God Loves me Anyway

People are born with a sense of right and wrong, good and bad.  Even people who have never heard God's name sense His law within them: "There is something deep within [humanity] that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong" (Rom 2:15 MSG).  "When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them" (Romans 2:14-15 NKJV). What is this magnetic pole that pulls the needles of the compass of your conscience if not God?  Unbelievers do not have to be told that ISIS beheadings, pushing people from building tops and stoning them, burning people alive, killing everyone who doesn't believe with them, or raping young women and forcing marriages is wrong.  But, why not?  If this impression of God isn't within us then they would be just as apt to believe that is the right way.

Have you ever wondered how an atheist can cry out against an injustice?  What is right or wrong to an atheist?  In our society today it is evident that there is a deliberate effort to change society's sense of right and wrong.  Does this mean that people don't know it or that they want to live by their own rules?  Just like Eve, the Godless man wants to be his own authority.  This is not new.

When the Hebrews had been "saved" from Egypt, removed from hundreds of years of slavery - generation upon generation knowing nothing but slavery - and watching miracle upon miracle from the hand of God, the minute they were left alone they started idolatry.  Water turned to blood, the sun turned to red, the first born dying wherever the blood of the lamb wasn't, a pillar of fire, the Red Sea parted, manna every morning, and quail every evening, but still turning to idolatry!

God says in Exodus 32 to Moses, "I have been watching these people; and you can see how stiffnecked they are".  Aaron says to Moses, "You know what these people are like, that they are determined to do evil."  And so our society exists today with its innumerable idols and deliberate determination to do evil. Yet, "God so loved the world".  God is and God loves.

God has never messed up.  Every decision, exact.  Each word, appropriate.  Not even tempted to make a mistake: "God is impervious to evil" (James 1:13 MSG).  Is God's greatness good news?  Yes, because He loved the world!  The One who formed you is for you.  "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).