| The Five Words Everyone Wants to Hear Whether we will admit it or not, everyone wants to hear someone say, “I will always love you.” The reason young people get involved in gangs or in intimate relationships is that they find the acceptance and “family” they crave in these companions. If we could only realize that this unconditional, unfailing love is found in the person of Jesus! God’s unfailing love inspired Paul to write, “I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.”[229] When fallen humanity thinks of “love,” it is the kind that loves the lovely and the lovable. “I’ll love you if you meet my needs and expectations. If you don’t love me back, I will stop loving you.” It is based on intrinsic value or character qualities. Any change in value, beauty, or usefulness affects this “love;” it is “fair-weather” friendship. There is nothing fair-weather about Jesus; he braves the rain. Like the proverbial postman, he will be there through rain or shine or sleet or snow. He seeks you, wherever you may be, vowing, “Come hell or high water, I’m coming to get you!” Agape love is consistent. You can rely on it and never fear that it will start to feel differently about you, because it does not “sometimes” protect, “frequently” hope, and “more often than not” persevere; no, “love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”[230] Since God cannot change[231], his love for us will never change, no matter who we are, or what we have done. There is nothing we can do to make him love us less! Human love may endure ingratitude and mistreatment for a while, but it has its limits. Patience eventually runs out. But self-sacrificing love continues to love not only in the face of rejection, but even those who seek to harm it. “Love never fails.”[232] “It never fades out.”[233] It is unfailing, committed, contented, and dependable. Holier Than Thou? Self-sacrificing love is unconditional. It accepts people just as they are, with no qualifications or conditions. No matter who they are, what they look like, what they believe, what lives they may lead. Great atrocities have been committed in the name of Christianity. Many modern churches talk about “Christian love.” But many of these “Christians” are intolerant. How different from the man who said, “I don’t accuse or condemn anyone!”[234] A true Christian is someone who loves Christ, who loves the way he lived, and tries to emulate his ways. Anyone can wear a badge or make claims; but the true followers of Christ live and love the way he did. When he said, “Follow me,”[235] it meant, “Walk as I do. Live as I live. Follow in my footsteps.” Unconditional love is the hallmark of true Christianity. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples: if you have love one for another.”[236] This will be the identifying mark of God’s people in the last days of this earth’s history[237]. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”[238] Christ never lowered his standard of purity and righteousness. He hated sin; but he loved the sinner. To say we are followers of Christ and yet be intolerant is the worst type of self-deception. If we carry a “you got what you deserved” attitude, we will find ourselves in the camp of death. Christ said, “Whoever calls his brother a fool is in danger of the fires of destruction”[239]—not because God will condemn him, but because he is conditioning himself to hate. His attitude is what determines whether he is saved or lost. The Deceitfulness of Riches Satan has convinced people that possessions, money and power make one respected and happy. As fallen beings, we place value on material things and position. We become willing to sacrifice the feelings, well-being and happiness of others to obtain them. Yet when these things are obtained, they never bring the happiness and peace we need. They get old and break and end up in the junk-yard, and the quest for something else begins. Jesus taught us that happiness is found only in other people. As we become closer to God, we begin to place value on other things. Our treasure will be found in each other. People often fight or even kill over possessions, even inconsequential items. To the carnal heart, possessions are higher on the list than the life of their neighbor. To agape love, life is worth more than any material thing. Life is given its rightful place at the top of the list of values. |
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| 229 Romans 8:38, 39 GNB 230 I Corinthians 13:7 NIV 231 Malachi 3:6 232 verse 8, KJV 233 Amplified Version 234 John 5:45, John 3:17 235 Matthew 4:19 236 John 13:35 237 Revelation 14:12, compare Romans 13:8 238 I John 3:14 239 Matthew 5:22 |
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