LOVE IS ALIVE
There are many in this weary world who speak of love as though it were a fading memory, a frail sentiment, or a pleasant dream buried beneath the cold stones of human selfishness. Men sing of love while living in bitterness. They praise love while walking in pride. They write poems about it while their hearts remain barren and hard as winter soil. Yet the Word of God declares that love is not dead, for God Himself is love (1 John 4:8). The eternal fountain has not run dry. Heaven has not exhausted its mercy. The heart of Christ still burns with compassion toward sinners, and the cross still stands as the everlasting witness that divine love is alive.
Love was alive when the Father sent His only begotten Son into a world blackened by rebellion and sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Love walked the dusty roads of Galilee clothed in flesh and blood. Love touched the leper whom society cast away. Love opened blind eyes and cleansed stained souls. Love sat beside grieving sisters at the tomb of Lazarus and wept tears of holy tenderness (John 11:35). And when cruel hands nailed the Savior to the rugged tree, love did not retreat. It spread its arms wider still. The nails did not kill love. The spear did not silence love. Death itself could not bury the mercy of God.
The resurrection morning forever settled the matter. Christ arose triumphant from the grave, and therefore love is alive today. Had Jesus remained in the tomb, hope would have perished with Him. But the stone was rolled away, and everlasting love walked forth in resurrection glory (Matthew 28:5-6). The risen Christ still calls weary sinners to Himself. He still receives the broken, the ashamed, the wandering, and the guilty. There is no trembling soul who comes to Him in repentance and faith who shall be cast out (John 6:37). The heartbeat of heaven is still mercy.
One of the saddest conditions in the church is when truth is defended without tenderness and doctrine is spoken without compassion. Cold orthodoxy may possess correct words while lacking the warm flame of Christlike love. Yet the Savior was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Where genuine Christianity flourishes, love lives also. It breathes through acts of kindness, patience, forgiveness, humility, and sacrificial service. The Spirit of God produces this heavenly fruit within believers so that the life of Christ may be seen through them (Galatians 5:22-23). A loveless Christian is a contradiction of terms, like a lamp without oil or a well without water.
Love is alive in the quiet prayers of mothers who plead for wandering sons. Love is alive in faithful saints who suffer silently yet continue trusting God. Love is alive in missionaries who carry the gospel into hard and forgotten places. Love is alive wherever believers bear one another’s burdens and point broken hearts toward the Savior (Galatians 6:2). The world may celebrate hatred, division, vanity, and self-interest, yet the kingdom of Christ still advances through the power of holy love.
And what shall we say of that coming day when the redeemed stand before the throne clothed in white robes of victory? Faith shall become sight, and hope shall be fulfilled, but love shall never perish (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love was alive before the stars were hung in heaven. Love was alive at Calvary. Love is alive at this very moment through the risen Christ. And love shall remain alive through all the endless ages of eternity.
Therefore, child of God, do not surrender your heart to cynicism or despair. The world may grow darker, but divine love still shines brighter than ten thousand suns. Christ has not ceased loving His people. The Good Shepherd still carries lambs in His bosom (Isaiah 40:11). The Savior still intercedes for His own at the right hand of God (Hebrews 7:25). And the same love that redeemed us shall keep us until we stand safely in His presence forever.
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Lord Jesus, thank You that Your love is living, powerful, and eternal. Warm our cold hearts with the fire of heaven. Teach us to love as You have loved us, with humility, mercy, patience, and truth. Let Your love shine through our daily lives until the world sees Christ in us. Amen.
BDD
