“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned” (Song of Solomon 8:7).

The kind of love we, as Children of God share, cannot be bought; for it is a gift from God, based upon Christ’s Atonement for us. No money can buy this love; Christ has already paid the ransom price. Hallelujah!

This love is a Gift from God to His Regenerated Chosen People (Romans 5:5). This love proves that God loves us and dwells within us; and it is manifested by the way we love the brethren. (Read 1 John 4:7-21). However, this love is perfected (or brought to maturity) when we walk as He walked. (Read 1 John 2:4-6.)

“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:5)

“…and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”  (1 John 4:16b)

“Herein is our love made perfect…”  (1 John 4:17a)

On February 14th, the world celebrated Valentine’s Day, a day set aside to express love for another person. But this love is only the love of the flesh (the soul), unless Christ (Who is the Love of God) dwells and abides in the spirit of the person. The flesh’s love is superficial; it only views the outside from an inward lust. The flesh’s love is not firm or steadfast, because the origin is self and selfish lusts and motives. This fleshly love is built upon a foundation of sand, and not upon rock. Sand cannot uphold the house built upon it.

So it is for the world’s love in marriage. This kind of love is not single-eyed; therefore it is not faithful and loyal and enduring. This kind of love grows old and stale after a period of time. When adversity comes, when financial woes come, when jealousy arises, when lusts begin to roam to other pastures; then the storm reveals the foundation of sand, and the house falls, and great is its fall.

This kind of love will end in defeat and maybe even in murder. It is built upon beauty, fame, and fortune. It cannot last, for all of these things have wings and fly away. Age fades the outward beauty; sin fades any inner beauty; reputations and positions in society’s rank change in the blink of an eye.

This kind of love is built on the standard of this evil world and its goals. This kind of love is built on sinking sand and it will not last. Its fruit will wither and not remain. Its legacy, as the legacy of all sin, is hypocrisy. When the mask of deception is taken off, then the sandy foundation is revealed, and the house falls.

However, on the other side is the Love of God, which is placed in the marriage of those who are Children of God; those who are Regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God. As Song of Solomon 8:7 reveals, this love is priceless and it cannot be destroyed; not in this life nor in the world to come (Romans 8:29-39). This love can never be destroyed; because God, Who is Love, is Eternal; and because He dwells in the believer who is regenerated, who has received the Experience of Adoption (Romans 8:14-16), whereby he cries “Abba, Father.”

This kind of love is built upon The Rock, Christ Jesus. This kind of love grows and grows, and it bears fruit that remains forever. It is eternal; and God is the Sum, Substance, Origin, Author, and Sustainer of this kind of love. This kind of love produces the Fruit of the Spirit, “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance...” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; especially note verses 4-8a:

(4) “Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

(5) “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”

(6) “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”

(7) “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

(8) “Charity never faileth…”

Therefore, the marriages which possess this kind of love (charity) will not fail in the storm; but they will get stronger and stronger, and bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit; and this fruit will remain.

When this kind of love is present in a marriage, you do not hear: “We don’t have what we used to have.” “I am tired of trying.” “I have found someone else.” “We are only together for the kids’ sake.” “You don’t excite me anymore.” “I guess time and our careers have separated us.” These types of phrases are endless in divorce court.

But what you do hear is: “Yes, I love you more today that yesterday.” “You are perfect for me.” I love your body, soul, and spirit.” “I love you now, today, tomorrow, forever, and always.” “I will never, never, ever stop loving you..” “We will spend eternity together.” And so on, etc., etc.

The difference is great between the flesh’s love and God’s love. The flesh is a deceiver and will fail. God’s love is The Truth and will never fail. Hallelujah!

The flesh’s love is defeat and destruction; but God’s Love is Light and Life and Victory.

So today, we can praise God that we possess His love and that our foundation is The Rock, Christ Jesus. What we have to look forward to is Victory, Victory, Victory – and Growth, Growth, Growth – and Fruit, more Fruit, and much Fruit.