I’m an atheist, but I believe every word of this poem. This is the most profound thing ever said. This is my religion. This is what life is. The core axiom on which everything depends. I hope I can live up to this ideal. This is what the highest value is. Love is the basis for value and meaning.
And where does this love originate from? Obviously we know that this selfless self-giving love is not something that takes its origin from us.. This selfless love is founded on God's love. He is *patient* and *kind* to us in spite of us sinning against Him. In spite of the fact that we chose to live in rebellion to Him and His ways. (Psalms 103:8-14; Romans 5:6-11; Ephesians 2:4-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19) He is *humble* of heart and near to the ones who are broken hearted. (Matthew 11:29) He *does not act unbecomingly* . When Jesus came on this earth, He *did not insist on His own rights* and privilege but emptied Himself even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8) God loves you and wants you to remain in a loving relationship with Him forever. He is the source of all life, joy, goodness, peace, hope. But we have all sinned. We have said things we shouldn't have said, thought things that shouldn't have been thought. We were jealous, angry, impatient, covetous. In that process, we have hurted God, our fellow beings and ourselves. Sin separates us from God who is the source of life. And God is absolutely just and righteous. He must punish sin. And the just penalty of sin is death. But God, because of His mercy on us sent His only Son to pay the penalty of our sins on our behalf.. Jesus Christ came on this earth as a man. He lived the perfect life we never could live and died on the cross for our behalf and rose up on the 3rd day. God has said that- All who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16-17, 36) We have fellowship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3) When God has loved you so much and has opened a way to experience and enjoy that love truly through His Son Jesus Christ, what is your response to this?
