Life is full of lessons: we learn something (good or bad) from each experience. Hindsight often makes the lesson clear. I’ve gone from not feeling loved to experiencing love, but before you “exit” from this story – this is for everyone’s benefit, so keep reading. If it happened for me; it WILL happen for you too, if you seek “Love”.
Before we seek the experience of love, we need to know what love is and what it is not or we will be searching for something “unknown.” And how hard is that!? Finding something we truthfully don’t comprehend or only understand from what’s been defined as “love” by the world surrounding us will leave us in a bad place. I’ve found the world (secular) view to be deceptive, it keeps us “unsatisfied” in experiencing love. I’ll give some contrasting comparisons to prove this (the message the world gives us = lies vs. the truth):
LOVE IS FOUND THROUGH MONEY VS. THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
The lie: The world view tells us if we accumulate money then we will be satisfied, so people seek money to satisfy themselves. But does that eliminate the drama in people’s lives? Not at all. People with money have drama and unsatisfaction just as much as those who don’t. In fact people with money are targets for “parasite people” – ones that will use whatever means they have to “life off” the person with money, definitely not love, but being someone gets used for their money.
The truth: Loving money will cause people to do evil: lying, cheating, manipulating, deceiving, harming others to get money. Love isn’t obtained through money. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) God is love. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
NUMB THE PAIN OF FEELING UNLOVED: ALCOHOL/DRUGS WILL MAKE US HAPPY VS. NOT HAVING A SOBER MIND WILL INFLICT MORE PAIN.
The lie: The world view associates “fun, happiness” with drinking but doesn’t mention the side effects of excessive drinking: headaches, vomiting, embarrasing moments, bad moral decisions, addictions, unhealthy unattractive physical condition, physical and mental disabilities as a result of drinking. While drinking may numb the pain temporarily, it causes more pain later and it doesn’t solve the problem, but creates more problems.
The truth: Alcohol in moderation is okay, and no alcohol at all is even better. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) and “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (1 Peter 4:7)
GET RID OF “HIM OR HER” VS. LOVE NEVER LETTING GO.
The lie: The world view tells us to dispose of anything we don’t want: ie. pregnancies, children, people in general, and recently elderly people- we are seeing this in Canada. While there are good reasons to let go of unhealthy, harmful people in our lives, “getting rid of someone” certainly doesn’t apply to children or people because we simply don’t want the responsibility for, or “tire” of them, or because once they “did something for us” but now it’s “don’t feel anything for them” so get rid of him or her and eliminate that responsiblity. This is a lie that will destroy us and our world.
The truth: Love never lets go. We see this in God’s character: He doesn’t let go, He keeps pursuing, He continues to love us despite our ways that don’t please Him. We are valuable to God, so valuable that He sent His Son, Jesus to rescue us, to die for us, to pay for us, to save us from the grip or slavery that evil has on us. Evil will take us to a place of eternal unsatisfaction and torture, but deceives us with mottos such as “Care Diem!” Live for the day- in a reckless way that won’t allow us to receive the good things God has prepared for us. It’s a great deception: short-term thinking, not looking at how the way we live and what we choose having eternal consequences. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) God showed us the greatest love possible.
COSMETIC SURGERY WILL BRING LOVE VS. WE ARE VALUABLE AS WE WERE CREATED.
The lie: changing the outward appearance does not bring love! It won’t make someone love us more. There are many attractive people whose partner cheated on them. The world view today encourages extreme changes (man into woman and vice versa) and it seems these people inwardly just want to be loved by someone. They are hurt, unloved and seeking love they do not know.
The truth: We are valuable as we are, as God made us. God made us in the image of Him! We are so valuable to God that He sent His one and only son to die for us to make it possible for us to be with God in eternity. Our outward appearance will not be perfected (glorified) until the day Jesus returns and we are raised to be with God. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep (die), but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15). Mankind was damaged, corrupted by evil, so we don’t need to place so much emphasis on our outward appearance, we are in temporary bodies that will be changed. What is inside us is more valuable than the outside appearance. Even if someone is considered beautiful or attractive today, with enough time, that physical beauty will change, age, die and decompose. The body we have is temporary but what is inside is valuable and remains forever.
BUYING LOVE VS. ACCEPTING PRESENT LOVE.
The lie: This relates to money, the world view tells us if we have money we can “buy love”- but that’s a fake love if we can “buy it”, so is a “fake love” satisfying in the end? Just like everything: it’s temporary and won’t be satisfying long term. Anyone who chooses this is being “short-sighted” not seeing long term reality.
The truth: God’s love is present- always. He is merciful, forgiving, loving, and patient with us. When we personally experience God’s love, it will change us. This is the only love we need to seek. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 7 – the words of Jesus)
DEMANDING LOVE VS. PATIENCE IN LOVE.
The lie: The world view shows us that we can demand love and therefore receive it. What a joke, although it’s not funny, but ridiculous, but some people believe this; those who are sadly deceived. They will find out this is a lie. We can’t “force” someone to love us, either they will or they won’t. So if we find out they don’t, let them go, they were not meant for us.
