He is one of the most memorable commercial characters of all time.
The Energizer Bunny made his television debut on October 31, 1988. Sporting black sunglass - es and blue flip flops, the pink toy bunny rolls around the room playing a big bass drum.
And he never stops. He keeps on going and going and going.
I thought about the En - ergizer Bunny this week as I read Psalm 136 in my Bible. As the psalm - ist recounted the good things God had done for his people and why they should give him thanks, he repeated a phrase 26 times.
"His love endures for - ever." God had given them good things. He had protected them from their enemies. He had deliv - ered them from disaster. Throughout the history of Israel, God's love for his people kept on going and going and going.
The word for "love" in this Psalm is an interest - ing word in Hebrew. It has many different shades of meaning and is often translated as "mercy." God's mercy is his forgiv - ing love. God's mercy is that he doesn't treat us as we deserve.
In another classic series of commercials from the 80's, McDonald's assured us, "You deserve a break today." Advertisers love to stroke our egos.
We deserve a break. We deserve a vacation. We deserve a new car.
If we are honest with ourselves, however, the only thing we deserve from God is hell. Every day, we sin. Every day, without fail, we think, say, and do things we shouldn't. And for every one of those sins, we deserve God's eternal punishment in hell.
We don't deserve any - thing good from God. We haven't earned it. Yet, God gives us good things every day. He gives us homes and food and phones. He gives us family and friends. He gives us good times and sees us through the bad times, all because of his great mercy.
Most importantly, he forgives us every day because of Jesus. God's forgiving love keeps going and going and going. Every day, we mess up, and every day, he keeps forgiving us, loving us, and giving us good things.
And that love endures forever. In his great mercy, on the day we die, God will take us and every believer to be with him forever in heaven, where his love, goodness, and mercy toward us will keep going and going and going forever.
If you have a chance this week, read Psalm 136. As you do, think about all the good things God has given you here on earth, none of which you deserve. Think about all the bad things you've done that he has forgiv - en because of his great mercy. Think about the heaven that is waiting for you because of Jesus.
Then give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
It just keeps going and going and going.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.com.
Andrew Schroer Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church
