God loves everyone, whether they believe in Jesus or not. God has two types of love: the common love and the love for His children. The common love of God refers to His love for the unbelievers to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." Many people associate God's common love with allowing sin in their lives. They do not understand that God hates sin because He is holy. Jesus died for our sins so that we can be forgiven and saved from them. If God tolerates sin in our lives, then the cross is meaningless. Every day God is pursuing the unbelievers to believe in Him. God is patiently holding His judgment upon this world because He wants everyone to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
God promises us, as believers, that He will come back for us and take us to be with Him in Heaven forever. John 14:3 says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." However, if He comes back for us, He will also bring judgment to those who are unbelievers. And this is why our Lord Jesus commanded us to share our faith with those who are not saved so that they will have the opportunity to believe. God is reaching His love to the unbelievers through all of us who believe in our Lord Jesus. It is His love for the unbelievers that He has not returned for us so that they have the opportunity to be saved. But there will be a time when Jesus waited long enough, and He will bring judgment to those who rejected to believe in Him.
The common love of God for unbelievers should never be taken for granted. Eternal life or death is at stake for everyone who does not believe. Let us continue to pray for those who are not believers yet and be open to sharing our faith with them.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). What is God's common love? Am I willing to be a channel of God's love to the unbelievers? Why has God not returned to take me to be with Him forever yet?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for patiently waiting for the unbelievers to believe in the Lord Jesus. I am saved today because you patiently wait for me to believe in Jesus. I pray for those in my family and friends who are not saved yet that they will believe in you. Please continue to soften and speak to their hearts to believe in you, Lord Jesus. I pray you will give me the courage and wisdom to share my faith with them. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.