Passion For The Love Of God!

Passion for the Love of God!

Revelation 1:1-6; Jeremiah 1:1-10

Michael H. Koplitz

I’m sure most of you have heard of the old adage that two things are guaranteed in this life. I’m sure that if I asked around the sanctuary this morning, each of you would tell me what those two things are. The old adage says two things are guaranteed in life and they are: death and taxes. However, as a good Christian, you know that this adage is incomplete even before I tell you.

There are actually three things that are guaranteed in this life. The one that I haven’t mentioned yet is the most important one there is. Do you know what I’m talking about? Can you tell me what that third item is that is guaranteed for you during your life?

Well, to state it simply and succinctly: it is that God loves you.

In the opening prayer of the book of Revelation, we are told that God loves us so much that He sent His son Jesus to die for us on the cross. That it is through Jesus’ blood that we are washed clean of our sins and made right again with God. To put it simply and plainly, God loves us. God loves us just as we are.

There are three constants in this universe, and that is: that God loves us, and unfortunately, there is death and taxes. This opening prayer from the book of Revelation makes it so clear that God proved His love for us by sending His Son to die for us so that we could be washed clean from our sins by his blood. God created the one and only way to bring us back into communion with him.

Jeremiah was told, and we are told today through his prophecy, that God knew us before we were even conceived in our mother’s womb. God knew us and loved us before we were even born. Before we were conceived, God knew us, and God loved us. When a baby is born, it is not the miracle of the birth but rather the miracle that God has created another soul to love, and that is the true miracle. You and I, as human beings, are given the power by God to create the flesh. Nevertheless, it is God who creates the soul. So whenever you get to hold a newborn baby think about the fact that God has created another soul and that God loves this new soul even though the new soul doesn’t know God.

Even when we didn’t know God, God still loved us and cared for us, and wanted us to always be in communion with Him. Even when we are sinners, God still loves us and wants us to be with Him. God would like us all to stop sinning, and God knows that none of us are perfect, but God’s love is so strong that he sent Jesus our Christ to take our place when we sin.

Let’s take a left turn, shall we?

If I asked you to identify or to name a passion of mine, you probably would not have much trouble doing it. You probably would not have to come over to the parsonage to figure out what it is. If you’re not sure what my passion is, you have to ask Sandy or one of my children. Yes, I have a passion for computerized gadgets. If it has buttons, takes batteries, or is plugged in the wall, if it is a gadget, I will find it fascinating to look at and play with it.

We all have passions. We all have passions for different things. But I developed one passion over the last 10 years, which is stronger than even my computer and gadgets passion. I developed a passion when I discovered and created a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It came into being when I learned that God loved me even though I turned my back and walked away from God. That God was willing to accept me and love me even though for a time I really didn’t love him.

I found out that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for me. I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ personally, and I developed a passion for Jesus. My passion for Christ is so strong that when my Lord and Savior came to me and said, " Leave your computer job and go out and preach the Gospel, " Jesus told me that he would get me trained in how to do this, I said, “yes.” Without any hesitation, without any question in my mind, I said, “yes, Lord.”

I hope that you can see and hear and feel my passion for Christ in the ministries that we do together for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let me tell you it is a wonderful passion to have.