How Far Would You Go For Love?

It's the question on everyone's mind.  It's the question we think when it comes to our spouse, children, or best friend.  How far would you go for someone you really loved?  What would you do?  How long would you wait?

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.   That day when you wait to see what your significant other will get you.  Will is be a funny card?  Will it profess great love?  Will I get candy and flowers?  Dinner? 

I saw a movie yesterday with my husband; a chic flick you might call it.  "The Vow."  A movie based on true events of a husband and wife involved in a car accident in which the wife loses the past five years of her life. She wakes us not knowing her husband.  She remembers quite vividly everything from her life before they met.  He is crushed.  He has tried everything he can, but she will not cut him any slack.  He finally gives up, and gives her up; hoping deep down in his heart she will remember. She goes back to her "old" life and as time passes over the next six or so months things come back to her.  Not about her life just prior to the accident, but the reasons why she broke off her engagement, why she left home, why she left college.  She finally meets back up with her husband/ex-husband.  She never gains back her memory of those five years she lost, but she falls in love again with him, they get remarried, and have two children.  A happy ending.

I asked my husband what he would do if the same thing happened to us; we've been married for 20 years now.  He told me everything and anything to gain me back.  I would do the same.  I cannot imagine my life without my husband or children.  It definately would not be as full. 

God feels the same way about us.  He truly does.  He says it all over scripture.  He has gone to the extreme to get us back, to provide a way back to him.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son.  That whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16.  We all know that verse.  We see it everywhere, especially at sporting events when someone holds up the sign.  Tebow even puts it on his face before a game.  But do we really appreciate what it says?  I don't think we do.  If you really think about it, you will probably agree.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10  God loved us first.  If He didn't, He would never have created us and the world we live in. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15: 13-15.  Jesus tells us that we are His friends.  So giving up His life completely, being obedient to His Father's will (even after he experienced us in the flesh), He did so we would have a way to salvation.  God created a way when it seemed that mankind was doomed.  He was merciful to us.  He showed us grace. 

So what does real, true love look like for the believer?  Paul said it so well in 1 Cor 13: 4-8.  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails."  Love is putting the well-being of another person ahead of your own agenda.  It is not what can you give me, but how can I honor you.

So, we have year to think about this before the next Valentine's Day comes around.  However, if we truly love someone we will strive to make everyday Valentine's Day.  We will search out scripture about love and apply it to our lives. 

Don't wait another day to show someone you love them.  Our life here on earth is far too short.  Don't wait another day to tell someone you love them.  Don't assume they know. 

And above all, look to the most perfect lover of all time:  God!