We all know that most beloved verse in the scripture, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” But we also know that, if it was that simple, we wouldn’t need the rest of the Bible. The poignancy of what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say to Nebuchadnezzar is finally not just what we say to a skeptic, or to a person in pain, or to ourselves, but what the members of the Trinity say to one another. When Jesus goes to the fire, when Jesus faces the flames of hell for us, when Jesus hangs on the cross, what does he say to the Father? Is it so different from the words of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? “If you will to deliver me from the cross, O Father, then take this cup away from me. But even if not, be it known to you, O Father, that my love for you will hang on forever, and that those who somehow find that they have lost you can hang onto me.” Isn’t that what makes Jesus’ final words so wondrous? Jesus loves us so much that he goes to the cross even if there’s no certainty of
resurrection. Jesus isn’t just keeping his side of the bargain. Jesus is loving even if not. That’s the definition of love.
We’ve come face to face with God. We’ve come to the foot of the cross, the heart of Jesus. We’ve come to the definition of love. It lies in those four little words: “But even if not.”
Those words are the heart of God. Make them the heart of your life. Make them the heart of your faith. Make them the heart of your love. Make them the whole of your vocation. In them you will find God. But even if not, in them, God will find you.
” Sam Wells, But Even If Not (via invisibleforeigner)(via itsawong)
