It’s that time of year again where hearts are plastered in every shopping venue there is. Way too much candy is dressed up in pink and red, cute and cuddly stuffed animals are looking extra plush, but none of it prevents the last minute rush to find something for that special someone – seriously, the date came out of nowhere, right? Personally, we’re not that big on the Valentine’s Day celebration. The corny line I could use is that we love each other every day and not just on February 14th… or that we don’t need a “holiday” to give each other gifts that say “I love you”… or there’s no reason to wait for a certain time of year to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out. So many cheesy things to say.
Ever notice how Valentine’s Day brings out the corny one-liners (more than usual, that is) and the antics that prove to be more cliché than not? It’s V-day, so here’s some flowers… it’s V-day, so here’s a box of chocolates… it’s V-day, so let’s go out on a nice date… it’s V-day, here’s a pricy piece of jewelry that you really don’t need… the list goes on and on. I’m so glad that God doesn’t show His love for us on only one day of the year. Can you imagine God showing us His love in such a ridiculous fashion? Maybe He does…
We took a rather big vacation before the “pandemic” became known. We ventured to Southeast Asia in January and February of 2020 and started hearing reports of the Wuhan Virus while we were there. We stayed off the internet as much as possible so as not to give our minds too much information to spin wildly out of control. We even had to deal with our return flights being canceled! “Pandemic aside – the sights, the smells, and the flavors of Southeast Asia were more than we had imagined! From Ninh Binh, Vietnam, that has awe-inspiring caves, karstic rock formations, and exotic vegetation to Krabi, Thailand, with the tranquil beaches, unlimited nearby islands to explore, and even more tropical treats – we experienced daily reminders of God’s love in the tapestry of the world He created for us. Need more? Okie dokie…
As we made our way across the country this past fall, when we moved from Alaska to North Carolina, we decided that we would take a detour to the Grand Canyon. Even though we had spent years in Colorado as teenagers, we had never ventured to one of the seven natural wonders of the world that was closest to us. A family member advised us to not just go and take a few pictures, but to take a seat and spend no less than ten minutes looking out over the expanse. Ten minutes? Are you kidding? We made a day of it! We stopped at the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater first for the history lesson provided, ate a picnic lunch and then spent the afternoon touring the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Absolutely breathtaking! I’m not sure there are words that can adequately express the beauty in every direction we turned.
Those are just two instances in the last year that were BIG instances. I could also site the beauty and ruggedness of Alaska, the spectacular sunsets over the Rocky Mountains, and the aromatic blossoms we were welcomed with in North Carolina (in November!). God absolutely shows His love for us in the world He created – some in ridiculous fashion (have you ever seen a platypus?)
“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 abridged (NIV)
The apostle Paul prayed that we would somehow grasp God’s love – how wide, long, high, deep, and surpassing knowledge! Knowing that God is good tells me that we were not set up to fail, but it’s something else entirely! It’s almost like a challenge: to choose to see how He loves us in every moment of every day. Are we going to see every picture that depicts His love for us? Will we comprehend every way that He demonstrates how crazy He is for us? Are we capable of diving to the deepest depths of the ocean of His love?
I can’t help but be reminded of D. L. Moody’s book, “The Way to God and How to Find it.” He made an interesting illustration regarding God’s love that surpasses knowledge. Imagine being like Christopher Columbus. He came to the New World, but did he ever see the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the western coastline, or the Great Lakes? He died without ever laying eyes on those and many other beauties to be seen in America alone! That’s how it is with our experiencing God’s love.
Brennan Manning (1934-2013) was an author who pushed to share God’s unconditional love with the world. One of his many popular and influential books is “The Ragamuffin Gospel.” In this he penned a beautiful illustration of God’s love:
“I could more easily contain Niagara Falls in a teacup than I can comprehend the wild, uncontainable love of God.”
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'” Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
Well there it is… It’s not just wide, long, high, deep, and surpassing knowledge, but now it’s everlasting! Great! Let’s add “beyond dimension” to the list! (As if we were close to having it all figured out). God’s love not only covers the life and trials we face, but also that of those who came before us and will come after us! The mistakes that every generation has made or will make are encompassed in God’s love for us! If you need a reference that proves this out, may I direct your attention to look at the cross where Jesus died? His sacrifice of love that’s wide, long, high, deep, and surpassing knowledge was and is everlasting for all and for all time!
Is there a part of us that desires to be loved? Yes! God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27), gave us His very own life-breath (Genesis 2:7), and has a deep, incomprehensible desire for a relationship with each of us individually (John 17). God is the ultimate Valentine who woos us at every turn, in every way, and in every day. He goes so far beyond the sugar-laden treats, the cheap stuffed plushes, the flowers that wither and pass away, and gives us love that causes the most expensive jewels to pale in comparison.
I challenge you to seek out illustrations of His love. Many are obvious while others require a measure of faith (He’s given you that, too! Romans 12:3). God’s love is wide, long, high, deep, surpassing knowledge, and everlasting. I used to find it a bit cliché when I would hear or read the words, “God is love,” but not anymore. It all ties together and makes perfect, surpassing knowledge sense. This coming Valentine’s Day and all of the days till the next one, we can show love. We can be cheesy or original… we can stick with the typical side of V-day expectations or buck the system. However you’re able to show pure, genuine love – do it! Just remember who did it first and did it best.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 (NIV)
“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15 (NIV)
“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” I John 4:15-19