The Bible constantly emphasises the point that God created us for friendship with himself, a friendship based on love. The reason we don't enjoy this relationship is that we choose to live our lives independently of God. We have broken his laws and gone our own way. God has, however, acted in Jesus to restore our relationship with himself. He bridged the gap by dying for our sins on the cross. When we turn to him in faith and accept Jesus as our Saviour and the Lord of our lives, then he comes to live within us in the person of the Holy Spirit.

We experience his love and respond in love to him in return. Paul says, "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:5). If this love, demonstrated by the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf and experienced by his indwelling Spirit, is the basis of our relationship with him, would he not want us to know that we have it? Indeed, could it be called a love relationship if we did not know we had it? And, if God is all powerful, would he allow us to enjoy his love for a few years here and then cast us aside? Would he not want us to enjoy this relationship with him forever? After all, he raised Jesus from the dead. Why not us, too?

There is an old hymn, written by the converted slave trader, John Newton, which contains the following verse:

'Tis a point I long to know,

Oft it causes anxious thought;

Do I love the Lord or no?

Am I his, or am I not?

Can you imagine a man travelling overseas, sending a message to his wife in which he said:

'Tis a point I long to know,

Oft it causes anxious thought;

Do I love you, dear, or no?

Am I yours, or am I not?

I expect he would get a telegram by return mail demanding, "Come home quickly!" What is the point of a love relationship if you don't know you have it?