....very few people actually know what love is.
In our hypothetical survey just mentioned, we would doubtless find that everyone believes he or she knows what love is, though there would be a variety of answers. Many would say that "love" is having feelings of affection toward someone (or something). Some would say that "love" is being kind or helpful or compassionate toward others. And not a few would likely say that "love" is creative energy or universal brotherhood, or something along those lines. Yet, none of those descriptors actually defines what love is. Rather, they represent weak attempts to characterize various manifestations or operations, of love.
But what is love? Is love something which is inherent in our human nature? Does love come naturally to human beings? Is love something which may come to us unexpectedly? Is it possible sometimes to be "in", and at other times "out", of love? Is love always 'there'? Or, does it come and go like the wind? Does love exist in itself, apart from us; and is it thus something which we can somehow take (or receive) unto ourselves? Do we possess love, or does love possess us? Is love a feeling? Is it a force? Is love whatever anyone thinks it is? Who knows for sure what love is? Is there any way to determine what is love, and what is not? Who has authority, or wisdom enough, to decide what love is, and what it is not? Anyone? Everyone? No one?
As Christians, we should understand that the Bible has much to say about love. We should moreover believe what the Bible teaches us about love. Did you know that the Bible reveals a very precise definition of what love is? That definition has two parts, the first of which (as we should expect) has to do with God: "...God is love" (1 John 4:8,16).
Notice, if you will, the Bible does not say that God 'has' love, but that God Himself is love. In other words, whatever God is in Himself--His character, His mind, His will: that is what love is. What is love? God, is love.
The second part of the definition of love has to do with us, as individual human beings:
"And this is love, that we walk after his [God's] commandments" (2 John 6).On God's part, He is love; on our part, 'walking after [living according to] God's commandments', is love. We may then define love this way--
"Love" means: to be and to do as God is and as God does.How and what does God think? That is what and how 'love' thinks. Of what does God approve, and disapprove? That's precisely what 'love' approves and disapproves. What manner of speech comes from God's mouth? That is what and how 'love' speaks. What is God's will? That is what 'love' wills. What does God do? That's what 'love' does.
Whatever God does not think, does not approve, does not speak, does not will, does not do: that is what 'love' is not and does not.
Love is thus defined--at all times, in all places, and in every circumstance--as THAT WHICH IS ACCORDING TO GOD'S NATURE AND WILL.
When we think, and desire, and will, and speak, and act--in accordance with God's nature and will (in other words, when we "walk after his commandments"), we demonstrate "love".
Is love, then, some kind of a warm and fuzzy feeling? No; although, love can elicit such emotion. Is love, then, affection? In a very limited sense, it may be; but, only in the case that what is 'desired' is agreeable with God's desires, where that concerns the person(s) or thing(s) in question.
Are acts of kindness or helpfulness, love? Not necessarily. For, one can easily imagine the case--as, in fact, it happens millions of times every day in life--that some are kind, helpful, and even compassionate...toward God's enemies! For example, the actions of one who shows kindness or helpfulness toward a person who is engaged in murderous or other malicious activities, are not "love". It is therefore possible that actions which outwardly appear as deeds of good will, may in fact be evil deeds.
It is likewise true that, oftentimes, certain acts, which outwardly may appear as harsh or unloving (in the eyes of those who do not understand the true definition and nature of love) are, in fact, expressions of love. Consider the case of Hell. How, and why, does Hell exist? Did not God create Hell, and for His own holy reasons? Shall not God sustain Hell's existence, forever? Is Hell not violent and brutal, in the unimaginable extreme? Yet, according to the definition of love as herein elaborated, since Hell is perfectly agreeable with God's will and action, Hell must be an expression of love! Truly, it is; though it is not, of course, love to those who forever shall suffer Hell's torments. Nevertheless, Hell is an expression of Love [God] toward His own eternal Kingdom and its inhabitants. (Very briefly explained, the holy God must: a) avenge evil deeds and punish evildoers, because Justice is righteousness; and, b) Hell is necessary, as a place of eternal confinement of those eternally-existing spirits which adamantly refuse(d) to submit to God's authority.)
We see, then, that love MUST be evaluated and judged--not according to carnal, worldly standards, but according to the revelation of Scripture. Every aspect of our own lives, therefore, must also be evaluated and judged by that same Standard.
It may (and should) thus be said, that--in every thought, in every desire, in every choice, in every word, and in every deed: love is a CHOICE we make, one which is purposively aligned with what one knows and understands about God's nature and will.
Which brings us to ask another, unspeakably important question, namely: How can one think, and desire, and will, and speak, and act in accordance with God's nature and will--unless one knows and understands and believes the Bible? And how can anyone "love", at all, who rejects Christ?
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