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The
Greatest Of Love Stories Ever Told
by
Dusty
Throughout
the course of history, there has been some truly
great love stories told. Literature has given us
some great classics, such as "Anthony And
Cleopatra," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Beauty and The
Beast." and The Native American story of " Running
Bear and Little White Dove" The Bible tells us of
the affairs of "Samson and Delilah," "David and
Bathsheba," and "Hosea and Gomer."
Modern
history, television, hand me down ear to mouth
stories and the news media have presented us with
the sagas of Bonnie and Clyde, John Jr. and Carolyn
Kennedy and all those characters on the day time
soaps! All of these, in their own unique way are
great love stories, but they cannot compare to what
most of us would agree is the greatest love story
ever told! Almost always, great love stories
contain certain ingredients, which contribute to
the suspense of the plot, usually captivating the
attention of the reader in one-way or another.
Almost all great love stories have within it a
competitor. There is always something or someone
that seeks to separate, or keep the lovers apart.
Always the lovers must overcome some obstacle in
order to be together.
Every
great love story also has within it the some sort
of tragedy. Something terrible usually happens in
every saga! In "Romeo And Juliet" the lovers commit
suicide! With Running bear and Little White Dove
the raging river sweeps them away! Not being able
to be with their lovers in life, some chose to die
instead! And remember then every great Love story
has within it the element of sacrifice something
must be given up for the sake of the love affair!
Samson gave up his hair and his strength. David
gave up his good name and peace in his own family!
Yes usually, almost every great love story contains
these elements, competitor, tragedy, and sacrifice!
Not to forget that Romance also plays a significant
role in great love stories. What heart can possibly
be unmoved as Romeo exposes his love for Juliet and
Little White Dove tries desperately to be with
Running Bear? Who cannot help but sympathize as
Hosea gives his last to redeem Gomer from the slave
auction? Yes! I do believe that Romance is a part
of every great love story! All of these love
stories that I have mentioned "Anthony And
Cleopatra," Romeo And Juliet," David And
Bathsheba," "Samson And Delilah, ""Hosea And
Gomer," "Bonnie And Clyde," "Running Bear and
Little White Dove," "Beauty And The Beast,' " John
Jr. and Carolyn Kennedy," Even all those Loves on
your favorite day time soap opera all of these are
great love stories! But all of them combined are of
no comparison to the greatest love story ever told!
The greatest love story ever told depicts not just
a love affair between a man and a woman but rather
the love affair between God and His creations! It
tells us the entire on-going story of God and man.
And just like the other great love stories this
greatest love story ever told also contains the
elements of competitor tragedy and sacrifice! As
you recall, competition is the element that always
seek to separate or keep the lovers apart! It is
that obstacle the lovers must overcome in order to
be together.
The
greatest love story ever told also contains the
element of tragedy; something terrible happened in
the story! The first hint of tragedy occurs in John
1:11 , which says, "He came unto his own, and his
own received him not." Luke tell us that the babe
was born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes
and laid in manger because there was no room in the
inn! The tragic element reaches its climax when the
very ones he came to save crucify Jesus! This love
story, the greatest love story ever told,
 also
contains the element of sacrifice. Sacrifice is
that element exemplified by the giving up of
something for the sake of the love! God gave His
Son! He was willing to give Jesus because of His
love for man!
The record says, "For God so loved the world, that
He gave . . . " Oh! What a sacrifice it was! He
gave! It was a personal gift; He gave "His." Son
and the Father had never been separated, but He
gave "His." The Father did not take from someone
else to give; He gave His own! His very own Son!!!
It was a unique gift, in that it was the only one
of it's kind. There was and there is no other like
Jesus! It was the ultimate gift that God could give
in that it was God's best. In Jesus, God gave His
own His only Son, His best and His all! And that's
the way true love is! True love involves sacrifice!
This story also contains within it romantic
overtones. The Bible speaks in symbolic language of
God wooing man back to Himself. It is a story of
true love.
Yes!
In true love, romance is a part, but not the entire
whole story. For you see, true love is not just a
feeling, true love is an action. Love is not
something you feel, but something you do! The word
"love" is not an adjective; it's a verb! Love is
not something that you feel, love is something that
you do! So then, in the greatest love-story ever
told, true love is exemplified! "For God so loved
the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..."
God exemplified His love by doing something! He
gave His only begotten Son! I think I need to
mention that this love affair between God and man
was not ever a secret or illicit love affair. No!
It was out in the open for the entire universe to
see. It was God who initiated the process it was He
who made the first move. Our text says "For God..."
I think some of us would do well to remember that
the greatest love story ever told is about people!
For all too often if we're not careful we may find
ourselves in love with things!
Some
people rob, murder, and steal, because they are in
love with things! Some men, love their cars, and
drive their women! In love with things! As by that
same token do some women do the same to their Men.
Well, now this love story has been designated as
the world's greatest love story. It has within it
all of the elements of the great love stories of
all times. It contains adversity, tragedy and
sacrifice. It has romance and love, as it's focal
points. But why is this story called the greatest
love story? Jesus said something one day that
qualifies this story as the greatest. He said,
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends!" And then He said,
"Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command
you." (John 15:13-14 KJV) There is no greater love
than for a man to lay down his life for his
friends. And you know, that's what Jesus did for
everyone of us! He left His royal home in glory. He
abstained from His Divine prerogatives and took
upon Himself the limitations of human flesh!
Well,
I'm just about through now! I'll be finished when I
tell you that this is the greatest true love story
that's ever been told! It's the greatest story
because I am in this story and you are in this
story! The whole wide world is in this story! For
the record says, "For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life!" I am whosoever, you are
whosoever, and anybody can be whosoever! Yes! For
God so loved the world! His love, grace and mercy
are all right!! That's why I've got to tell this
wonderful! Greatest Love story! It's the greatest
love story every told! I'm going to go and tell it
on the mountain; all over these great old Ozarks
hills and everywhere! Yes! I'm going to go tell it
on the mountain, that Jesus Christ was
born!
|
Stone
Creek Crossing
