Many people think that God's love began when Jesus came to the earth. Because the New Testament speaks so much about God's love through Christ, it is easy to assume that before Jesus, God was mostly angry, judgmental, and distant. However, a closer look at the Bible reveals a different story. God's love did not begin in Bethlehem; it began before creation itself and has been evident throughout human history. From the very first pages of Scripture, we see God's love in action. In the book of Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth and made humanity in His own image. He provided Adam and Eve with everything they needed to live, flourish, and enjoy fellowship with Him. Creation itself was an expression of divine love. God did not create humanity because He needed anything from us. He created us because He desired a relationship with us. Even after Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God's command, His love remained evident. Instead of immediately destroying them, God sought them out in the garden. He called to them, covered their shame, and gave them the promise that one day a Savior would come to defeat evil. This was the first glimpse of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that His love was already at work long before Jesus was born. Throughout the Old Testament, God's love can be seen repeatedly. He protected Noah and his family during the flood, preserving humanity despite widespread corruption. He called Abraham and promised that through his descendants all nations would be blessed. He rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, guided them through the wilderness, and patiently remained faithful to them despite their repeated failures. The prophets consistently spoke of God's compassion and mercy. They reminded the people that although God disciplines those He loves, His desire is always restoration rather than destruction. The Old Testament is filled with examples of God forgiving, restoring, and pursuing His people even when they turned away from Him. His covenant relationship with Israel was rooted not in their perfection but in His steadfast love. When Jesus came, He did not introduce a new kind of God. Rather, He revealed more fully the God who had always existed. Jesus became the clearest expression of the Father's heart. As Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." The love demonstrated through Christ was not different from God's previous character; it was the ultimate fulfillment of the love that had been present from the beginning. The cross stands as the greatest demonstration of God's love, but it was not the starting point of that love. Instead, it was the culmination of a plan that had existed from eternity. God's willingness to send His Son was motivated by the same love that created the world, sought Adam and Eve, called Abraham, delivered Israel, and spoke through the prophets. Understanding this truth changes how we view God. We no longer see the Old Testament and New Testament as presenting two different versions of Him. Instead, we see one consistent God whose character never changes. He is holy, just, merciful, and loving throughout all of Scripture. God's love did not begin when Jesus arrived on earth. Jesus came because God's love had already been reaching toward humanity from the very beginning. From creation to redemption, the Bible tells one continuous story of a God who loves His people and desires to bring them back into relationship with Him. The message of Scripture is clear: God's love has always existed, always pursued humanity, and always pointed toward the salvation that would ultimately be revealed through Jesus Christ. His love is not a New Testament idea; it is the foundation of the entire biblical story.
Devotionals