If you didn't know this world is harsh. You can do it all right by the worlds standards and a freak flood can take it all away, as if it never existed. Or a freak death can wreck your whole world. Or maybe an illness or accident that leaves you paralyzed physically or emotionally. We try to rationalize all this but it makes no sense. We think everyone hates us or maybe someone is mad at us but its just that the world is a harsh place to live.
"For God so loved the world" changed the dynamic of this world. Is it still a harsh place, Yes. But God did something in sending his son to redeem us from this world. He sent the world a way out of the darkness, death and destruction. God made away that delivers us up to him.
Does the world love God? No. Jesus was persecuted for his light that he shined into the world and we can expect the same.
Which brings me back to "For God so loved the world". Why? This place is so harsh and it hates all that is God. Why love it unto death? Personally I am looking forward to the day I don't have to struggle and fight and contend with this world. Do I want it today? No. But it would be nice to have a stress free life. I just don't find that in this world.
So I keep going back to why does God love this world that hates him and all who profess his name. I declare Jesus as my salvation but that can only be said in certain company. Why? What's wrong with saying Jesus is my savior? The answer is the world hates God, Jesus and all who love him.
This place hates all its inhabitants. Which is the key to this puzzle? This world hates all. The prince of this world hates the creator of this world and magnifies this hate across the whole world. Maybe those of us that stand with God think we're special but we're not. The world hates all and does a good job of fooling us. The world makes the inhabitants think those that are the most successful are loved by this world. Wrong. They are just as hated. The successful just make people envious of their status but they are hated all the same.
So a place that spreads hate to all, needs a way out and that is why Jesus came. He created this world and it was good and a man screwed it up. Which man makes no difference because when left to our own devices we make horrible choices.
God loved this world to death. Literally. He did what is required of all humans on this earth. Die. Go back to the dust that we came from. But in his death he let us know when I raise myself up from this grave you can expect the same. He showed us that death has no sting. His resurrection gives us hope that this world has no hold on us and we can separate ourselves from it and live. We can enjoy everlasting life in a place that is prepared for us. That is free from the pains of this world. A place that has a righteous King. A King that died for its inhabitants. He loved the unloveable.