EVERLASTING LOVE by John Orr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 1, 1899

EVERLASTING LOVE.

By John Orr

THE dividing line between love and emotional attachment is often lost sight of, so that the two are confounded one with the other; yet they are quite different in nature. The last is the fugitive growth of passion, or the response to some kindly office performed, and may wane, or cease altogether under changed circumstances. It is but the human power operating by the feeble promptings of the sin-decayed remnant of God's love originally given to man. But unadulterated love lives and acts with the same energy under all circumstances. Lack of appreciation does not dim its luster or retard its operation. It is deeper than mere sympathy, yet embraces it all. It is not confined to simple friendship, but reaches out to the rescue of the bitterest enemies.

Such love has its origin in Divinity,—in the Infinite One, the I AM. He is love itself; that is His nature, His being. So long as He is, so long will love be manifested, because His life is the manifestation of love. Man may do a good turn for another in appreciation of some benefit received, but God commends His love to us in this, that while we were yet sinners,—rebels against His government,—He provided for us an escape from the penalty of our disobedience. Rom. 5:7, 8.

This provision involved more than many have stopped to consider. First of all, when man had fallen, God gave His word of promise, in order that man might hope for mercy. Gen. 3:15; Rom. 15:4. All the angels of God were commissioned to assist man in his struggles with the power of evil. Heb. 1:14; Ps. 34:7. But this was not all; that connecting link between Father and Son,—the Holy Spirit,—was permitted to descend from above, and become a cord to bind helpless, finite man to the throne and power of the infinite God of love. In all these gifts there was loving service and sacrifice. Heaven afforded but one more offering in all its resources. God had an only Son, the very image of His own purity and goodness, on whom infinite love had bestowed the government of the universe. Col. 1:15-17. If necessary, will He yield up this Son to save poor lost man, sunken to the entire depths of degradation and vileness? Can He love the debased and worthless remnant of manhood enough to give up for him His highly-honored and much-beloved Son? The answer is plain: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should no perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

And the Son consented to this plan. He who was rich in all that is valuable in the universe, descended to the lowest level of poverty, in order to supply with true riches those who had lost all through sin. 2 Cor. 8:9; Matt. 8:20. But when He came to earth, He had no form of beauty to commend Him to human desire; He was filled with sorrow at man's condition; He was despised for His goodness; He was oppressed on every hand, and dragged as an innocent lamb to the slaughter; yet no one was found to pity or comfort Him; and He died on the cross with a broken heart. Isa. 53:2-7; Ps. 69:20.

This treatment was not, however, because Christ failed to manifest God-given power. He rebuked the stormy winds and the angry waves, so that they instantly subsided. Matt. 8:22-27. He healed all manner of disease with His word alone. Matt. 15:30, 31. He made glad the hearts of the afflicted by raising their dead friends, in one case where the taint of corruption had begun its work of dissolution. Luke 7:12-16; John 11:36-44. And yet the opportunity was sought by those whom He loved and came to save, to put Him away from their midst. After His betrayal by one who professed to love Him, He was mocked, derided, and spit upon in the house of the high priest; was falsely condemned, and led to execution, surrounded by a howling mob.

Nailed to the cross as a malefactor, He was not only taunted by His enemies, but those who had sat at His feet as disciples for three years, fled away in fear, leaving Him without a comforter in His expiring agony. What love of God to suffer such indignities heaped upon His only-begotten Son! "Why was it?" we ask in wonder. The answer is found in the declaration that "God so loved the world." Only for this love, God could easily have withdrawn His Son from the earth and let vile man perish. But with His infinite love for the fallen, He must let the drama be enacted to the bitter end.

The Son of God was spared but one outrage, tho not this till after He had passed life's boundary. It seems that Jewish criminals were buried with ignominy in the Valley of Hinnom, in the midst of the unclean dust heaps of the city of Jerusalem and the ashes of the burned offal of the temple sacrifices. As culprits they were not permitted to be laid in the common burial-place of the community.

This, however, was not permitted to befall the divine Saviour. Two rich and honorable men, Joseph and Nicodemus, were impressed to brave the public sentiment, and give the dear Lord a decent burial. Waiting on Pilate, Joseph asked for the body and procured it, possibly by offering money for the same. He had a new tomb cut out of the rock, at no great distance away, which had never been used, and to this a few of the near friends of Jesus tenderly bore Him, sacredly depositing there the hallowed burden.

It was a hurried burial, for already the deepening shadows of the Sabbath were drawing on; yet some lingered before the tomb as mourners until the Sabbath requirements drew them to their homes, and they reluctantly left their charge to sleep through God's appointed rest, after having, through unfathomable love, won for the world the way into eternal joy.

JOHN ORR.