CHRIST IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

Wendell Winkler

 

Introduction

 

Tommy Wheeler so beautifully expressed the conviction of our hearts when he penned the lyrics,

 

I love the Lord, He has been so good to me,

He gave His life, from sin to set me free;

No greater love than His could ever be,

I love the Lord, because He first loved me.

 

The inspiration for this series of articles is Paul’s affirmation in the book of Philippians, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). The Philippian epistle has as its theme, “The Supremacy of the Christian Life.” Accordingly, in the development of this theme, the epistle sets forth the Christian life in the following way:

 

Chapter 1—The Savior-centered Life;

Chapter 2—The Self-emptying Life;

Chapter 3—The Sound Life;

Chapter 4—The Serene Life.

 

In the “Savior-centered” section, Paul affirmed, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul is saying that his very purpose of/for living is to come to know more about Christ, to believe more devoutly in Christ, to more adequately portray Christ, to more effectively preach Christ, and to more sufficiently prepare to meet Christ, so he can one day go home and be with Christ. Indeed, Christ was the love of his life! So may it be with each of us. Thusly, we affirm the following:

 

1. Jesus Is the Love of My Life Because of What He Did for Me

 

  • He left heaven for me, so I might go there. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever” (John 6:51).
  • He lived for me, that I might live. “Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10).
  • He died for me, that I might live. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24; see Gal. 2:20).
  • He was raised for me, in order that I might I will not have to stay in the grave. “Now is Christ risen from the dead . . . even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:20-22).
  • He ascended for me. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands . . . but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24; 4:14).

 

2. Jesus Is the Love of My Life Because of What He Does for Me

 

Such matters, which we now briefly observe, can be appropriately designated “the unfinished work of Christ. ”

 

  • He mediates for me. Thus, he is called “the mediator of the new covenant” (Heb. 12:24; study Heb. 8:6; 9:15-17).
  • He intercedes for me. “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34).
  • He succors me. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:17-18; see 4:15-16).
  • He is coming for me. “Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28).

 

3. Jesus Is the Love of My Life Because of Who He Is to Me

 

  • He is the savior of my soul (Tit. 1:4). He is the captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10) and the author of our salvation (Heb. 5:8-9).
  • He is my elder brother. Hence, we are “joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17).
  • He is my friend (John 11:11). As we often sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus, ” “I’ll be a friend to Jesus, ” and “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus. ” “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).
  • He is my high priest. “Consider the Apostle and His Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Heb. 3:1).
  • He is my only access to the Father. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” he said (John 14:6; see 6:44-45).

 

Truly, how beautiful and accurate are the words, He is my everything, He is my all,

He is my everything, both great and small.

He gave his life for me, made everything new.

He is my everything. Now how about you?

 

4. Jesus Is the Love of My Life: and Here Is How I Give Evidence of It

 

  • We have communication with our loved ones (Psa. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17).
  • We often speak of our loved ones (John 21:15).
  • We covet the presence of our loved ones (Matt. 18:20).
  • We sacrifice for those whom we love (John 3:16; 2 Cor. 8:8).
  • We obey those whom we love (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
  • We try to imitate those whom we love (1 Pet. 2:21-22; 2 Cor. 3:18).

 

Conclusion

 

Yes, he is “the love of my life. ” And such is/will be so generously rewarded. We are assured of the Lord’s providence (Rom. 8:28), presence (John 14:23), and the promise of eternal life (Jas. 1:12). Oh, how true: “I love the Lord; He has been so good to me. “