But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

We all have a unique memory bank from which to withdraw. Its part of what makes us individuals.  At the same time, these memories that we have as individuals apply in some way to all of us. It’s part of what helps us better understand life as human beings. May I share a personal memory and move to a general conclusion that you can judge to be true for all of us or not.

Let me set the stage for an experience in the 1970’s during my (unholy spirited) bar-tending days at an American Legion. There was an entertaining investigative TV show at the time called Kojak. Telly Savalas was the star and he wore a hat sometimes but most of the time you could see his bald head. He was so cool he could solve crimes and eat a lolly pop at the same time. His famous line was,”Who loves Ya, Baby?” Well, there was a gentleman who was a regular at the Legion Post who shaved his head, always had a lolly pop in his mouth and said without a prompt, “Who loves ya, Baby?” As you can imagine, everyone fondly called him…Kojak.

In Genesis 1:26, the Biblical memory says we are created in God’s image and likeness. In other words, we have the capacity to look and act like God.  The example above is a sad commentary on the result of our fallen nature. To choose to function as someone else (who, in fact is acting too) is not God’s plan.  We are not a clever mimic of someone else.  Instead, we are to develop and act as the precious and unique YOU and me God intended.

There is a reality beyond the make-believe realm of Kojak and his lollypop.  My conclusion agrees with Heaven’s scriptural answer, even to Hollywood’s clever scripted question of ….”Who loves ya, Baby?”  In John 3:16 the Bible says God so loved the world that He sent His only beloved Son to die for our sins so those who believed in Him would have everlasting life.” In the divine believe and make realm, God says, He loves us; and that family and friends is as real, and as sweet as it gets!

Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:37-39; Ephesians 2:4-5 Psalm 86:15; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Zephaniah 3:17