it –

 

Sin turns us away from Him

who loves us

more than His own life.

 

Yet worse:

our sins influence others,

encourage others,

persuade others

beloved by Him

more than His own life

to rebuff His love.

 

Oh! How great must be

God’s sorrow over sin.

 

No wonder He pours His wrath

against sin,

and against those who persist in sin,

for sin –

and those who love it –

 rob God

of His most special delight:

To hold each of His beloved –

you and me,

our families and neighbors,

friends and strangers –

to hold each of us

close in His arms

forever.

 

God is love.

And holy. And just.

 

And zealously protective

of His beloved.

 

 It is reckless

and dangerous

to spurn His love;

 

And to our peril

 we cause others –

each for whom God died –  

to do the same.