Jesus’ love—”its breadth, length, height, depth” (Eph.3:18).
Jesus, you must love the number 4, for you created 4 points on the compass—North, South, East, and West, and there are “4 living creatures” around your throne (Rev.4:8). You are the promise and meaning of 4 parts of the Old Testament (Law, History, Poetry, and Prophecy), and you commissioned 4 Gospel writers to perfectly chronicle your story—Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John.
You give us so many creature joys to enjoy, including the world of sports—which for basketball lovers, involves the Final Four of both men and women’s NCAA college basketball. But here’s the Final Four I am most stoked, thrilled, and joyful about in Spring 2025:
- We’re living in the Final epoch of world history—that is, the “Last Days,” which began at your first coming (Heb.1:2, Acts 2:16-21, 1 Pet.1:20), and will continue until the perfectly timed Day you return. This means you are already King of kings and Lord of lords—reigning over all things for your glory and working in all things for our good. Faith not fear is the order of the day—hope not hysteria.
- On the glorious Day of your return, we will see you as you are and we will be made like you, Jesus. It will be impossible for us to ever sin again, and only possible for us to love as you love us. Indeed, we will be filled and overflowing with the 4-fold dimensions of your love—its “breadth, length, height, and depth” Eph.3:14-19).
- These 4 things will be gone forever—“death, mourning, crying, and pain” (Rev.21:4)—every one of our tears will be wiped and all the pain behind those tears will be redeemed.
- Your beloved Bride—redeemed from 4 categories of your image bearers—”every tribe, language, people, and nation” (Rev.7:9), will inhabit the “4 corners” of our perfect forever home—the new heaven and new earth (Rev.21:1-22:5). Jesus, receive a 4-fold Hallelujah from us! So Very Amen!