God Is Love by Wm. Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1914

God Is Love

By Wm. Covert

WM. COVERT

THIS short sentence of only three words, "God is love," comprises in its enfolding a thousand volumes of richest lore. These volumes with opened pages are spread before us in the sun, the moon, and the stars; and their contents are printed legibly over all the highlands, meadows, and plains where the children of men dwell. But only a small per cent of our entire race have ever learned to read these open books. The reason so few out of earth's teeming millions have learned to read the books in God's great library of nature is because sin has blurred the perceptive faculties of men.

When God planned to make those things which the eyes of men behold, he also planned that man should know him, love him, and enjoy his works. It is because God is love that his works abound; and it was because of his love for us that we were given being. His purpose was that we should have mind sufficient to give him pleasure in our ability to know him and his works. Paul speaks of "the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." This primal wisdom cannot be given to the princes of this world, because of their separation from God. And in the absence of this wisdom the princes of this world went so far astray as to crucify the Lord of glory, who was the sum of all wisdom and the incarnation of love.

The wisdom God's love intended was enjoyed by Adam the day he was made. Then he knew the thoughts of God in what he saw, so that when the newly created animals were made to pass before him he gave a name to each one according to its true character.

When God spoke to Job concerning the glad time of creation, he said, "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Job 38:7. Everything everywhere was in perfect accord. Then every heart vibrated in union with the thoughts of God, and every faculty in all nature expressed itself in shouts of joy. God was speaking through his works, and his thoughts were made audible. Every flower that opened its beauty to the eye, and every tree that was breathing through its foliage of green, was saying, "God is love." All sounds blended into music, and all creatures filled their places well. The love of God and his handiwork on that glad day were read in the glowing heavens, the lofty trees, the singing birds, the clinging vines, and in the joy that made every heart glad. Joy like the joy of that day would have been perpetuated forever if sin had not come.

Sin entered this world, and discord followed. The fall brought confusion, and marred the beauty of what God had written. Transgressions made scars, and blight brought decay. Tears furrowed human faces, and sorrows caused bitterness of soul. Unkind words separated friends, and animosities grew into sore trials.

However, God's plan is to destroy sin and restore the perfection of beauty. Then the eyes of the blind are to be opened, and the ears of the deaf are to be unstopped. The tongue of the dumb is to sing, and the limbs of the lame are to be made supple. Then the light of God's glory will drive darkness away, and the life of God will conquer death and bring the righteous dead from their graves.

But God designs that his love shall now be manifested in the lives of men. The Spirit of the Lord longs to rule in all hearts, and to place the scepter of righteousness there. When the love of God is enthroned in the soul, no jealousies will be there, no harshness of spirit will ruffle a sensitive mind nor cause the timid a pain.

It is now that God is love. This is the world where that love is to do its work. In this world where sinners live is the place where sinners are to be converted. It is God's love that is to lead them to repentance now. In glory our service of love may be appreciated, but in the land of sorrow is the place where it is needed. It is now that God would have it manifested through us.