Two of the wonderful characteristics of God are that He is true and He is love. If God were not true, we could not know whether He was telling us the truth. If God were not love, we could expect nothing from Him except to suffer His wrath.
However, the Scripture assures us that God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). Therefore we can have confidence in the promises He has given us. Scripture also affirms that God is love (1 John 4:8). Therefore He will always do what is in our best interests.
The highest expression of God’s love is that He sent Jesus Christ to rescue us from the consequences of our own sin. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8 NIV)
Since God created us in His own image, it follows that truth and love should be two of our characteristics as well. Both are essential if we are to please God. The Bible instructs us to speak truth, but we are to express love while we speak it (Ephesians 4:15). Truth without love can hurt and tear down. Love without truth is no love at all.
The church at Ephesus is a good example of these principles. Throughout his letter to the church, the Apostle Paul emphasizes love. It is apparent that he is encouraging them to nurture and increase the love they already had, and had a reputation for.
But though the Ephesian church was known for its love, it also had a problem. In a meeting with the elders of this church, Paul issued the following warning: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from among your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!…” (Acts 20:29-31 NIV)
Sadly, Paul’s warning proved correct. False teachers did arise in Ephesus. Paul sent Timothy there to correct the problem. He gave Timothy these instructions: “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work– which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV)
To what extent did the church in Ephesus succeed in achieving this goal? Towards the end of the apostolic age, Christ spoke from heaven to several of the churches through the Apostle John. Part of the divine message to the church at Ephesus was this: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelation 2:2-5 NIV)
The church in Ephesus was able to restore sound doctrine; it stood for the truth, but lost it’s love in the process. Today Ephesus is in ruins and there is no church there. This leaves us with some important questions. Is my faith based on truth? In my zeal for truth, have I lost my love? Am I growing in Christlike love?