Question: “Why Did God come to Earth?”

“It is only because he became like us that we can become like him.”

-Dietrich Bonehoffer

Jesus came to earth.  That impact alone has been felt through time, like a ripple in an ocean that eventually became a tidal wave.   God came to us!  This one statement should touch us in a way that no other statement on earth can compare itself to.  The Creator of this planet, and everything else for that matter, descended to our level…descended to become one of His creations.  Why?  Why would He do this?   What would the motivation be for Almighty God taking on human form?  Was He bored?  Was there nothing else to do?  Obviously there must be a reason.

The Reason:

John 3:16 tells us plainly the reason for God coming to us as a man.  “God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!”  God loved us!  Not just the world that He created, but the men and women that He created in His own image…you and me!  God came to our level so that we might be saved.

Wait.

Saved from what?  Was there some sort of cosmic invasion?  Were there still dinosaurs out there that needed vanquishing and we needed protecting?  No!  So what were we saved from?

The answer is that we were saved from ourselves.  Huh?   What does that mean?   Romans chapter three puts it plainly for us: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” –Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

Everyone on this rock that we call Earth has sinned.  Everyone.  Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned.”  Back up a few verses and it also says, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” Romans 3:10 (NIV)  Since Adam and Eve broke God’s heart in the garden of Eden and committed the first sin, everyone who has ever lived carries this ‘sin gene’ within themselves.  There is no one on Earth that is good enough, holy enough or perfect enough to merit meeting the expectations of “righteous”.   So this is why God had to take on human form and save us.  He came to save us from ourselves.  To save us from our own punishment that is certain death without his redemption and sacrifice on our behalf.  God knew we needed a redeemer and so He provided a way for us to be saved.  Why do this for us?  Because He loves us that much!  He loves us more than we could ever comprehend or understand.  He loves us even before we reach out and reciprocate (or try to reciprocate) that love.  Then and only then can we truly understand what Jesus was saying when He said, “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” –John 10:10 (ASV)

Do you need some assurance today that you’re loved?  Do you realize just how important you are to God himself?  He extends His arms of love to us today and still says to us “I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly!”   Our Father in heaven invites you to experience real life today.  If you need help learning more about this great love He has for you, begin by reading the gospel of John…read the gospels and especially read the very words of Jesus.  Don’t miss out on the abundant life that God has for you!  Don’t miss out on His love.  Begin today…I dare you!