It is a sad picture in life in what people constitute as "love stories." Some modern writers display lust as love and people are confused about what love truly is. There has been at the same time outstanding love stories-es that have gone down in history. Let us note some Great Love stories-es in Scripture.

(i)Some Loved the Wrong Things.

Notice some were in love with the wrong things.

(1) Diotrephes 3 Jno.9    Here is a man who had a great love. But, the love he had was for power in the local church. Here was a man who loved preemienence, he desired the respect of others, etc. He took authority that was not his putting out people from the church, etc. He loved to assr.me power that was not his.

(2) Rich Young Ruler Mk.10 This young man loved his riches and possessions. Jesus said, "go sell what you have." This troubled the young man, He appeared to have a love for the Lord and the Bible clearly says Jesus loved him, but the young man was divided because he loved his possessions. Do you see the love of that young man?

(3) Demas Loved the Present World 2 Tim.4 There was something in Thessalonica that lured Demas. We do not if it was something sinful. It could have been something that in itself was good, but to forsake Paul and the Lord for whatever was in Thessalonica was a great love, but not in the proper order. God comes first, anything we put before God becomes our idol.

(ii) Some Who Loved Correctly. Now consider some who loved correctly.

(1) Mary loved Jesus Jno.12 She expressed extravagant love in John 12:3 when she took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. She displayed her love to the right one in the right way.

(2) Abraham loved God  Jas.2:23 James said that Abraham believed God. This man obeyed God by faith. He was justified by working out his faith lJas.2t24. He was called the friend of God. Jesus said in Jno.14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." How I show my love for God is by obeying His Word.

(3) Paul Loved the Brethren and the Lost. He loved his brethren and was concerned about the church.                   2 Cor.12:28 He loved the lost and sought to teach them the truth. Rom.10:1-3

(iii) The Greatest Love Story of All Time.

The greatest love story is God's love for us. He loved us when we were: sinful, enemies,lIost, severed from Him, helpless, hopeless and had nothing to give Him (Acts 17).

(1) God gave His Son. Rom.5:8; I Jno.3:5; 4: 9

God is willing to be reconciled with us. We were the ones that "divorced" that caused the separation by our sin. He is willing to take us to be His bride (Eph. 5). One day the Bridegroom will return for His bride (church) to be with her forever. John speaks about the great wedding Supper in heaven (Rev.19:7-9;17). In heaven the church (the bride) will be presented to Christ (the Groom) to live with Him forever. Heaven is described as a place of no more tears (Rev. 21:4). This is the only time a story end with the words, ..they lived happily ever after" for it will be for eternity.

It is interesting to notice the conversation in Luke 16:22-31 between the rich man and

Abraham. It is of great interest we observe what he had to say, but also to note what he asked

for. He asked for Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue for he was in torments

in the flame. He asked that Lazarus be sent to his home to teach his five brothers. However, I

stand amazed at the things this man did NOT ask. Let us notice several.

(i)He does not ask, “Why am I here?”                                                                                                                                            It seems to me that this would be the first question on his lips. He noticed Lazarus, who was a beggar at his gate. He sees him in the place of comfort, but he is in a place of torments. It seems he would ask, “Why am I here?” You often hear people interviewed in prison and many times they say, “I don’t belong here, I was framed, I don’t know what occurred, etc.” However, the rich man did not ask this question. He doesn’t protest and say, “I don’t belong here. It is somebody else’s fault I failed. the preacher didn’t visit men when I was sick one time…or they didn’t have enough children for the Bible classes, etc.”   You don’t read where he says he was framed or makes any excuse whatsoever. The question never comes, and I surmise the reason it never comes is, he knew exactly why he was there.   Notice Lk.16:30 “If one went from the dead they would repent.” He knew he had not repented.  He knew he was not right with God.

(ii)He never asks, “Why is Lazarus in heaven?”                                                                                                                  He sees and knows Lazarus is in paradise. He is a man who received few things here on earth, but now he is receiving  his rewards. He is not in heaven because he was poor, but because he was righteous. He was faithful to God. I wonder if Lazarus ever talked to the rich man and warned him he needed to repent. This may have annoyed the rich man so he ignored the request for table crumbs. Regardless, this man did not question God’s righteous judgment. The man in hell never asked for it to be explained for he knew.

(iii)He never asked, “When is this torment going to end?”                                                                                      When I visit the hospital and there is someone in great pain, they want to get the pain over. They ask the doctor and sometimes even ask me questions. “When will this stop, will this ever end?” It’s interesting to note the rich man in hell never asked, “When is this torment going to end?” He did ask for some relief in vs.24 “Have mercy on me”, but he never asks when torment will end. The man did not ask, “how long do I have to stay here?” Hell is forever. In hell there is no getting out.

(iv)The man in hell never asked for justice.                                                                                                                             In Lk.16:24 he cried out for mercy, but not for justice. He was getting justice, but never said, “I want to receive exactly what I deserve.” He knew he was receiving what he deserved.

(v)He never asked for company.                                                                                                                                                   In fact, notice vs.28 he doesn’t want his five brothers to go to that place of torments. Isn’t that interesting? People in jail like visitors, but this man does not want anyone else to go to that place of eternal torments.

Consider the following:

If you go to hell you will know why. You never came to Christ. Hell is exclusion from God. If you live your earthly life with God excluded, then you will spend eternity excluded from God. We need grace and mercy. Lk.23:41 we read the conversation between the two thieves on the cross. One says we are here justly. In others words, “We are getting what we deserve.” Salvation is according to God’s mercy and grace (Eph.2:4-5). May we receive God’s amazing gift and not the wages of sin (Rom.6:23). The question is, are you right with God?