The Queen has led tributes to Capt. Sir Tom Moore, the second world war veteran who raised almost £39m for NHS charities during the first coronavirus lockdown in spring 2020, who has died aged 100 after testing positive for coronavirus. It has been well said “Captain Tom Moore put others first at a time of national crisis and was a beacon of hope for millions. Britain has lost a hero.’’ He certainly was one of life’s great philanthropist, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.
In the Bible, the Apostle Paul wrote to a co-worker by the name of Titus who was doing a work for God on the Island of Crete in the Mediterranean. In the letter, Paul used the word ‘philanthropy’ in connection with God. Titus worked with people whose lives were wrecked by sin in probably more ways than we would care to imagine. Paul says: “Just a second Titus! We need to remind ourselves of something – our own hearts are no better than the Cretans.” For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lust.
So Titus is reading these words from Paul. Then he bumps into a big conjunction, “BUT after that the kindness and (love) philanthropy of God our Saviour toward man appeared (shone forth) . . . not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us . . .”
“Philanthropy” simply means “the love of human beings.” A philanthropist is a lover of mankind. God loves humans. Regardless of our hearts' depraved and desperate condition – our inner selves, the heart of God, throbs in love towards every human on earth. Not a single person on our planet is beyond the love of His heart.
The ‘love’ that Paul writes to Titus about is not generic – it is specifically God’s love of humans, and it could not be contained. It shone its brightest at Calvary when Christ hung upon the cross. The Bible says that God’s love was so great for all sinners that “He spared not His own Son but willingly delivered Him up for us all.”
None of us can pat ourselves on the back as having done something to merit or achieve God’s salvation. As sinners, we have nothing to offer God, but because of His “philanthropy” He has mercy upon sinners and through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, every individual can be forgiven of all their sins and have an eternal relationship with God.
The greatest Philanthropist of all times – GOD - is willing to richly bless you and me today with His wonderful salvation and the complete forgiveness of all our sins. The greatest philanthropist of the ages wants to give us what money cannot buy – peace, eternal life, and a home in Heaven.
God saves all who call upon His name, and He loves us unconditionally even though we are all sinners. The Bible teaches that one day this broken world will be gone and that believers will live in "a new heaven and a new earth,”
All of this is available to us right now, but we will not experience any of it until we personally accept God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord. Without our acceptance, we will never have such a wonderful relationship with God. What is hindering you from accepting Christ right now?
Messages with Meaning. Written by Peter Francis for Your542Day
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