Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
I was recently reminded of the Andy Williams song, "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," which describes some of the splendors of love with these phrases: "It's the April rose that only grows in early spring; love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living; the golden crown that makes a man a king."
These words put limits on love that weren't intended from the beginning because they're based on whimsical emotion triggered by physical contact (the kiss and the touch). Although, I like that, too!
First, most rose plants bloom throughout summer rather than being limited to spring, although each flower lasts only a short time. Otherwise, rose plants are perennial, withstanding the tests of extreme summer and winter conditions, whether or not flowers are present.
The Bible says people are like flowers flourishing for a time, but then fading away (Psalm 103:15-16). That said, like the rose plant, we can flourish and bloom to produce seed or fruit when appropriate if we base our lives on the Word of God (Psalm 1:1-6; John 1:1-4, 14, 17-18).
Second, the song says that love is nature-based. That's true only when one realizes the basis for nature is God, who provides all things, including the ability to show love (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24-25; 1 John 4:7-19). One of. the characters in the Bible's love song calls himself the Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon Songs 2:1).
Church songs recognize this person as being Jesus himself, who's equal to God (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30; 14:6-11). This rose, however, is eternal, never fading (Hebrews 13:8; 1:10-12).
Third, love is "the golden crown that makes a man a king." Love makes any person royalty when they respond to God's love with unending faithfulness (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 2:10; 22:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Consequently, unlike flowers, we must make sure our love for God doesn't fade, because his love for us doesn't (Matthew 24:12-13; Psalm 103:17-18, 1-14; 1 Corinthians 13:8).
We show our love for God simply by obeying his commands by getting forgiveness and continuing to seek forgiveness on his terms (John 14:15-21; Acts 2:38-39; 5:32; Romans 7:14-25; 8:1-17; 1 John 1:5-10; 3:1-3; 5:1-3, 13). We can only become separated from God's love by our own doing because his love has already been proven through Jesus' death on the cross, which cannot be undone (John 3:16-21; 10:27-29; Romans 8:31-39; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 2:20-22; Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:2-12).
As mentioned, we show our love to God is by continuing to obey his commands for life, loving him and others as he loved us (John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:1-2). Otherwise, whatever we do will be to no avail (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The words of Williams' song, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," are correct when placed in the context of God's love for us.
Have you shown your love to God by becoming his child (Galatians 3:26-4:7; 5:24-25; Romans 6:3-11; Acts 22:16)?
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]
