Bible Meditations Archive

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Today is the first day of the year and we have been enjoying the season best we can. We all know that this is the season for giving, celebrating and rejoicing. But what have we been celebrating? What has been the motive behind the acts? What has precipitated so many to engage in such a frenzy of activities designed to bring forth the year-long expected experience of living through yet one more Christmas Season?

To the business world it is obviously the financial catch of the year. It is the one monumental event that hopefully will bring in the revenue needed or desired to end the year successfully. Much effort and strategy is enforced throughout the year to assure themselves that they will indeed have a real "winner". The talisman is usually something that the consumer might not need at all, but will nonetheless buy. Something so desirable that it will cause instant amnesia. The consumer will temporarily forget about his already overcharged credit cards and incoming new bills and emotionally purchase this perfect item that in turn will bring him happiness and fulfillment. So he thinks.

To the consumer it is the season of great expectations. This one will be the best yet, and he will derive a happy reward for all his efforts. At such prospect he will not evade the tiring, stressful struggle set in front of him to get the perfect gift for each person in his list. With his reward in mind, he will endure the long lines at the stores, higher prices, congested traffic and rude drivers. All this to experience the gladness and joy that he hopes his gift will produce in the heart of the receiver, and his own heart.

How little we know about the human condition, how ignorant we are about the complexity of the human soul! Happiness, joy, contentment and peace are yet to be sold at the counter. This is only to be found deep, deep inside of ourselves.

Nothing wrong with giving. To the contrary, I believe it is natural to want to give as a result of loving. When you love there is nothing we wish to deprived our beloved of. Kindness, caring, compassion, sympathy, understanding and patience are some of the characteristics of love. They should spontaneously appear in us when we love somebody. Of course, this all depends on the individual state of our hearts. We will certainly be unable to deliver what which we do not possess ourselves.

To freely offer these qualities to others they must part of us; rooted deep down in our hearts, ready to surface at the right time: the time of need. Need surrounds all of us.

The world's leading business tycoons, people with the power and know-how to revolutionize the market fail at delivering what the human soul and heart really needs and desires. If this was not so, we would never hear of the misery of the rich and the many calamities that befall them. Overindulgence of all kinds does not seem to deliver what they crave and need. Money, power, prestige and like often lead to drugs, alcohol, and corruption of all types. Many times, extreme privilege leads to total self-destruction.

Man’s most urgent need after basic physical survival is LOVE. Without it we weaken and wilt. Love is needed for emotional and spiritual survival and growth. Love is also the nutritional supplement indispensable for physical health. It has been scientifically proven babies do poorly without frequent doses of motherly TLC.

With good reason, we should do our best to remember how fortunate we are indeed. This unconditional love man desperately needs not only exists, but is readily available to all of us. We can actually obtain it free of charge. Only one thing is needed: that we should believe. Believe that our Heavenly Father, Our Creator and the maker of everything our eyes can possibly see and imagine provides this indispensable nutrient the same way the new mother's breast provides milk for her new born infant: spontaneously.

For He did not shrink at the thought of parting with His most precious possession, JESUS. He did not faint at the vision of the horrors that would befall His Only Begotten Son at Calvary. He did not faint at having to turn his face from the agony of Whom he loved most. Full of Mercy but Willing to be Merciless, He abandoned His Son. Looking away from his greatest love, He let his son die without even the comfort of His presence. Jesus, the Perfect Lamb of God, paid the bill in full. And He fully wishes for all mankind to take advantage of this, the greatest gift ever offered: Eternal life in His marvelous, loving and divine presence. Yet, because He gave us free will at creation, it is up to us to accept or refuse.

How foolish does man have to be to bypass such an offer?