Without Love 

   “Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.” (John 3: 16) 

   God is love, He created the universe because of His love.  He created men and women in His likeness because of His love.  In His great love He sent His only Son so that those who believe might have eternal live.

   If God is love, then heaven must be love because heaven is the presence of God.  If we do not have love we cannot have eternal life.  Heaven does not exist for those who do not love.

   Jesus brought the ten commandments to fruition by His life and in His actions.  He told us quite clearly what we must if we wish to enter God's kingdom.  When asked which was the greatest commandment He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matt 22: 37 – 39).

   But He didn’t stop there, “The second commandment resembles it: You must love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang the whole law and the Prophets also.” (Matt 22: 39 – 40).  There was no mention of the 613 laws the Israelites of that time were expected to obey, just that we must love both God and neighbor.

   If we do not have love we do not know God; if we do not have love we do not know Jesus; if we do not have love for God, our neighbor, and even our enemies we will never know the joy of God’s heavenly kingdom.