When Love is Found

I hope you have seen the movie, The Muppet Christmas Carol. I hope you have experienced the creativity and wonder of this classic Christmas tale portrayed by colorful, humorous puppets. I hope you have enjoyed the delightful tunes sung by Kermit the Frog and his crew of friends. I hope you have delighted in the simple joy that is this Christmas movie. It has been beloved for decades, a Christmas favorite of a multitude, and continues to remain a staple as the years roll on.

However, if you haven’t seen this movie, I’d like to explain a part of it that illustrates the power of the gospel, specifically the love of God. At the end of Scrooge’s visit with the Ghost of Christmas Past, he sees a memory of when his ex-fiancé, Belle, broke off their engagement. Scrooge had become hardened by his love of money, and this love had overtaken his love for Belle. So, in a heartbreaking song that was cut from the theatrical release, Belle sings that “the love is gone.” Their relationship was ended. The hopes and dreams this young couple held to were dashed. The love they had once shared was extinguished. 

However, at the end of the movie, after Scrooge has changed his ways, he sings a very different song. Set to the same tune as “When Love is Gone,” Scrooge sings of when love is found. He sings of the people who have touched his soul and changed his world. The love he lost through his love of money and his disregard for others had been found again. This beautiful final song brings Scrooge’s journey full-circle as the love he had lost is found, never again to be discarded. 

Like Scrooge, we are all loved, and we have all disregarded this love. The Bible teaches us that God loves us. This is a simple truth, but one we can never afford to forget. God loves all people. He loves us despite our sin. He loves us even though we rebel against Him. 

However, because of our sin, we are separated from God. Although He stands with His arms wide open and love ready for us to receive, some reject His love. Many choose to love the world instead of being loved by the God who made the world. The vast, unmatched, unconditional and steadfast love of a Holy God is available, but we choose other things. 

However, this love can be found. The Bible tells us that God loved us first (1 John 4:19) and He showed this love in sending Jesus to die for us even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Because Jesus died for us, taking our sin upon Himself, we can receive His love. God’s love will change us, remake us, and forgive all our wrongdoing. Just as Scrooge found a new family at the end of A Christmas Carol, the love of God initiates us into the family of God. 

This makes me think of Jesus’ disciple, Peter. When Jesus was on his way to the cross, Peter denied knowing His master three times. However, after Jesus was raised from the dead, He reaffirmed Peter’s love for his Lord three times (John 21:15-17). We have all denied Jesus in deed, if not in word. We disobey Him and act in ways that are contrary to what we believe. However, the love of God remains steady, ready to pardon those who are willing to turn away from their sin. 

This Christmas, the choice is simple. When confronted with the reality of the love of God, you can accept it or reject it. You can allow yourself to be fully loved by God, letting His Son change you. You can show this love through obeying His commands (John 14:15). Or, you can tread your own path away from the love of God. Will you be found by love? Will you love the God who became a human baby over 2,000 years ago so that He could grow up, never sin, and die for you? 

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10