Did God’s Love of the World Cause Him Agonizing Pain?
It was the summer of 1997 when the call came at work that my son had been in a bad wreck and the ambulance was in route to the hospital. The dispatcher couldn’t tell me anything except that the car had rolled over many times and was totaled. They couldn’t tell me if Ron was ok; but, they said the ETA of the ambulance was about 20 minutes. After all, it was a rural area. As I quickly said a prayer for Ron, I called my supervisor to find someone to take over my patients and I made my way to the ER to wait. When he arrived, he was ok; except for a compression fracture of the thoracic spine. He was in so much pain that his body trembled, he was very pale and covered in a cold sweat. I urged him to let them give him something for pain; but, he refused. He said, “I deserve the pain—my fault, I took the curve too fast.” He had only been driving for a few weeks and had misjudged the curve on a dirt road. My heart bled for him. If I could take the pain from him, I would have gladly. If I could just bear the burden of his guilt, I would have. That was only one example; yet, I could tell you many more. I would gladly carry every pain, every heart break, and every burden for any one of my children; if only I could.
So, imagine this. If I, with this human heart that fails sometimes can love my children with so much love; how much more does God love His only begotten, perfectly righteous son? [bctt tweet=”What agony must God have felt as He watched His son be rejected, beaten, and hung on the cross.”] What depth of sorrow must have been His to watch Him suffer!! He could say, “Enough” at any second and hurl all of mankind into eternal hell where these selfish hearts deserve to go. Yet, He held His hand and turned away in silence as His son took on the sins of the whole world along with all their guilt. He did it out of love for this His creation—a creation who turned their back on Him. A bunch who chose to worship self instead of Him who had made them.
Yes, He knew that He would raise Jesus from the dead and Jesus would be seated on the throne beside Him; but, that does not minimize the pain and agony. I knew Ron would be ok; but, my heart bled for his pain that day of the accident and every heart ache he ever suffered. The same is true for each of my children, whenever, they face pain or heartache.
THE ONLY WAY TO GOD IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST
There are those who want to say that there are many roads to God and many ways that a man might be saved. Yet, if that were true; why, would God have sent Jesus. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed; “if there be any other way. Take this cup from me.” Listen to these words as He faced the final days and the cross. “And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:35). Were there any other means of Salvation, God would have intervened for His own Son right then and there.
THE CONDEMNING SIN OF UNBELIEF
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light” (John 3 NIV).
GOD’S AGONIZING LOVE FOR YOU
[bctt tweet=”Jesus wept when Mary, Martha & the disciples did not realize that He had all that they needed.”] He wept over Jerusalem. God gave His most precious son to pay the penalty for your sin. What agonizing pain must He feel when you refuse this gift of salvation? How many times have I caused Him to weep by not realizing that He is all I need?
Jesus said, “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14). Would you come to Him today? Do you know, He is your greatest Treasure. He is your joy, your hope, and your life. In Christ you have everything you need to live life abundantly, vibrantly alive.
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Listen to this The Agony of God’s Heart
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, today’s featured portrait of “Mountaintop Experiences in the Valley” and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below. If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you. Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait? An idea for a book cover? Or a new logo? Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.