Love
The
Mystery of Love
God’s love for us is so amazing, indeed it
is a mystery!
Submitting yourselves one to another
in the fear of God. 22 Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of
the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of
the body. 24 Therefore
as the church is subject unto Christ, so let
the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So
ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife
loveth himself. 29 For
no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as
the Lord the church: 30 For
we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two
shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless
let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the
wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:21-33 (KJV),
emphasis added
All across America, another “love” which is
not based on selflessness and personal sacrifice and commitment, but on sensual
lust is broadcasted in schools, Disney, films, and pop culture (pagan culture).
Which type of love do you consider to be real love?
The
cultures love definition is: Love is a feeling; it gives me everything I want,
it allows me to fantasize away may days and drool over the body of my beloved.
It is a strong attractive force which makes a kiss a worldwind, and without it
it isn’t love. Romance is physical! With this said, sleeping together should be
the greatest explosion and excitement of passion and thrive for two lovers.
Comment: Why do we “love” like this? Because honestly, this is the
definition that most seem to live by even if they won’t verbally admit to it. Why
don’ we choose to show Biblical love to the one who God gives us to love, why
don’t we show sacrificial commitment to that man (or woman) that God gives us
to have and to hold? Whether or not we feel bubbly and infatuated with them? A
good friend who extends his hand in marriage will make a fine lover and
husband, so why do we over-romanticize things? Has Shakespeare and others so
overwhelmed our minds that we do not have the perspective of the Bible any
longer? If it so that the Bible has departed from our worldview, we need to
repent and change our views.
I was deceived, largely because of
television, that love was about finding someone who made me happy and would
“get physical.” Because of this, I spent the first twelve to thirteen years of
my life pursuing “the ladies.” I proposed five times, I gave my heart away on
numerous occasions, I entertained many thoughts and crushes that I shouldn’t
have. I may have been young—my mother says I’ve “liked” girls since I was
born—but the effects have been deep nonetheless. It was only by God’s grace
that He kept me physically pure. Mentally and spiritually I can guarantee that
I was not pure. Physically, I had never stepped so far as to kiss a young lady,
although I burned with passion to do so. I very thankful for this, because on
my wedding day, my wife will be the first and only woman that I will kiss, and
I will love her with a love that is far more than a mere physical love.
I’ve
found two mindsets compete in during the time that one must wait for a spouse:
Pride (I can find the right person) and Humility (Lord, I will serve you and
trust you to guide me to the companion you have for my life).
Christ
displayed true love: it’s sacrificial
God the Father gave us the greatest
illustration of love that there is: He sacrificed His own Son (yea, literally
Himself) for you and me. Love is not a feeling. It is not sensual, it is not an
emotion that overwhelms you. You don’t fall into it and you don’t climb out of
it. True love is committed as we saw before, but it is also sacrificial.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down our
lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16 (KJV)
