When I was a child, my family would take many road trips for our summer vacations. One vacation that I remember clearly was a visit to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. I was impressed by the opulence of Hearst Castle. It boasts of 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, and even a private zoo. Who needs three swimming pools, including one that has gold infused tiles from floor to ceiling?
Maybe you haven’t been to Hearst Castle, but most Novato residents have experienced or at least heard about the Christmas house on Devonshire Drive. It’s known for its extreme quantity of Christmas décor and excessive lights. The house, roof and trees are covered with illuminations. Every room is also fitted with Christmas décor including floor to ceiling candy canes, Santas, ornaments, reindeer, miniature train sets, and so on. Calling it “over the top” becomes an understatement! It’s definitely excessive. Some may even say that it is unreasonable and even ridiculous. Yet, thousands of people flock to these two locations every year to be witnesses of their flamboyance.
Christ’s love was even more extravagant than these. Jesus exceeded all bounds of reason when He died on the cross in our place. He went beyond all expectations when He bore our sins and sickness. He surpassed all gift giving when He credited our spiritual account with His righteousness and made His heirs
Ephesians 5:2 tells us of this amazing love of God. “Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
In the gospels, extravagant action met extravagant love, when Mary poured a bottle of ridiculously expensive perfume over Jesus—a perfume that cost one year’s salary. Nothing less would do for Jesus!
King David’s mighty men’s actions exhibited the same thing when David longed for a drink of water from a well that lay across enemy lines. They risked life and limb to fetch it for him.
Let’s let 2012 be a year of extravagant love both for Christ and others, even ridiculously extravagant!