In life, there are also variables. Take love, for example. Christians often say, “God is Love” – this is true! The problem comes when we fail to understand that there are many kinds of love. Let’s take an example:
God = Love (true - so far so good)
I love triple berry pie à la mode (also true)
Therefore,
God = triple berry pie à la mode (here we have a problem)
Clearly, God does not = triple berry pie à la mode… So something happened when we tried to solve for the variable. Our variable was love, but love comes in many forms. My love of triple berry pie à la mode is not the same as my love for my wife, or children. And neither of these are the same as my love for God; which also isn’t the same as His love for me.
This isn’t as easy as ‘Love = X’, this is more like God + Love = X; Human + Love = Y; Senses + Love = Z
How do we know when we find X? Well, God’s love is true and righteous and holy, which is why He calls us to live via Him and experience this kind of love:
As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
In addition, God’s Love (X) is completely different than Human- or Sense-based love (Y or Z) in other ways:
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
That is only possible with God’s love! This is important, because everyone uses the word ‘Love’, but we need to solve for the variable to see if what they are describing = X, Y, Z, or something else entirely.
#VariablesMatter
#LoveMatters