A Love That is Better Than Life

In 1990, a book came out in the US followed by a movie by the name "I love you to Death". They are based on a true story about Frances and Tony Toto from Pennsylvannia and their extraordinary love. They were married for over 25 years when troubles started. During the years 1982 and 1983, Frances tried to have Tony killed five times. She almost succeeded in the last one when Tony was shot in the head and chest by hired gunmen. While he lay wounded for five days in bed, Frances tried to poison him. She was charged and sent to prison for attempted murder. While it is not unheard of for husbands and wives to try to kill each other, what makes the Toto case special is that Tony forgave Frances. In fact, he came up with fifty thousand dollars to post the bail for her. They decided to save their marriage after realizing that they went too extreme. He realized she had reason to be angry with him because he was domineering man who was insensitive and unfaithful to her. She acknowledged that she had gone too far, that she should have sought counseling rather than hiring hit men. They were reunited when she was released from prison. Tony and France's love made a new life that is better than their individual lives.

We all love our own lives. We spend thousands, even millions (for those who can afford), to find cure or treatment to diseases. God's love is better than the precious lives we try to hold onto because without it, there is no purpose. We have heard people say that "I love you to death." I believe they mean that their love towards you is more important than their own life. The title of Psalm 63 says that David wrote this song while he was in the desert facing some difficulties and he sings, "Your love is better than life." Even when life itself might be fading away and looks miserable, experiencing God’s love gives new meaning and purpose to life.

God's love is better because it never changes. Human love is transient and can change with circumstances. Martin Luther, the great reformist preacher of the 16th century told of reading the Scriptures and praying until his heart was filled with love for his fellowman. But how quickly that love disappeared when a person with offensive body odor sat down beside him! David makes a personal declaration of confidence that God's love he experienced was the same in good times and bad times. God, who had delivered him countless times in the past, would deliver him yet again even in the midst of desperation. Even when we falter and fail, God’s love is constant and it doesn’t vary in intensity and magnitude.

God's love is better than life because He loved us before we loved Him. "God shows his love for us in that even when we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). God sent His son to die for us not because we loved him, but because He loved us first. "We love because he first loved us." ( 1John 4:19).

God's love is better than life because it is eternal and goes beyond this life. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3). No matter how hard life on earth can be, the love of God that’s in the Lord Jesus Christ makes everything less priority. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Blessings

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