Possibly the best known verse in the New Testament is John 3:16. It is quoted often, but even many non-Christians would be able to repeat the book, chapter and verse, based on the placard seen at many, popular sporting events. Beginning in 1977, Rollen Stewart would don a multi-colored, afro wig and would hold up a sign with “John 3:16” written on it, always in a strategically-located position that made every sports fan envious. Stewart was known by fans as either “Rainbow Man” or “Rock-n-Rollen,” and after becoming a born-again Christian, the publicity stunts were his way of getting the word out about God. Sadly, while Stewart got the word out, he didn’t get the Word in. He carried out a string of stink-bomb attacks on Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Crystal Cathedral and others to demonstrate that in God’s eyes, the recipients of the attacks offered less than sweet-smelling aromas to God. Currently, Stewart is serving three consecutive life sentences for attempted kidnapping, with the whole incident surrounding the charges being completely bizarre. While Stewart found his own unique ministry, he seemed to lose sight of how to please God.
How can we please God? Isn’t that what intimacy is all about? True intimacy exists when we care more about pleasing our spouse than ourselves. At the same time, if our spouse cares in the same selfless manner for us, that relationship thrives. God has given us the truest example of that intimacy in how He loves each of us, knowing that our love for Him always will lack in comparison. While God’s love is constant, our love vacillates. Once again, that is based on our own, ever-changing behaviors. Additionally, God’s love for us involves only the best for us, though our love for Him is sadly lacking in its focus.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
God sent His Son to die for each of us, for He loved “the world.” While some people have difficulty understanding how God could love each of us without regard to our own works or behaviors, our first step is in grasping that He created each of us. Is it possible to hate the works of your own hand? He wasn’t surprised by our sinfulness, our destructive nature or our propensity to ignore Him. Instead, God continues to reveal Himself to us by loving us. Whether or not we choose to acknowledge that love is a decision each of us must make. That is the only decision of merit in our lives! Once we make the decision to follow God, the next decision is how to please Him.
Pleasing God may seem impossible to the mortal man, yet God has simplified that process for each of us as believers. He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. A perfect God is deeply offended by sin, but when we sin, God does not call us out as losers, failures or heathens. Instead, the Holy Spirit softly reminds us of our sin, and as we grow closer to the Lord, we seem to listen to Him better. God doesn’t expect us to follow perfectly, but through the Holy Spirit, we learn how to follow Him better. Though our sin earns death as a penalty (Romans 6:23), He took the penalty for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). In the Bible, God has given us His instructions on how to live in a pleasing manner. Additionally, His Son came to live in a manner that glorified the Father as an example to us all. We also please Him through Bible study, prayer and fellowship with others.
Never forget that you are a unique creation of the Most High God. He made you in His image, which doesn’t mean that you have His nose or smile. Instead, it means that He made you to know Him. Without that knowledge, you will not be complete. He has a plan for your life, and His plan involves you and Him together. If your day doesn’t begin with Him, end with Him and include Him all throughout, the intimacy that God desires in your relationship is missing. Don’t worry. He is patient and is waiting for you to draw nearer to Him today!
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:8-10
We all get lost occasionally, just as “Rainbow Man” lost sight of God’s plan in his own life while attempting to point others in God’s direction. But God never loses sight of us! In fact, He sees us from the inside out!
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:15-18
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