It’s February 14, so you know what that means: love is in the air.

Therefore, it seems only appropriate that we should consider the greatest love story ever told.  

But where to start. Rightfully, we need to go back to the beginning in Genesis 1:1 where it says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, but for the sake of time, let’s jump ahead to John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

This verse is saying that God loved the world so much that He gave His son. What does that mean? To give one’s son? And what does giving His son have to do with love?

It means that He gave Him as a gift to us.

Here’s the deal. Sin is serious! In fact, the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death (Roman’s 6:23). Why so harsh? Because sin separates us from God, and God is life. So, if you’re separated from Life, the only alternative is death.

Also, when we sin, we are in debt to God. But what can we give to God—what is good enough to pay God back for all His blessings of life and health? Of existence?

Absolutely nothing.

There is nothing that we can do to pay God back for how good He has been to us.

The only thing good enough—the only sacrifice acceptable enough for God—is God Himself. So, Jesus left Heaven, came to earth, and paid that price for us. He was the sacrifice because He was the only one good, pure, innocent, and wonderful enough to pay that price. And He did just that! He suffered and died on a cross so the price could be paid for us. And now when our bodies die, our spirits get to live on forever in eternity, not separated from God, but with God because of the blood of Jesus.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

And that’s exactly what Jesus did!

So that, my friends, is why the Bible is the greatest love story ever told.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

P.S. God is a gentleman; he won’t force you to love him back. The relationship is two sided. If you accept His gift of love to you, turn from your sin, and give your heart and life to Him, you can have that gift of eternal life. The choice is yours.