The truth: God is patient with us and loves us. He pursues us but also waits for us to get to know Him. We learn how to love from God (alone) through scripture. The characteristics of love are important to recognize especially because God is love, so the following describes the character of God:
“4 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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. “(1 Corinthians 13)
FIND A RICH PARTNER VS. GENEROUS GIFTS ARE ALREADY PRESENT.
The lie: The world view slang calls it “a sugar daddy” or “sugar momma” and some single people search for this as their most important criteria due to their love of money. They won’t be satisfied, they still will want something “more.” Mankind is imperfect and will never be the ultimate provider.
The truth: God gives great gifts to those who love and obey Him. He is the supplier, provider of all things, so we won’t find anyone greater. If we love God, He will provide all we need in life. “13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. (Deuteromomy 11)
and
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)
and
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.(2 Corinthians 9:8)
COMPARISON/ENVY/JEALOUSY VS. CONFIDENCE.
The lie: The world promotes beauty, luxurious material things making us feel if we don’t have them we won’t experience happiness. This subliminal message causes people to compare, envy and be jealous of others.
The truth: When we comprehend our value to God we will have confidence in our value, our worth. Jesus described it this way: 12 “What do you think? If a man (symbolic of God) owns a hundred sheep (symbolic of people), and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.(Matthew 18) We are important and valuable to God. Jesus wouldn’t have died on the cross to redeem us if this wasn’t true.
LOVE CHOICES: THE “TROPHY” PARTNER VS. GOOD MORAL CHARACTER.
The lie: The world emphasises beauty rather than moral character.
The truth: Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthian 15:33) This happened to many people throughout scripture, it led people to their physical and often eternal destruction (Samson, Solomon, Ahab and others).
SEEK REVENGE FOR WRONG DOING VS. LET IT GO.
The lie: The world loves vengence and seeks it, but doesn’t seem to know right from wrong. What some think “is right” is wrong in the opinion of others. If there is only one truth; which is correct? On whose opinion do we rely?
The truth: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3) and “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
UNFORGIVENESS VS. FORGIVENESS.
The lie: We can’t forgive some people.
The truth: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15) and “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) God forgives! If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) and Micah the prophet tells us:
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.“(Micah 7:18)
UNSAFE LOVE VS. PROTECTION IN LOVE.
The lie: The world relies on mankind, nations, alliances for protection.
The truth: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” (Psalm 118:8)
LOVE LIES VS. TRUTH/TRUST.
The lie: The world tells us that “my truth” is truth.
The truth: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3) Truth is found in love. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6) “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
DESTROYING VS. BUILDING UP (HOPE).
The lie: There is no hope.
The truth: Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. (Job 8:13)For what hope have the godless when they are cut off, when God takes away their life? (Job 27:8) But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.(Psalm 9:18) For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.(Psalm 37:9) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; (Lamentations 3:25) And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4) in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,(Titus 1:2) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
ABANDONMENT VS. STAYING.
The lie: The world tells us if someone or something isn’t serving you, leave it.
The truth: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galations 5:13) “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,”(Ephesians 6:7) “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”(Luke 4:8)
LOVE FAILS VS. SUCCESS IN LOVE.
The lie: The world tells us: most marriages end in divorce, and those who stay married are unhappy, so stay single and have sex with whomever you want.
The truth: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(Genesis 2:18) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? …(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”(Proverbs 27:17) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22) Marriage CAN be good, but getting married to the wrong person (an ungodly person) is not God’s intention:” Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthian 15:33) “No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.”(Deuteronomy 23:2)– the forbidden people are the ones who are idolatrous and don’t serve God. “He followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.”(2 Kings 8:27) “Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’” (Ezra 9:2) “Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.” (Nehemiah 13:26) “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”(Hebrews 13:4) “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”(Revelation 21:8), “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”(Revelation 22:15) This is where each person’s decision has consequences which can be good or bad.
SELF-LOVE VS. LESS-SELF/ SELFLESS LOVE.
The lie: The self-love the world values: having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness, taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing anything to take care of others, promoting selfishness, conceitedness, egotism, narcissism, et al.
The truth: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”(Deuteronomy 6:5) Our focus should be on God, His will, not ours. Jesus showed us by his example when he knew the upcoming crucifixion he was facing and asked God if there was any other way to do this, but then surrendered saying “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:41-43) Love is selfless not selfish.
All these lies we hear from world views keep us “unsatisfied,” continually seeking “false love,” or giving up on love completely as a result interactions with ungodly people, and from not knowing the truth, when we define love from a worldly view. God is Love. God loves us. God is all we need and when we feel like we have nothing because of what the world says, this is important to remember. God is a loving Father, a provider, a comforter, a gift giver, compassionate, generous, merciful, forgiving, a protector, a refuge; everything good comes from God. He pursues us, we are valuable to Him, He sent His son Jesus to save us. He knows the number of hairs on our head- intimately knowing us better and more completely than anyone else does or ever did and He loves us continually. God has unimaginable good plans for our future, for those who seek Him, and love Him in return. The evil in the world tries to overcome the goodness of God, but remember the words of Jesus:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
“… Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Mark 10:18
Knowing God is knowing Love!
S.A.I.L. 