LOVE YOU TO DEATH

"LOVE YA TO DEATH!"

is the phrase that I commonly hear when one friend says to another his or her sentiment and concern. I sometimes hear it being said flippantly without the meaning behind those very words genuinely felt and conveyed.

It sounds novel, even caring, and sympathetic but when we really deep-dive into the meaning of the phrase, it comes down to a love that we are all, to be honest, quite unfamiliar with. You can liken it to saying something like 'love unconditionally' or even 'love until it hurts' but what do these statements actually mean?

I have found that they describe more of what is being proliferated in our highly media-controlled culture and distant online communication--a love that is "there" but won't be there when you need it. A love that says to love you but when it all breaks apart, leaves you instead. A love that strives to the end only to skip away at the first onset of trouble. A love that is only skin-deep but cannot go any further to the deep things of the soul. A love that says "I will be there for you" only to find absence in the most desperate of times.

We've all been there to that facade and imitation of what we call "love". Somehow, we have been wired to think that that kind of love is all that we can expect. We've been so disillusioned that we've really given up on the whole "love" thing.

But then...Jesus turns everything around.

He loves unto death.

He exhibits his love by death on the cross.

He gave his life as ransom for ill-deserving sinners.

He forgave the very people who were murdering him on Golgotha.

He stayed even when all others fled.

He demonstrates a real, unabashed, raw, kind of love that you would not have expected from anyone else.

He loves to the very end.

Love one another unto death

So the next time you are about to quip "love you to death", perhaps a moment of thought and reflection would be fitting. After all, Jesus teaches us to love one another as He has loved us. What does this mean? It means that we are willing to love another unto death. Yes, death.

This means loving until the point that you cannot love anymore.

This means loving even if the person doesn't deserve it, or worse--the person ill-deserves it.

This means loving beyond any inconvenience, discomfort, and suffering.

This means forgiving even when you have been wronged.

This means staying when all others have fled.

This means demonstrating a love that is almost rare in our day and age, exhibiting a love that is like none other and that wouldn't have come from yourself.

This means loving to the very end.