The Best Life

Life in love, no matter how lonely and incomprehensible it may seem, is the culmination of spiritual growth. It is the embodiment of God’s plan in my life, the fullness of Heavenly life in a human body and mind, and the life of an overcomer.

The most beautiful thing one could desire for any believer is that he reach the stage of love. Although it is no calmer than the other stages in terms of trials and spiritual struggles, it is in the state of love that my mind comes into harmony with God and trusts Him at all times.

Although fewer of my fellow believers now understand me, this does not deprive me of love for these kindred souls. We cannot all fathom the depths of God’s love at an even pace in one friendly crowd or walk side by side in spiritual growth. We all have different trials, different crises, and entirely different inner struggles with ourselves and with attacks from without. But if we have a common goal, spiritual fellowship, and a spirit of heartfelt affection and friendship, we can share our attainments and experiences with one another and inspire one another to victory in Jesus.

How good it would be to have teachers who had already traveled this path and, having reached perfect love, could share with us the features of this way that they had already experienced and that we have yet to enter in our spiritual growth. It would be wonderful if someone described to us in detail the advantages and beauty of every stage of spiritual growth. With this knowledge, we would have clear signposts by which we could move confidently toward the cherished goal of love and enter it as God’s overcomers.

When an army launches a counteroffensive, the greatest losses occur in the assault battalions, because they bear the full blow of the defending side. The soldiers who follow them reap the fruits of the victory of their fallen predecessors and do not repeat the fatal mistakes that cost their comrades their lives.

Spiritual struggle and spiritual growth have their own pioneers who dare to go against the current and reach their intended goals by new paths. But we have the One Who traveled this entire path of struggle and victory, Who took the full blow of the enemy of the soul upon Himself, and Who, at the cost of His life, opened for us the way to complete victory over sin. His assault was successful, and He made not a single mistake. We merely follow in His steps and reap the fruits of His victory. Although Jesus has won this war, His enemy is still alive, desperately resisting, and still has power to ruin, entice, and destroy the careless soldiers of Christ.

When I reach a certain stage of faith, I greatly desire others to reach it as well, and I begin earnestly drawing them upward toward me, sharing with them every detail of my trials of faith. In each new crisis, the Lord cleanses my heart of selfishness if I permit Him to do so. With my permission, God fills this cleansed place with Himself and His Spirit.

All these spiritual changes of spiritual growth are something new to me and greatly gladden my heart with the Heavenly purity that was previously incomprehensible and unknown to me.

I see the Bible verses about happiness, love, and friendship in a new way. I marvel at how much the Bible says about our need for one another and about unconditional love for those close to me. Understanding this call and feeling an inner need to relate to people in precisely this way, I see that it is absent from me but abundant in God. I begin to ask in faith, and amazing things happen: I begin to love those whom I once could not stand, or whom I endured only through superhuman effort while wishing to be far away from them. Now I look at them with new eyes and rejoice that I love them. I try to express my love in words and share my new experiences and victories, but people do not believe me. They regard me as an actor who wants to obtain something but does not say so directly. Yet I love, and I rejoice greatly in it.

The most beautiful experience in this new stage of spiritual growth is conscious love that does not go away. I try to love, and I succeed. But when I decide that enough is enough and that I have already given my neighbor what was needed, love still remains and does not disappear. I understand that it does not come from me. I do not know how to love this way, nor do I need such a thing, yet it exists and declares itself in precisely this manner. I test it again and again and see how constant this love of God is within me. This brings me great joy. I desire to share my new experiences and victories, but no one understands me. Some assure me that only God can love this way and that I am inventing strange things that convince no one of their power.

Because this unconditional love is something new within me, I do not know how to explain my condition to others, so I take it to Jesus. He gladly receives me and gives me a new revelation of what is happening in my heart and how I should live with it from now on.

With His own hand, He writes the law of love upon my mind, and I can no longer live in any other way.

But the most interesting thing is that those close to me whom I love do not see this love within me or recognize its expression. They have their own understanding of love, expect certain special deeds for their benefit, and do not believe my words, while my deeds of love do not impress them. Yet I place all my love into every deed I do for them. In response to all my words of love, I hear the same thing: “Those are only words. Show it by your deeds.”

I do not understand what deeds are expected of me, for I truly love and cannot live otherwise. I receive this from God, and if He gives me precisely this attitude, what more can I add to it?

A new commandment opens in my life: love one another. I begin to look for a friend who can return my love, because I understand that our unconditional love for one another must be mutual. How wonderful it is when friends like these appear in my life! At last there is someone with whom I can share the fullness of God’s love and discuss the processes taking place within me.

How I wish someone had explained to me at that time everything you are reading now. But I had to be a pioneer in this matter, because very few people speak or write about it.

Life in love is the finest way to spend one’s time. It is the best life, because love is the banner of victory—a banner under which any regiment will become very formidable to the enemy of the soul. We read in Psalm 60:3–4: “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.”

If all these words seem like a distant dream or something fantastic to you, do not lose heart. God is a very wise Potter, able to shape us into what He desires and fulfill His plan in each of us. He has sufficient power to bring us into His unconditional love and, in this very love, make us overcomers.

Understanding what I am to grow toward and what I may become can accelerate the process of my spiritual growth and give me additional strength to pass through difficult times.

Reaching love is not a privilege for especially gifted people, but God’s plan.

1. Please read 1 Timothy 1:5; John 17:23; Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 3:19; 4:15; Philippians 2:2; Colossians 2:2; 3:14; 1 John 4:12.

2. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

3. What did you understand?

4. What main thoughts from this lesson did you identify for yourself?

5. Why must we grow into love?

6. Do I notice the changes that the Holy Spirit is producing within me?

7. Do I ask God to teach me to love those whom I find unpleasant?

8. Do I rejoice in the very opportunity to love?

9. Am I expecting from other people an understanding of love that they do not yet possess?

10. Am I seeking spiritual friendship founded upon God’s love?

11. Do I regard love as the portion of only exceptionally spiritual people?

12. What is hindering my growth in love today?

13. Can I honestly say before God that love has become the chief substance of my life?

14. Why is love itself the goal of my spiritual growth?