For Love’s Sake

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Religion is infused into every culture. Every society wrestles with the same questions. Why am I here? How did I get here? And what is the right thing to do while I’m here? Everyone has faith in something, whether it’s a process, a deity, a scientific theory, relationships or themselves. There is a God-shaped hole in the hearts of humanity that is looking for purpose and significance. 

John 3:16, the central idea of Christianity, fills that hole. Every other religion on earth is centered on people earning their way to God. Christianity is about God reaching people. It’s about a God who provided a way back to him before we ever knew we needed a way back to him. He didn’t wait for us to get our act together; he died for us in advance—while we were still sinners. (Rom. 5:8)

Other religions offer systems of things you must do, sometimes called laws or pillars, to earn your way to heaven. But heaven is not something to be earned. It is God’s glorious dwelling place. Because of his great love, Jesus stepped out of heaven, leaving behind the worship of angels, and came to die for us so that we could know him personally and intimately. Christianity is not about rules. It’s about relationship. 

But Jesus didn’t just die. He loved us enough to conquer death. No other religion can boast an empty tomb. We’re the only people whose leader died and came back to life. And he did it for love’s sake. This is how God loved the world. To experience this love for yourself, you don’t need a list of do’s and don’ts. You don’t need to earn your way to heaven. You simply need to believe. Everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Everyone has faith in something. Put your faith in Jesus Christ. In him you will find your true purpose and significance.