Part of what it means to be made in God’s image is being hard-wired to love.
Human love is in some senses deep and universal; and yet, as much as I may wish to exalt the love I feel for those closest to me, it is often fickle, fragile, and selfish. When those I love hurt or disrespect me—or even inconvenience me—my love for them becomes tempered with resentment and disdain.
How easy it is to love others when they love me according to my every whim! Even the worst human beings can feel love for those that “love” them by catering to their wishes.
But Jesus is different! Even while we were still enemies, Christ died for us.
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Jesus is infinitely more disrespected by the smallest idolatries of my heart than I could ever be, and yet He does not stop loving me. He sees the full depth of my shame and depravity, and yet he never stops loving me.
His death has turned away all wrath: there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. No matter how much I may stray, He never disdains me or resents my existence; on the contrary, His love is perfect and casts out fear and judgment.
How amazing to be loved with everlasting love! Even when the best of human loves fail, His love never wavers:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
That is why heaven eternally rings with this chorus:
“The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever!”
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness!”