Saturday, November 10, 2012

What Happens When Love Transforms



“Most people are slow to champion love because they fear the transformation it brings into their lives. And make no mistake about it: love does take over and transform the schemes and operations of our egos in a very mighty way.”
— Aberjhani
The biggest barrier for the many in approaching the truth of life that could otherwise set them free is that it costs. The cost, which is in actuality far outweighed by the benefits, seems too great; it’s too much of a compromise to a self-propelled and self-satisfied dignity. It’s far too much of a pity to acknowledge that most people will need to be brought to a rock bottom experience before they will accede to love.
A sign of a saved person—who has accepted Christ—is resplendence of the Spirit, manifest by them given over to love. The selfish life has, for the large part, gone. This new creation, this intrinsically loving being, has been cleansed in the Spirit of Love.
Traversing What Seems a Cavernous Chasm
When we go from the ego to love, we make a sharp transition that is never easier, but from the ego side of things it is a cavernous chasm—it appears impossible to traverse. The devil likes it this way; he wants not one soul won to love.
So we have two dichotomous concepts: the truth and a lie.
The truth: love is but a decision away. The lie is projected as the impossibility of reaching love. The liar tells us the cost in going to love is far too much. We are convinced it’s not worth the ticket to ride. And then we give up our exploration of things so wonderfully serene, it’s central to the very meaning and purpose of life. For, without love there is no true reason for living.
But these two far-apart concepts both speak powerfully into our lives.
When we choose the lie—the reasons for which pervade through the world everywhere—our spiritual sight is blinded all the more. The ego is happy, but we, inside ourselves, are not.
When we choose the truth—and rare it is that on the first occasion it presents and we are open to it—we see right for the first time. The ego is summarily crushed. When that occurs, and love has finally found its way into our hearts, without competition from the ego, we see life as an abundant and glittering reality of existence we are truly ever grateful for. The outworking is love; we must love our fellows; we must love God. Suddenly life is very simple. And wonderfully, life makes sense.
***
Love bears too much of a cost for some, because it threatens to redefine their identities. This we can understand. It’s important to recognise this fear.
When we overcome our fear of the transformation love will make to our lives, we approach love openly and virtue fuses itself to our hearts. Life is never the same again. This is what occurs when we accept Jesus. The Holy Spirit transforms us.
Love transforms lives. What ‘was’ isn’t any more. When love comes into our lives by the Holy Spirit we’re changed, revived from death, renewed to life and life abundant.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

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