Discussion: Worth

Does God love me less, if I sin?

How can God love me, if I do what He hates?

How do I know what God likes & hates?

Here’s a few verses that may help you understand:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”-John 3:16-18

So sinning is a punishment in and of itself, because it seperates you from good, little by little, and Hell is a complete seperation from all that is good. Any sin will result in pain if not dealt with. God loves people, but hates sin.
If it is hard for you to imagine how someone can be loved while they are doing what is hated, think of this:
You have a best friend that you love more than anything. That best friend moves away, far away, which means that they can’t hang out much any more. You hate that they moved, but you still love them, and it breaks your heart that they are so far away. You wish they would just move back, and it makes you feel ill, because you miss them so much.
God hurts when we move away from Him too. We hurt too, but often don’t feel the pain until way after God feels it. God is so much more than a friend though, He is our maker. I can’t understand how huge His love for us is, except for that this verse says He was willing to let his son suffer death to bring us back to Him. He bought us a ticket to come back to where He is, and we can redeem it for the value paid, or let it go to waste and stay away from God.
Some people will realize their situation, and accept the gift. Others will reject it, and when they realize what they refused, won’t have a second chance. What will you do? What have you done? God wants a renewed relationship with you. What do you want?
-Ezra
http://www.upstreamteens.org/