Well, did that title get your attention? Sure got mine! Valentine's Day is fast approaching and the marketing geniuses are telling us it is time to show our love to that special someone. If you haven't been doing it all along, what makes you think it is real this time!?!
Did you ever stop to think that love is not something we show, but is rather the natural result of who we are? Love is not something we can "muster up" or "rustle up" or "pull off the shelf." If it's not there all the time, it's just a vague shadow of the real thing. Love comes from understanding who we are, and who's we are. If we are left to our nature, we share only out of our excess, our abundance - and then only when we can't think of how we might need that in the future. After all, "God helps those who help themselves," right? WRONG! Show me where the Bible says that! It clearly states that God helps and provides for those who "Think as with sound judgement" (Rom 12:3). If you want to see what love really looks like just look to the cross. Jesus set aside His own (authority, power, agenda, you name it) and put our (broken nature, destination, punishment) before His. He was the epitimy of love. Look at 1Cor 13 to see how Paul describes love.
So, Revelations? Really? Surely you jest?!
Not at all. When you consider our natural condition (sinful to the core if left to our own devices - lustful, greedy, self centered, self serving, selfish, harsh, judgemental, jealous, angry, and on and on....you know, putting us first), you see that the only real love we have is for ourselves. I'm sure many would take issue with this, "I do good things, I help others, etc". But are they what you do, or who you are?
Now God, being who He is (that's like a flea trying to explain the St. Bernard he is riding on!) according to 1Jo 4:16, is love. Notice not loves us, or shows His love for us - those are used many other places, but IS LOVE. Ask Him to really show you what that means. You will be astounded! Here are a few to check out:
Zep 3:17
Rom 8:39
John 3:16
1 Cor 2:9
1 Jo 4:7
1 Jo 4:8
1 Jo 4:10
1 Jo 4:12
OK, so go read 1 John, especially chapter 4!
But, Revelations? No Way!
Have you every read Revelations? Not study Eschatology (end times), or trying to figure out the Rapture, Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, blah, blah, blah! Just pray, "Father, open my eyes." Then read it? This is the story of the extent God will go to get your attention. This is the story of how much He wants all of us to be in Heaven with Him. This is the story of our choice - Law or Grace? Remember? This is a warning of what the end result of Law will be (Judgement - OUCH!). This is the story of what we really deserve, but have been saved and redeemed from at the cross. This is the story of where putting ourselves on the throne of our lives will lead. This is the story of the justice we demand all the time - Thank you Father, that you don't give me what I deserve! You give me Grace upon Grace! All Praise be to You!
Most of all, this is the story of the end of the curse. The curse from back in Genesis 3, when we (yes, we!) were kicked out of the Garden. Well, God is welcoming us (yes, us!) back. It is the story of the fulfillment of the hope we have in Christ. It is the story of getting a glimpse of eternity with Him, and our Big Brother, Jesus. It is the story of the end of suffering, pain, tears, loneliness, dispair. It is the story of life as God intended it for us. Now there is a true love story.
I wait with bated breath! Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
