A Love That Remains
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrew 12:2-3
What is on your heart today?
If I were sitting across from you at a coffee shop, and we were sipping on a hot cup of tea, that would be my question to you.
As you go about your day, checking off the to-do list, scrolling through social media, chatting with people you love, and praying to God, what is your heart truly saying?
Perhaps you find yourself within the abyss of unanswered questions. There may be blessings around, but your gaze keeps getting fixed on the unnerving possibilities which lie ahead. It may be comparable to the season of fall, wondering what lies ahead as what you thought would occur appears to be changing around you.
You may respond with an upbeat, optimistic answer. Perhaps the season you find yourself walking in is comparable to summer. You are happy to have made it to a place in your life where you see abundant blessings, and your soul feels delighted. You are celebrating this special day (Valentine’s Day) with the one you love.
Or perhaps you find yourself in the midst of a tough season, where despite your best efforts, the tears-stained pillowcase is getting tiresome, and you’re wondering when the pain will simply be lifted so that you can continue about your everyday tasks. You are in the winter season. And this day, which is supposed to bring about a time of joy, tends to be accompanied by pain and sorrow.
However, you would answer that question; there is a promise which accompanies love. It surpasses even circumstances itself, speaking to every heart with a powerful reminder.
Love was poured out for your sake. The need to be reminded of this is evident regardless of your season, and its powerful truth can captivate every heart it encounters.
Jesus took the Cross for you and me.
Please do not let this be a truth that you dismiss quickly because you have heard it all your life. It stands true as much as it did the first time you heard it, and the human heart was made to constantly be refreshed and nourished with the gospel, no matter how long you have been a Christian.
The Bible says that
“For the joy set before him he endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3).
Jesus Christ, a man who walked the earth, knew that you would sin. That you would stumble. Or the places you would go.
And He knew the pain that awaited Him on the Cross that day. He knelt and prayed earnestly, in submission but sure distress (Luke. 22:44). He knew abandonment, hurt, and pain. Yet He endured it for you and for me.
Not even that, but the pain did not take away the joy that was set before Him. That we may come to our Father. Why was this done? Why did He go through this?
So that in this life, you do not ever have to lose heart. We may be struck down, but we are not destroyed. (2 Cor. 4:8-9)
He saw everything we would walk through in this life and declared that it was worth it. The Cross is enough.
And what is our response to this? We are encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
It is true that the reality of sin (anything that is in disobedience to God) is real. But that’s only part of the story; I encourage you not to stay there. We also have the gospel. Both are needed to tell the full story. We need to know what it is we were saved from. The law was needed to show us the depth to which we have fallen so that we may see the height to that Christ has lifted us up.
This Valentine’s Day, may your heart rejoice in the love which paid the ultimate price for your heart. He endured the Cross so that in this life, you may not grow weary and lose heart. Look up, child, for your redemption draws near.
Blessings,
