John gave us the bottom line reason why we (should) love God: “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God loved us in two related ways for which we should reciprocate His love; this is well illustrated by Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their possession of Canaan.
The oppression of the Israelites in Egypt is a picture of the kingdom of Satan in which sinners are held captive, while Canaan is a picture of the kingdom of God wherein dwell those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Christians are those who have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). We Christians should therefore love God because first and foremost, He rescued us from the grip of the Devil and the hell fire that awaited us and secondly, we are now part of His glorious kingdom.
When the Israelites were delivered from Egypt by the blood of the Passover lamb, they were given commandments to live by in the land of Canaan. Those commandments were prefaced with the words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2). Notice that the Israelites were not ‘saved’ by obeying the commandments, rather by the blood of the lamb. The commandments were given to an already redeemed people. Then they were also told, “You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments . . . that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 4:40). When Israel unrepentantly refused to obey the commandments of God, their days in Canaan were cut short – they were expelled from the glorious Land.
In the same way, we Christians were not saved by obeying the commandments of God but by the blood of Jesus. However, if we do not love God by obeying His commandments (John 14:21), our stay in the kingdom of God will be cut short – we shall be expelled from our glorious inheritance because we chose so by our disobedience. That is why Paul said, “The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9). And that is why Jesus will declare to some Christians, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23)
Therefore, we should love God (by obeying His commandments) because He loved us by setting us free from Satan and hell, and by bringing us into His marvelous kingdom. If we continue to love God by doing what pleases Him, then we shall abide with Him in His kingdom forever and ever and ever.
God bless you.
Personal note from Pastor Moses: I thank God for the wonderful service we had on Sunday. Sam opened it up with an anointed prayer for our country and Church. Then Juliana’s team blessed her Friend in praise and worship. My long-term friend Lydia, who knows and forgives me my unrighteous ways that may lead to my expulsion from the kingdom, was also a huge blessing. Hillary Turyagenda did excellently what Carol Busingye is beloved for – the teaching of the Word. Joan Isoke and her team were as often humbly behind visibility doing what could be the most excellent of things in God’s perspective. And to all of you, thanks for filling ‘all’ the seats and participating in singing and giving. These things bless the heart of God hence achieving the reason LAT exists. Hallelujah!