Love Of God

In order for perfect faith to exist, we must have a correct idea of the character, perfections, and attributes of God! 

Without understanding who God is and what He’s all about, how can we have complete faith in Him?  How can we have absolutely complete faith, faith unto miracles, faith unto salvation, if we are pursuing a life that is against His will?  And in order to know His will, we must have a correct idea of His character, perfections and attributes. 

To quote from Lectures On Faith, canonical doctrine of early Latter Day Saints, Lecture Third, verses 13 – 18, we find a description of the Character of God:   

13.  First, that [God] was God before the world was created, and the same God that he was after it was created. 

14.  Secondly, that he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and that he was so from everlasting, and will be to everlasting. 

15.  Thirdly, that he changes not, neither is there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting to everlasting, being the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and that his course is one eternal round, without variation. 

16.  Fourthly, that he is a God of truth and cannot lie. 

17.  Fifthly, that he is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him. 

18.  Sixthly, that he is love. 

It is this last attribute that I would like to talk about; Love. 

It is my view that Love is an all encompassing attribute.  Without love none of the other attributes can exist in any sort of a permanent way.  Firstly, because it is out of love that God created all things.  Secondly, it is because of love that He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness.”  Why else would anyone be those things?  Thirdly, why would He stay exactly the same unless He loved us and wanted us to be able to have explicit faith in Him?  Fourth, a person who loves you would never lie to you.  Fifth, what parent would love one child more than the other?  So to me, the Love of God is the greatest of His character, perfections, and attributes. 

In fact, it is the very first thing that a person notices after the initial awe of being in His presence.  The plain fact that you know very well that He knows and can see everything about you, right through you, that absolutely nothing is hid to him; He knows every secret … and He loves you anyway!  

Absolute, 100%, complete, pure Love!  

I can personally testify, that the scriptures are correct when they say things like;

‘No tongue can express, no heart can conceive’ of the Love that you are filled with, that floods through you when standing in the presence of God. 

It certainly gives a whole new meaning to the phrase; “cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.”  The Love of God cannot be written, or uttered by man, because how can anyone describe such an extreme, all encompassing experience? 

The Love of God cannot be written, or uttered by man; it can only be understood by personal experience.  There is no other way.  

I testify, that it is worth it!  

Everything will be worth it.   Hang on, do well, it will all be worth it in the end.  As Jesus said;  "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward."  

 

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