John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” When I consider the detestable contemplations of the human heart, its capability to dishonor and cultivate hate, premeditate murder, commit adultery and rebel against our Creator, and realize that his desire is that humanity spend eternity with him, where, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4, I am amazed. That is true love.
The lyrics of the song How Great Thou Art stir the hearts of those who listen and captivate audiences whenever it is sung. “And when I think that God, his Son not sparing sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing he bled and died to take away my sin.” Each time I hear them, these words pierce my heart and bring me to my knees knowing the anguish and despair Jesus must have experienced in his final hours, completing his work as our atonement.
The English language can never do justice to the love that Christ exhibited by taking our place on the cross. In the Greek language there are seven words for love and the ancient Greeks would be shocked with our cavalier attitude in using the word love so indiscriminately. The seven Greek renditions used to describe love include: Storge – affection for family, often taken for granted; Eros – for passionate romantic desire, where the word erotic is derived; Philia – for deep friendship or comaraderie; Ludus – for playful love; Pragma – or long lasting love; Philautia – or the love of self; and Agape – a pure, willful, sacrificial love or the love for all people.
Agape love is the most radical and selfless love. C.S. Lewis referred to it as “gift love,” the highest form of Christian love. Agape love is empathetic love, caring for strangers or unconditional, altruistic love. Agape love isn’t sentimental. It is love that comes from God. Agape love is part of God’s character and it is an outpouring of who he is. God is Love (1 John 4:8). John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” And yet Christ did more. The apostle Paul put it this way, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:7-11.
Out of reverence for Christ, every man, woman and child ought to be compelled to drop to their knees and submit themselves fully to God in repentance of sin. This should be our response to the love that has been so freely given, knowing the price that was paid was so high. Romans 12:1-2 reminds us, “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Yet the majority of people will choose to walk away from Jesus in favor of their own interests.
Revelation 3:20 reminds us that Jesus extends himself as the olive branch of peace with God. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” It is truly humbling to realize that through no work of our own, we are welcomed into God’s family as his children, in much the same way as the prodigal son was welcomed home by his father after squandering his inheritance. We are called children of God (1 John 3:1). “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17.
God’s love for us is immeasurable, inexhaustible, undefinable, unsearchable, remarkable and insurmountable. Once the full realization of the extent of love we have been shown, every born again Christian should be overwhelmed with unbridled passion as an expression of deep heartfelt gratitude for his sacrifice and atonement! Live for him! Love for him! Don’t let life pass you by and leave you unsure of your eternal destiny, but rather, finish the game leaving everything on the field, exhausted and satisfied knowing you gave it your all. Then, when you enter heaven, you will hear the Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
When he was asked what the greatest commandment was, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Mathew 22:37-40.
The apostle Paul expounded on the virtues of Christian living in the thirteenth chapter of his first letter to the church at Corinth, in what is a popular though misapplied text at many weddings. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
When we contemplate Paul’s words in the context they were intended, we see that he is speaking about agape love. The altruistic, selfless, unconditional, empathetic, complete love for everyone that will lead you to lay down your life for your enemies. The agape love that Christ extends to us.
If we truly love God, we will make every effort not to sin against him. We will honor him and revere him. As the betrothed bride of Christ we will forsake all others and remain faithful to him. We will live as changed people, in denial of the pleasures of the flesh that entangle so many. We will speak the truth to our fellow man, sharing the gospel that can save their souls and warning them of the dangers of sin and living without God’s forgiveness. We will serve our King with integrity.
For those of us who have experienced the Holy Spirit washing over our bodies and souls, we know the all-encompassing agape love God showers us with so freely. Yet now we only know in part, but when the fullness of time comes we will know fully and experience God’s agape love face to face. When we stand before God, we will no longer have need for faith and hope because our destiny will be realized. And Love will remain.
