Love: The Difference Between Life and Death

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.  But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us know love in word, neither in tongue:  but in deed and in truth.  1 John 3:16-18

          I’m going to share a moment of truth here.  When I first opened my Bible up Monday morning for my GMG study and read “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning that we should love one another”  (1 John 3:11),  I thought – “Seriously, more verses on love.  Can’t we study on something else!”  I was used to James where he moved quickly from one subject to another.  Then immediately realizing my bad attitude I prayed about it (something I should’ve done from the beginning).  I realized that if John had written (and more importantly God had inspired) a whole book/letter on love and fellowship it was obviously important and he wanted it to sink in.  God showed me in the very next verse (v. 12) how important love is:  the difference between life and death. 

          It can literally be the difference between life and death.  Two such examples are Jesus and Cain.  Jesus showed the ultimate love by dying on the cross for a sinner like me (and you):  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13.  Even though he knew we would sin against him he still came to this earth, was mocked, suffered, and died all because he loved us.  On the other hand, you have Cain who did not have God’s love in his heart and killed his own flesh and blood, his brother, just out of jealousy.  See the difference love can make?   

          Love is also the difference between spiritual life and death. 

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.  He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  1 John 3:14

    The 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th verses (quoted above) elaborate on that true love that Christ places within our heart when he saves us.  A love that is not shown just through flattery or compliments but is put in action.   This love is selfless and may involve sacrifices made on our part.  However, if Jesus loved the church and our brothers and sisters enough to give his life for them don’t you think their welfare should be just as important to us?  After all what is our life but a vapor and what possession do we own that aren’t going to be corrupted?  Love is why you and I have the gift of eternal life and the love we show to others is also how we know the Holy Spirit and his love dwells within us.  Not only do we know it ourselves but others can see it too.  It truly is the difference between life and death.

“Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”  Norman Cousins