Have you ever considered the miracle of a kernel of wheat? In Bible days they would harvest the wheat from the field and then they would pour out the grains onto a woven mat where they would be "flayed" or beaten with a stick. This would loosen the "husk" or outer skin which was considered unuseful. Then they would toss the grains up into the air where the husk would be blown away by the wind, forever separated from the grains of wheat. There is nothing to the outward appearance of a grain of wheat that would lead you to believe there is a certain "power" on the inside which, when released, will cause that same small seed to grow into a long stalk and produce even more small grains. Yet, add a little water and sunshine and it will slowly begin growing.

You know, the Bible refers to Jesus Christ as a "kernel" of wheat. This may seem strange, to compare the Son of God with a common seed. But what happens to a seed when it is planted? It comes up again. And so did Jesus. Just as a kernel of wheat is planted in the ground to grow, Jesus died on a cross and then was put in grave but after three days, He became alive again! As the Son of God, all the power to do this was already contained inside of Him. He rose from the grave and has gone to Heaven to be with His Father.

You and I are like "husk" on a grain of wheat. Like the kernel of wheat being flayed and tossed into the wind, we have been separated from Jesus. Driven away by sin, we are "lost" in the world. But the Good News is that Jesus doesn't consider us as useless "chaff". He wants you back. He longs to fellowship with you. He walks the ditches, the back alleys and the lonely rooms for that which was once part of Him but is now "lost". He forever seeks that part of Him which He loves with a love not understood by the world.

Have you been tossed about like so much "chaff" in the wind? Does it sometimes seem that no one really cares? Have you been abused, neglected, or abandoned? Don't be fooled by the rest of the world into thinking there is no one that loves you. The truth is, Jesus Christ has already proven that He loves you by creating and dying for you. You are special because He made you in His image and there is no one else quite like you.

You see, it's not a matter of "whether" Jesus loves you. That's an established fact. The question you should ask is, "How much does He love me?". And the answer is, "Enough to die for you" because there is no greater love that one can have for another. He even loved you when you were in your mother's womb. He knew and loved you before the world was created. Before the foundations of this earth were made, Jesus Christ looked down into time and space, knew you would be created and He loved you. So you see, His love for you isn't based on what you have done or, even if you love Him in return.

That's hard to understand, isn't it? How can someone love you so much that He loved you before you were born and was even willing to die for you? But that's Jesus. He loved you then. He loves you now. He will always love you and His love will never be based on your actions, good or bad. He just plain, simply loves you! Will you accept that fact? The only thing that separates us from His fellowship is our sins. To sin is an act of our will and it is a turning away from Jesus by doing those things which He would not have us do.

Jesus, Who is perfectly holy cannot fellowship with someone who has sinned and not repented (asked for forgiveness). So, if we want Him to continually walk with us we should try not to sin and, if we do sin, we simply ask Him to forgive us and, with His help, try very hard not to sin again.

If Jesus was standing in front of you right now, if He was standing eye to eye with you, could you honestly look into His eyes and say,

"Yes, Jesus, I believe you DO love me! Please forgive me for not believing in the past. Come into my heart. Be with me forever, help me to keep from sinning in the future and, with your help, I will return your love by letting you be the Lord of my life. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for raising from the dead and going to Heaven where you sit at the right Hand of Your Father, God and wait for me. Thank you. Thank you. Amen"

Jesus IS with you now only you can't see Him. If you ask Him into your heart someday you WILL see Him face to face. In the meantime He will live in you by His Holy Spirit. Why not ask Him now? Do it and remember, no matter where you go in life, Jesus is with you and YOU ARE LOVED.