The subject noun in this verse is 'Theos' and the object of the verb 'love' is the cosmos. The inhabitants of the cosmos are the objects of the love of Theos. The actions of Theos is always within the sphere of what is most needful for us. Although we may not be aware of our most fundamental need(s). Theos is aware of our most fundamental need. In a manner that stands outside of the milieu of our perception he loves us. A very close reading of this verse reveals a very powerful and radical reality. The love of Theos embraces the totality of humanity.
The love of God is not invasive. It meets the need of our deepest soul wounds, and who does not have soul wounds? God's love does invade our defenses and excuses, and it transforms our greatest bewilderment. He stands in the midst of our troubles, and invites us to bring to him our shattered hearts. Of course, this may sound strange to western ears but it is nevertheless true.
Bernie Siegel, M.D. wrote:
"The truth is: love heals."A year ago I read in a marvelous book called the 'Geometry of Meaning' that the universe is ultimately a construct of love. No one knows what happens before the cosmic dance of sub-atomic takes place, but we do know that something or more appropriately someone is behind the events that create mass/energy. Theos is the power behind the space/time milieu that we experience.
An even greater reality that the space/time milieu that we experience is the presence of love. We may say that love is Tao, and that is true. But the love spoken of in this passage is a one of a kind love. It is a completely foreign species. It cannot be duplicated. There is nothing that can come close to it. It is infinite beyond all adjectival descriptors. God's love is a super-algorithm that knows with infinite awareness what we lack.
Our need for this type of love is filled with curative power. Our search for meaning stops here in the love of Theos as revealed through the Iesous. Please notice that the verse does not state that we loved Theos, and he returned the intolerable compliment. God loved us when we are in active opposition to his radical display of love.
The fractal patterns that are observed in 'nature' bespeak incredible design to the most minute level. Fractal designs are evidence of the creative power of God. God's creative gift to humankind is the Iesous. He is God's love gift to us. That which separated us from God, others, and ourselves is the estrangement of sin. Sin is deeper than genetics it is ontological discontent of the human being. Sin has been defined as 'want of conformity to the revealed character of God'.
Sin creates separation within the human soul. It manifests itself in actions that are highly destructive. Behind the facade of polite social intercourse lies the reality of incorrigible selfishness. The love of God knows the truth of our condition. The love gift of God is not sentimental. It is intrinsically necessary to our condition. It is acceptance of God's love-gift of Iesous that releases us from spiritual darkness.
This gift is still available today. It is through the death of the Iesous on the Roman gibbet for our innate and forensic condition that we may receive the gift of eternal life. Blessings to you.
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