MR. SANDERS had engaged a painter to paint his house. When he came home from work, at the end of the day, he was surprised to see the ladder leaning against the front of the house with the painter still at the top. He thought the painter would have gone home long ago — what was he doing so late? The painter glanced at him angrily and then Mr. Sanders noticed Buster, his big bulldog, sitting at the bottom of the ladder, looking upwards at the man at the top.
"I'm glad you've come at last," said the painter crossly. "I've been up here for hours and that dog has been sitting there all that time. I haven't even had any lunch. I've been on this ladder all this time and I've had enough of it." Mr. Sanders called off the dog and Buster slowly walked away with his tail between his legs.
"Buster only means to be friendly," said Mr. Sanders. "He would not have hurt you at all." But the painter would not be convinced. He scrambled down the ladder and collecting his tools he went home.
Poor Buster had no feelings of enmity against the painter; he really wanted to be a friend. But the painter wouldn't trust him. He did not know what was in Buster's heart.
How many people there are like the painter. They are afraid of God. They think He is their enemy because they are sinners. But this is Satan's lie.
The gospel is God's answer to the lie of Satan. It proclaims His love to the sinner, though He cannot love his sins. God is seeking to separate the sinner from his sins. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." 2 Cor. 5:1919To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." What more could God do for sinners?
Again the gospel declares that "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
The love of God it was that sought
From sin to set us free;
That gave the Son, whose precious blood
Has wrought our liberty.
In Him we read the Father's love,
And find eternal peace;
We meet in Him a Saviour-God,
And fear and terror cease.
Messages of the Love of God 8/24/1975