Christ’s greatest desire is to save me from the power of sin and reveal His beautiful character to me. The Plan of Salvation is therefore intended to show me the image of God and then restore it within me. God’s love aims not only to help me understand that I am loved, but also to make me loving.
No matter how many of us there may be, every appeal from God applies to me personally and is directed specifically to my heart in order to save and transform me. The Lord takes every quality of my character into account. He chooses for my heart the melody that harmonizes with the strings of my soul and reveals to my mind the truths it is capable of receiving and digesting. As a result, two hearts—mine and God’s—are joined so that within this union they may allow Heavenly principles to form within me the thought patterns of a righteous person.
My faith, my discoveries, my blessings, and my revelations from above—all these form within my mind a special understanding of Jesus, and He becomes my dear and closest Friend. I begin to live, move, and think by Him. His presence is revealed in every deed and word of mine.
The presence of Christ in the life of each of us makes the soul infinitely beautiful. When explored deeply, it uncovers within us an inexhaustible potential for amazing discoveries and possibilities. These may manifest themselves in difficult trials, but they are revealed only in the light of unconditional love.
Each of us is an unexplored planet within whose depths Jesus has placed endless resources of abundant blessings. So that we might uncover this most precious potential in at least one person, the Creator designed the family. Within it, husband and wife can spend an endless amount of time discovering one another and, through mutual love, bringing to the surface of their relationship the countless treasures of the human heart that await their treasure hunter. Upon all this wealth of the soul rests God’s seal as the True Owner, Who so generously rewards every explorer.
But the family is a very limited unit of society, and not all the blessings discovered within its boundaries become the common possession of others. If both hearts in a family are closed because of harsh treatment, faultfinding, and insults, no discoveries can take place. Yet a soul filled with Jesus languishes and, like a volcano, longs to pour its depths outward.
Who will help wounded hearts uncover the treasures of the soul that have been placed and formed within them? Who will dare to draw from someone else’s spouse the priceless abilities of cheerfulness, friendliness, and love? Who will venture beyond the boundaries of the family and give unconditional agape to a wounded heart? Only Jesus can do this.
Seeing how difficult it would become for us to live in the last days and how many broken hearts would perish from loneliness within their families and among their fellow believers, the Lord established a new order of relationships and placed it within the framework of God’s law. We were given a new Eternal commandment: that we love one another.
The angels were astonished by this decision of God—the decision to reveal the mystery of Eternal Life to humanity and give human beings the most powerful weapon in the entire Universe.
No limitations were placed upon loving one another. Instead, clear markers and qualities of this love were declared, testifying to the personal presence of Christ in the lives of people who love one another.
Mortal human beings can now receive the most powerful force in the Universe—agape. Love is medicine for those who are sick in soul and spirit, a delicacy for connoisseurs, protection for the persecuted, a weapon for those under attack, joy for the deprived, light for those imprisoned in darkness, and the best way out of every lukewarm condition.
Loving one another means that I agree to allow another person to enter the depths of my heart and that he agrees to let me do the same with him. My friend can make discoveries within me and wholeheartedly share his findings and revelations with me, marveling at what a valuable treasure the Lord has entrusted to him in the person of a friend. It is an opportunity throughout earthly life and endless life to mine precious resources for our shared joy and tell your friend how greatly the treasures of his soul have enriched you.
Words of love exchanged with a beloved and loving friend are closely intertwined with God’s will that this love be genuine. When human beings consent to obey God’s commandment, the Lord Himself is present in our fellowship. Through our knowledge of one another, He reveals Himself and comes to know us.
The depth of this commandment to love one another can be understood only by keeping it together, moving solely toward one another, and entering the depths of an open soul and a heart flung wide.
I am also greatly encouraged that this commandment of God entered the message to Laodicea and became a prophetic message for God’s people and a condition for leaving the lukewarm state. It is surprising that the merchandise is not given free of charge. Yet when I learn what I must use as payment, and what Jesus desires to receive in exchange for His goods and how He desires to receive it, I am amazed by God’s wisdom and modesty in this matter.
The Lord does not merely command us to love one another. He also makes it a condition for a deeper relationship with Himself, showing us that this is the path of an overcomer.
Imagine a wealthy man who decides to pay all your expenses for the benefit of your friends on the condition that you come to him every day to receive another sum of money and share with the banker your joy over what you were able to accomplish with the funds you previously received. Does that sound appealing? This is exactly how it is.
The question arises: ‘Where does all this take place? Where are the people described in this lesson?’ The answer comes: ‘All of it is within you, my friend—within the power of your decision and the source of your relationship with Jesus. You are the master of your will, and even God takes your decisions into account.’
What could be better or more interesting than allowing your friend to discover you while you explore the depths of his heart? If our families followed this principle, we would not even know what divorce or adultery was. Why betray the person who enriches you so abundantly? Is it wise to kill the hen that lays the golden eggs?
The Lord opens these endless sources of blessing to us in His commandment to love and in His invitation to perfect this love by entering into a transaction with Him.
Heaven watches with interest as everyone who heeds the counsel of Jesus becomes rich through one another, purchasing love in order to give it away, with the active participation and assistance of the Three Heavenly Powers.
What a privilege Laodicea has—to receive power from above for love, become rich with this Heavenly gold, form one’s character, acquire wisdom, and dine with Jesus every day!
Will the Lord personally know His regular customers? Will He distinguish these people from all others? He taught that even the world would know that they are His disciples. Shall we then show those around us the full beauty of God’s commandment and the depth of the Laodicean message within our lives? Let them follow our example. We will love one another and, as we enter the depths of this love, make amazing discoveries that we can carry into Eternity so that there we may continue this work without end. But we must begin here and now, before it is too late.
Bible Verses for Reflection
Acts 19:18; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:17; 1 Corinthians 13:1–3; John 13:34–35; 14:12–16; 15:12–13, 17–19; Revelation 3:18–20; Philippians 1:6–10; Ephesians 5:14–33; Romans 10:10; 13:8–10; 2 Corinthians 4:1–5; 1 John 1:7–10.