ToLove and Be Loved

I believe that for eternity past God existed all alone. In scripture we learn that there is only one God but that that God has a complex multi-person nature. In scripture we learn of God the Father, Godthe Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We finite beings cannot really understand such a Being. One. Three. At one and the same time. In classical Christian theology such things are called “mysteries”. Things we must take on faith.

So this complex God existed forever past and things were fine. God has no “needs”. But God apparently has “wants”. In what John Calvin called “the counsels of God” (sort of discussions of wants and planning sessions within the Godhead) apparently the idea was discussed that since God enjoyed such great love within Godself perhaps things could be created that God could love and they couldlove God back. Then God realized that such things might choose to NOTlove God, go their own way and bring turmoil into being. So forlonger than we can even imagine God left things as they had alwaysbeen. Then the idea came up for discussion again and God the Son(don't let 'Father' and 'Son' confuse you.. All three persons of theGodhead have always existed and are equal in power and authority)said “If and when they sin (disobey) I'll take their punishment andset things right. And God the Spirit said “And I'll go live inthose that accept that substitution and teach them the truth aboutGod.. At least this was said about humans if not angels. So Goddecided to take the risk of creating including creating spirit beings(angels and people so far as we know).

Jesus said “If you love me keep my commandments”. So if God says to a star “Shine” and the star shines it is loving God but the qualityof that love is very low. When God tells we humans that he wants tobe Lord of our lives, that we must believe and obey His word and thethings He tells us when we pray we have an opportunity to love Godand the quality of that love is exciting to God. Skyrockets insight!! Its like when a parent observes one of their offspringwillingly obeying or being like them.

In warfare we talk about 'strategy' and 'tactics'. Strategy is the big picture. The main thing we're trying to accomplish. Tactics are actions we take to accomplish the strategy. Gods strategy is 'to love and be loved'. There have been many tactics. Creation. The giving of the law. God coming as a man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The cross. The grave. The resurrection. The ascension. Pentecost. Going into all the world to preach the good news. There are a few more tactics. Christ will return...

Then for eternity future God and God's people and angels will live in love. And Nahum 1:9 promises us that trouble will not rise up asecond time. So, its been a long, slow ride but the result will be worth it all.