Matthew 19:16-23; 22:35-40; Romans 13:8-10
Many, over the years, have defined love in different languages, from different revelations as dictated by different societies, norms and religions. But, LOVE IS A PERSON. 1 John 4:16 says, "God is Love." That is, love is not an organization, a system, or a slogan. Many define love as sacrifice, agape, friendship or sexual intimacy. These are human understanding of this term. But in Truth, Love is a Living Organism. Love is a person. Love is God. When God came to create man, in the beginning, He made him for fellowship, intimacy, and companionship. Therefore, He made him in His image and after His likeness. He made man be just as He is, and constantly, His heart pants after him - Jeremiah 31:3.
But, just as many have been hurt in the world, by the people they love, so also has man been sinning the greatest Lover of all time (He who loved us even to the Cross). No love is as eternal or everlasting as God's love. Marriages end on earth, even so, do friendships and human relationships. But not God's love. And many are hurting this Lover of their soul. So many talks and teach about love; but when it comes to practising that which they preach, they turn their backs on Him. That young rich man came to Jesus desiring to know that by which he could enter into the Kingdom of God, and Jesus answered, " Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." According to this man, he had begun to do all these things even in his youth. What a remarkable testimony! Yet Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt is PERFECT, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me." And this man left sorrowful. His money held a special place in his heart, and Jesus knew it. He knows everyone, no matter how well they hide. For this man to become perfect, he had to let go of all other ties that bound him. Again, for this man to show that he truly loved his neighbour as himself, he would have been able to give his wealth freely to the poor. His perfection hung on his Love. He turned his back from Heaven and turned to his riches and wealth which would not last till eternity.
Many are like this man, saying, "I love you Jesus... I love you Jesus...", but refuse to obey Him. The one person you cannot lie to nor deceive is the Owner of your soul. The action of this young man is what we can see as Sin against Love. You don't hurt someone you love, neither cheat nor disobey him. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." This man left the everlasting Kingdom because of his material wealth. And today, many are still committing this sin, even in the House of God. They prefer their businesses to His presence, and go for those heart's desires rather than His requirements. Friend, what is the Lord asking of you? What is it He demanding that you let go of? That which causes you to sin against God could be anger, carnality, unteachable spirit, and certain characters which you ought to give up to please the Father." For children, there are some characteristics they exhibit which make their parents proud of them; likewise, are their characteristics which they also possess, which their parents to their early graves. "If you love Him, you will keep His commandments."
Love means "Wholeness... A Sacred Communion with Jesus." 1 John 4:4-12 tells us that Love is of God. Anyone who has not loved does not know God. And John 1:1 tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD." Now, if Jesus is the Word, then Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus is Love. If you truly love Jesus, you will not sin against Him. The Bible tells us that anyone who knows the Truth and sins against it, is crucifying Jesus a second time, and bringing Him to an open shame afresh. Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God..." Though the young man in Matthew 19 had an emotional kind of love for the Lord, Jesus demanded practical Love. Love does not hurt, and neither does it commit fornication. Love is Fidelity (faithfulness)! 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 relays to us that Charity (Love) does not envy, be it the physical, spiritual, emotional, social, economical or political kind of envy. Likewise, also, Charity endures all things, that is, all trials, tribulations, persecutions and situations. Charity never fails; for even when the Heavens and earth give way, Love remains. We don't need faith or hope when we get to God's Kingdom. But Love is all that rules that Kingdom. So you may have preached to thousands, pulled crowds to crusade grounds and wrought many signs and wonders on men, yet without this Love, you are empty. Some people have preached purity, holiness and even perfection, yet their hearts are far from what they preach. They don't know God. Their hearts are filled with hatred and evil. Over the centuries, many have been raised to the highest peaks in Christianity, only to be crushed down by pride... This is not the work of Love.
All riches and wealth (be it material or financial) are considered useless before this living Creator whose Ways are Loving, and His work of redemption put to action for Love's sake. All about Him evolves love for loveless peoples, tribes, countries, and continents! He so loved the whole world, filled with wicked men, that if any beliefs in Him, he should be saved-John 3:16-17. Again, it is scarce to find anyone willing to die for a righteous/good man, talk less of a wicked/evil man... Yet Christ died for His enemies! Romans 5:7-8. When Jesus came, the world refused Him; even His own refused to receive Him. Yet as many as believe in Him, to them He gives the power to become the Sons of God- John 1:10-12. He keeps showing us His love. And even now, He is our Mediator. He loved us while on earth even to the Cross, and instead of retiring from work when He sat at the right hand of God, He took up the work of a Mediator, pleading on behalf of all men. 1 John 2:1-2. Greater love has no man than this. John 15:13.
So if any goes to hell tomorrow, it is because he refused this Great Love of God. There is no excuse to give! Because for Love He came to the earth...for Love, called men from their low points to become His sons and disciples...and for Love, He has gone to prepare a place for us. Who can love you like Jesus? So many refuse to love God because they have several unanswered prayers; yet forget that all that they have were given to them by He who loves them. And even then, the whole earth is full of His glory, giving proof of His unending love. He was humiliated, beaten, spit upon, scourged and crucified for your sakes, yet instead of cursing even those people who cursed Him, He forgave them. Luke 23:33-34; Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 17:1-5, Matthew 18:21-22. Many preachers, pastors, generals, and crowd-pullers of today are fighting against one another, even to the point of going to Social media platforms to show forth their pride, iniquity, anger, jealousy, quarrellings, rivalries and strife. They lack the real things - Love, holiness, righteousness, and Mercy because they are at loggerheads with each other. They try to get crowds/multitudes into their Churches, but stand at the door to eternity, refusing them to enter in, and not even going in themselves. They are like whited sepulchres, hypocrites! Matthew 23:1-15, 28. When offended, they refused to be appeased, giving no room to the mercy of God. Jesus is God's Love made flesh. We need His grace to possess His kind of Love because we cannot love as He does by ourselves. Let us humble ourselves continually, for that is the only way we can be exalted by God. We are living in a dangerous time; and it is with the Bible that we will be judged- 1 John 2:5-11, 15-17. Therefore, "...let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth."1 John 3:13-18; 1 John 4:16-21; Revelation 2:1-4, 3:1.
Christianity started with Love...will continue with Love and will end with Love. No pastor, organization or church can change it.
REMAIN BLESSED!
Pst Ig Nwabuo