The Ultimate Love Story

St. Valentine's Day was originally an early Christian remembrance of a couple of church leaders, both named Valentine, who were martyred for their faith, that is killed by an oppressive regime because they refused to dis the Jesus who they followed. The consumer takeover of the holy day is not unusual today, but is very misleading. Sometime during the Romantic period in Europe, Chaucer and others helped make the shift towards a celebration of Romantic Love rather than a remembrance of Sacrificial Love. The result is the benefit of the market place today, especially for those who sell greeting cards, flowers, food in restaurants and movie experiences.

All of that aside, if we return to the heart of the holy day, we are reminded that Love is Sacrificial, not just Romantic. The warm fuzzies come and go, but sacrifical love is here to stay, come hell or high water. According to Jesus, this sacrificial love doesn't come easy, but is our true source of joy in this life. "I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it-- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." (John 15:11-13)

Jesus clearly shows us how to really love, and that love unavoidably involves sacrifice: It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began-- to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:9)

True romance doesn't happen at 8 pm on Valentine's Day, as a guilty husband or boyfriend runs into Walmart to purchase some discount flowers to bring home to an expectant spouse or girlfriend. True Romance is love that is sacrificial and well-thought out. It is the thought put into these acts of love that makes it special. A dozen roses is here today and gone tomorrow, but true sacrificial love stays the course.

Our God was not at the Roman equivalent of Walmart at the last minute purchasing cheap flowers for humanity to prove His love. No, our God’s love was well thought out, extravagant, sacrificial, and planned before the World began… Jesus is not an afterthought, Jesus is sacrificial love in the flesh. His story, God's story is the ultimate love story...

For God so loved the world... that He created it, and never left.

For God so loved the world.... that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus came not to condemn, but to save. (John 3:16-17) Jesus comes to us as sacrificial love, personified, in the flesh and spirit, and hopes to transform us into His likeness. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35)

The ultimate love story is "the" story, "our" story. We must simply begin to live into it, not in our own strength, but indwelled by the One who is sacrificial love. Our response is submission, acceptance and joy! THE ULTIMATE LOVE STORY is still playing out…

How does the Story END?

We don’t know the exact Time and Place… Only God Does.

But… We do know How it Ends (READ Revelation 21)

See, the End is only the Beginning!