p. 131 | The Proof of Love

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 20, 1864

The Proof of Love.

THE King of Armenia not fulfilling his engagement, Cyrus entered the country, and having taken him and all his family prisoners, ordered them instantly before him.

'Armenius,' said he, 'you are free; for you are now sensible of your error. And what will you give me if I restore your wife to you?'

'All that I am able.'

'What if I restore your children?'

'All that I am able.'

'And you, Tigranes,' said he, turning to the son, 'What would you do to save your wife from servitude?'

Now Tigranes was but lately married, and had great love for his wife. 'Cyrus,' he replied, 'to save her from servitude, I would willingly lay down my life.'

'Let each have his own again,' said Cyrus; and when he departed, one spoke of his clemency, another of his valor, another of his beauty and the graces of his person; upon which Tigranes asked his wife 'if she thought him handsome?'

'Really,' said she, 'I did not look at him.'

'At whom, then, did you look?'

'At him who offered to lay down his life for me!'

Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends. Tigranes was willing to die for his wife. But while we were yet enemies, Christ died for us. How far this love all earthly love excels!

The wife of Tigranes did not look at the king in his beauty. She could only look on him who was willing to die for her. What shall we desire in Heaven more than to look on the face of Him who did die for us? There is beauty, glory, infinitely resplendent glory in Heaven, and eye hath not seen, nor heart conceived it, but nothing there will so attract the believer's gaze, as the face of Him who gave His life for sinners. Wonderful love! Unspeakable love! And we may look on Him and love forever.

A young man who had lost his mother, to whom he was most tenderly attached, had often expressed a strong desire to go to Heaven that he might once more meet his beloved mother. As he had no interest in religion, his desire for Heaven had no higher object than this. Some time afterward, he became a Christian, and when asked about the anticipations of meeting his mother in Heaven, he said, 'It seems to me as if I should want to gaze upon my Saviour a thousand years, before thinking of any one else.'

Christ had laid down his life for him. He would not look at another.