THE WILL TO LOVE - Vital Christianity

6We live in a world starved for love! Most of us already agree that love is the mostimportant ingredient in life. D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of love, advised his successor,“Dr. Eerdman, give the people the importance of love. If they are right here, they will be right95 percent of the time.”Much has been written on the importance of loving, but little has been written on whatlove is. Unless we understand the biblical meaning of love with its many facets, we will beunable to love properly, scripturally.The word “love” has been a foggy, hazy concept to most people. Hollywood has beenquite successful in giving the word a new meaning: today people in general, as well as Christiansin particular, have come to see this word in mostly emotional terms. The expression, “falling inlove” has taken over the biblical concept of “choosing to love.” As a result, people have come tofeel that love is something that mysteriously “happens” over which they have no control. As awhole culture and society we have become prisoners of this adulterated “love” and the result isthe pervasive and tragic breakup of marriages and families, because if you can “fall in” love youcan just as easily “fall out” of love.Tragically, the word love has become the most misunderstood, perverted word in theEnglish language. It has become so misunderstood that it has lost most of its content and power.And it is up to those of us who are Bible believing Christians to restore its meaning once again.For we have the Bible which is our only infallible, authoritative source.We all know that love is shrouded with mystery. In analyzing this wonder it is not mypurpose to try to dispel its wonder (which would be not only impossible but also foolish), butto dispel some of the fog that surrounds it, and to distinguish reality from illusion and truth fromsentimentality.It is my utmost hope that the following pages will have a part in giving back content andthus power to this most important virtue.God’s kingdom is being retarded because so many of us who name the name of Christexhibit so little evidence of Christian love in our hearts.May we, as Christians, learn the real meaning of love and practice it so that the worldwill see our unity which will in turn lead them to acknowledge our Lord and Savior. May weproclaim Him with our lives as well as with our lips! We need a baptism, a revival, of His love!