“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
What is true love? Where does it come from? How is it lived, and then communicated to others? For the individual who does not believe it God, the “love” that the world knows has its sole origin in man, in particular in the heart of man. That love is defined by what man chooses it to be, and for what purpose. That love has for its sole resource and power, the resources that are found in an incomplete, imperfect man, who sets his own standard as to how it is to be expressed. The love which is derived from the human heart can be in the eyes of men, very noble, beautiful at times, and worthy of praise. However, from the same heart, as from a well of unclean water, there can gush forth the things that reveal the opposite of love, even hate, violence, and destruction. How can this be? Even with the greatest of aspirations, and hope filled anticipation, men can only love in a manner that corresponds to their thinking, their specific vision and thoughts of what love should, and could be. Also, there are always limitations, and this with regard to every single individual. Those limitations are often revealed by the natural desires of men. The problem with these desires, from a spiritual standpoint, is that they are tainted with what the Bible calls sin, a basic law and attitude in the heart and being of all men, which places oneself as king, and lord of the life. Love becomes limited by that which is related to one’s “self” more than for others, or for things beautiful. Why? It is because of the nature of man, a nature that in and of itself naturally does not love, or consider someone else of greater importance and worth than one’s own life. This love to which man aspires is crippled by the downward pull of one’s attention to one’s own heart and life, and not towards the blessing and benefit of others. This is especially seen when suffering or personal loss is involved. The question then arises: Is there no other love, true, and everlasting? Is there no standard that exceeds the natural love of men, a love that goes beyond the limits which sin and selfishness impose? And is it possible to know this love, and to live it in relation to others? The answer is “yes,” there is such a love, but one which is not of this world, one which does not have its beginning, meaning, essence and power in sinful man.
In the first letter of John in the Bible, he writes: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…” What is John saying here? John reveals to all creation, in particular to every man who has ever lived or will, that true love is of God alone. It has its origin in God, and its essence is of God, revealed by the power of God. It is a love that does not have its point of reference to anything in this world, but only in God, in Christ. The amazing thing about this love of God, eternal, pure, and holy, unchangingly never ceasing to exist, is that God has revealed Himself to sinful men by it, unveiling this love for them to see, know, experience, and to communicate it to others. God, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, revealed HIS perfect, powerful standard for this incomprehensible, but knowable, love of God. In that revelation of the love of God, the perfect Son of God, was sent to become all that love was not, sin for us, that sinful man might be made the righteousness of God in Him. He became the propitiation, that blessed substitute for sin, paying the price for it by His blood on Calvary, so that helpless, hopeless, and lost sinful man, could receive Christ’s perfect righteousness forever.
Dear Father, Fill us with love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.