The Daily Word of Righteousness

Relationships, #7

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 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 8:6,7)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (John 4:16)

Self-centeredness is a black hole in space that pulls into itself and destroys all with which it comes in contact. Love flows outward from the person who is filled with God and blesses and inspires its object.

Love is stronger than death. When placed in the balance, love outweighs everything else that a human possesses to the same extent the mass of the universe outweighs a grain of sand.

The greatest treasure of all is love, and love creates joy and peace.

Lasting joy and peace can come only through right relationships with God and people.

There arrives a time in our life when a loved one dies. We wonder in torment of mind and heart, "Will I see her (or him) again?"

"Where is Mary, or Chris, or Nancy, or John?" we cry. It is to us the most important question of all. Material things cannot comfort a broken heart.

We will see our loved ones again!

There is a fact we must keep in mind. Relationships based on the self-seeking soul or the physical body are not permanent. They are faulty while on the earth and they do not endure after death.

We shall know our family members and our friends when we pass over to the other shore. However, the relationships will not be the same.

Relationships in Christ have an eternal quality. Even though they may have begun on the earth (and no doubt many more will be gained throughout the ages to come), relationships that have been established in Christ will continue in the next life although we cannot say in what form. Our relationship with Christ laughs at death because it is so much stronger than death, and this may prove to be true of our relationship with the members of the Body.

Human ties are temporary. David and Jonathan were the closest of friends. When God's anointing came upon David, David "left" Jonathan. Jonathan died with Saul, his father. David went on to become knit to all who are of the Body of Christ.

Our place in the Body of Christ brings us into loving, joyous, and peaceful relationships with other members, according to the will of God. This is what makes Heaven so desirable. Such relationships and service are our rest, our land of promise—the goal toward which we are pressing in Christ.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. (I Thessalonians 2:19,20)

To be continued.