A Blurry Picture of God's Love

  In 2018, Brad Lewis and his 8 year old son Oscar were playing with a Nerf gun on the balcony of their friend’s home in Sydney, Australia. Oscar fired the nerf gun at his dad and watched as some of the darts went bouncing over the edge of the balcony, dropping around 15 feet onto the concrete below. The young boy ran to the balcony railing and began leaning over the edge to see where the darts had landed. As his weight shifted forward, his feet began to leave the ground and he began to tumble over the edge. Brad saw his son begin to lose his balance and instantly ran over to him, trying to grab his waist or legs, but it was too late. His son’s momentum was pulling them both over the railing. 

  Brad was no stranger to risky situations. He had been in the military and had advanced in the ranks to become an officer. His training had prepared him to act quickly and decisively without considering the possible consequences to his own body. After leaving the army, Brad didn’t settle for an easy or comfortable job but instead began working with a deep sea construction company as a diver, placing his life on the line each time went down into the cold ocean waters. 

  All of his life and training prepared him for this moment where his son was teetering on the edge of a fall which would have resulted in serious injury or worse. He realized that the forces of momentum were too strong to keep them both on the balcony. Brad wrapped his arms around his son’s body as they both fell over the edge. In the split second before impact, he maneuvered himself to a position where he was underneath his son and closer to the ground, arms wrapped around him tightly to shield his head from the impact of the concrete. 

  They both hit the concrete hard and Brad felt a snap in his neck. Blood began to pool under his head as his friends came running around the corner of the house to see what happened. In this moment of uncertainty Brad was only concerned for his youngest son, asking if he was okay and warning his friend to keep his other child away so that he wouldn’t be traumatized by the sight of his father. “Don’t let them see me like this,” he said. 

  An ambulance arrived shortly after this and both father and son were taken away to the hospital. Oscar maintained only minor injuries as Brad’s mid-air maneuver likely saved his life and shielded him from most of the impact.  Brad had fractured his neck and skull among other serious injuries but thankfully his spinal cord was still intact. In the months following the accident his wife took leave from her job and helped him to make a full recovery. 

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  Brad’s story is one of tremendous sacrifice and love for his son. His physical skill in acting quickly and decisively is amazing, but the intention to sacrifice himself for the well-being of his son is not uncommon. Any good father being placed in the same scenario would put himself in harm’s way to save their child. In smaller ways, all parents make sacrifices for their children every day. Whether it be by waking up in the middle of the night to comfort a newborn or driving miles to help when their son or daughter has a child of their own. 

  The heart of a parent is one of great love for their children. We see this in countless examples of people all around us. Jesus addressed this in Luke 11:11-13 when he says, “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent, or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” 

  Jesus takes this picture of an earthly father’s interaction with his son, and uses it to describe God’s relationship with His children. If a son approached his earthly father and asked for a missing ingredient for dinner, wouldn’t the earthly father comply? And if so, how much more does God desire to give us when we ask Him? The principle He applies is directly related to prayer, but it also can be understood to be broader than this. The greater principle is that God’s relationship with us is deeper and his love is greater than what can be exemplified in any earthly relationship. This means that the best possible example of an earthly father’s love is truly small and insignificant when compared to our heavenly Father’s love and care for us. 

  Do we really understand the magnitude of this? Think of the comfort you may receive from someone who you are in a trusting relationship with. The people in our lives who we may run to when times are difficult. We share our troubles with them knowing that they will hear us and understand us because of their love for us. But compared with the love of God these are only dim pictures. They point to the great and unfathomable depths of the love that God has for His children. 

  Brad’s love for his child was shown clearly in his story and he proved it in his moment of sacrificing himself. As amazing as this story is, God’s love for us is infinitely greater than any earthly father’s love. God loves his children in a way that we can not even imagine with our dim understanding here on earth. His love is so great that no words can even describe how amazing it is or the level that God our Father would go to sacrifice for us. And God has tangibly demonstrated His love for us in sending his Son to save us from the greatest danger we could ever face. It is not only a proclaimed love but it is also a love which has been proven.  A love which defines all others, as 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 

  Every time we see a mother or father caring for their child we should be reminded of the greater picture that it points to. The greater love, which we have received and will receive from God. The greater sacrifice, which was the Savior’s life being given to save us from judgment and condemnation. A love like this is not conditional, it is pure and untouched by our failures and sin because it's root is in Christ’s righteousness. 

  So believers, rejoice in this love. Revel in it. Be glad in the fullness and depth of God’s love for you. Most Christians only scratch the surface in their understanding of God’s love for them. They live in poverty when they have immeasurable riches at their disposal. If they would only take the time to look in God’s word and see, they could have so much more joy and peace that comes from the happy knowledge of their standing before God. 

  Those Christians who do study to know and understand God’s love for them will find it to be a joyful journey, but never one that they will come close to finishing. God’s love is too vast to be discovered in one lifetime. Like overlooking a beautiful view of a mountain range, the immensity of God’s love should both awe us and drive our passion to explore and learn more of what we see. Be relentless in discovering God’s love for you in Christ and glorify Him with praise for what He has done!

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 Psalm 63:1-4 “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”