Lesson 229 . It Is Worth Loving

Whatever I may think about love, whatever I may call it, however afraid I may be to have it, and whatever trials may come into my life, it is still worth loving. It is worth experiencing in my life the action of this heavenly weapon.

It is not frightening if something does not work out for me, if I confuse love with feelings, or if I make some mistakes. These are normal accompanying experiences and missteps through which everyone passes who has set out upon this path.

It is worth always remembering that we are living in the last time of the last days, and this means that the final events are unfolding before our eyes and God’s power is being manifested in all its fullness. And what the True Witness offers me to buy from Him in the message to Laodicea must become mine. Otherwise, I simply risk remaining naked, poor, wretched, and miserable, and without any protection.

When a child takes his first steps, does it irritate you that he moves his legs so awkwardly and sways in every direction? No, this is the process of learning. But when I am learning to love and something does not go right, for some reason I begin to feel like an outcast whom everyone only wants to punish, and every mistake disheartens me.

Tell me, for whom is it easier to take steps of love: for those who know nothing but have heard that it is worth loving, or for those who have thoroughly studied this science, seen its action in another person’s life, discovered its laws for themselves, understood the mechanism of its action, learned about every possible danger, and examined its different facets? I think that trained people have more advantages.

But if a person has learned this science of love and become convinced that love exists and acts, yet does not sit at its controls in order to try it, what benefit will this person receive? This can be compared to someone who studied the operation of a surface-to-air missile system and was sent with it into a combat zone, but chose an oak club for his attack tactics and settled into a defensive position, observing what was happening. Does that sound foolish?

If you have not yet understood the purpose of our training, it is worth stating it clearly once again. We are studying the science of Agape Love so that, having received this love and mastered this art, we may draw even closer to Jesus and allow God to pour out upon me the full power of the Holy Spirit for active participation in and completion of all God’s tasks for the last days. Having love, knowing how to wield it, and giving it the right to possess me, I become God’s instrument, which He will use at this time to carry out His plans. Do not think that we have simply gathered here to learn something interesting and thereby add it to our store of knowledge. We are preparing for battles that no one will escape. And although we sometimes study this science with humor, it is too serious to ignore.

God gives us various gifts and kinds of ministry in the church. We have developed a great many strategies and programs for winning souls and keeping them in the church, and all of them are successful, while love covers all of this and makes me fit for Eternity. And if I do not live to see the Second Coming of Christ and happen to die, but with love in my heart, then I have very good prospects of taking part in the first resurrection. Eternity was created for loving beings.

I communicate with different people, and sometimes I ask them to share how they imagine Eternity. And everyone says that there will be no sin there and that all will love one another, and they begin to describe the lessons of our school, but not in our present life—in the beautiful future. Yet what will change there? Why should I wait for something distant when I can already comprehend these laws and live by them now? After all, for many of us Eternal life has already begun, and even if we die, we will live again.

When I allow a child to eat porridge by himself for the first time, I understand what will come of it and prepare myself for the fact that both he and everything around him will be covered in porridge, but I go through with it, knowing that otherwise he will never learn. Therefore, I also appeal to you, friends: Do not be afraid to love. Take this step! It may be crooked or clumsy, but it is worth beginning; it is worth investing all the strength of your mind in this undertaking. And the Heavenly Father must be near us, Who will clean up all the mess we scatter in the process of comprehending this science. And with what love the Lord will wash our tear-stained faces and soiled mouths, take us into His arms, and comfort us in our mistakes.

When I imagine God as a stern Father with a belt in His hand, Who is only waiting for my missteps so that He can pour out all His wrath upon me, I will not be able to learn very much.

Once, during lunch, I was sitting in my car and watching a young mother teach her three-year-old son to ride a bicycle. How she shouted at him, called him names, and shook him back and forth, while he tried to fight her and shouted back. It was a sad sight. But the next day, this mother was gently holding her son by the hand and taking a walk with him without the bicycle, speaking sweetly with him. And how does this boy perceive his mother? It is difficult for him to understand what she will do the next time he makes a mistake. And this is approximately how I perceive God. This happens because I do not know Him personally and do not understand in my own life what it means that God is love.

But when I practice love and see its power and constancy within me, I sometimes think that if God loves me at least as much as I love my friends, then what happiness it is to have such a wonderful Father. It is such a joy to love and to be loved.

Eternity also attracts me because there I will be able, without fear of ridicule and rejection, to tell everyone about my love, put it into practice, invest it in every undertaking, and be understood by all. And sometimes I forget that I am still in this world and begin to behave this way, but I find myself in a labyrinth of high walls, fences, and closed doors. Then I come to my senses and sadly dream of at least one open little window through which I might tell deceived and weary people at least something about the fact that love exists, that it is alive, and that it is strong in those who love. And it is such happiness when someone listens to you, even if only out of respect. But God desires to have in His army not listeners, but victors.

It is worth loving. This is a very good undertaking, and it is worth taking part in it.

And how it works can be seen from your own experience by taking this step of faith.

What does the person who begins to love lose? Try to make a table in which you write down everything that will happen to you if you continue living as usual, and what will happen if you decide to love. You may confidently include in it all the prospects of love. There will be difficulties, and there will be the fire of trials, but there will also be power from above and a reward for the victor.

It is a pity that there are fewer and fewer loving people, and it seems that I alone am left with God, but He assures me that He still has many people who have not bowed their knees to Baal. Oh, how joyful it would be to meet them and together walk to the end of this beautiful path of love for one another. The church helps such people find one another and unite around God. And this is part of God’s plan—to love together—and this is also worth doing. And the most powerful Force in the entire Universe—the Lord God—is given to help these people.

Homework 229

1. In the light of our lesson, please read James 1:12; Revelation 2:5, 10, 17; 3:19, 21–22; 12:11; 14:12; 3:10; 21:6–7; 16:15; Isaiah 43:2, 4; 54:10, 17; 59:19; Proverbs 21:31; 22:3; John 12:25; and Song of Solomon 2:4.

2. What did you decide after this lesson?

3. Is it worth beginning to love right now, when everything around us is so unstable?

4. Is it really impossible to come up with anything other than love?

5. What should I do if I begin to love and people start using me for their own interests?

6. Does God love those who love more than He loves everyone else?

7. What will change in my life if I decide to set out upon the path of love?

8. What will happen if I never decide to begin loving and do not even try it?

9. I ask for love, but nothing happens. Why?

10. What Bible verses came to your mind as you read this lesson?