The kiss of life

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7).

Life, our utmost happiness, is all that is desired by our “one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him”, and our “one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1Cor. 8:6). But, oh how this world has turned out to be full of death and unhappiness! And some of the death God and His Son have permitted. Death has come by land and sea and air. It surprises every nation of the world. Death and unhappiness make their appearance in our communities and families and relationships. Unhappiness prowls the land seeking whom it may devour. Hearts on every hand suffer depression and sadness that seem unconquerable. All they need is love.

Even in the church of God the unseen enemies of death and unhappiness seem to rule undisputed. With few exceptions, everyone has received the kiss of death instead of the kiss of life. Just yesterday I witnessed a close call with a vehicular accident that would have left a beautiful 10 year old girl maimed possibly for the rest of her life. It happened suddenly, without warning. It partially was caused by an unexpected vehicle movement when its strong engine and transmission were put into reverse gear. But, it was also caused by the driver who did not look all around behind him where young children were standing.

I couldn’t sleep after I woke up realizing that I should have taken the girl’s father and together approach the young man to make him very aware of what he did to potentially crush a little girl’s feet and ankles. He must know to never make that negligent mistake again. I will resolve this quickly today.

Yet, despite our God leaving us in a world of sin and danger, He still loves us. He loves us “with an everlasting love” and He says to us all, “therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jer. 31:3). But, His drawing love is also a righteous love. It’s a wise love. He knows better than we do the mischief and treachery and deceitfulness of our hearts. “And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto Me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 3:10). He knows how much sinful pride presides over us. It controls our nature, our thoughts, and our service to God. Without a new power from Him to redeem and reset our nature to vibrate in harmony with His, even our worship is tainted. Without His Son’s redeeming Spirit putting a new mold onto our original, fallen nature, we cannot offer God true repentance and praise. Without His providence and Spirit, our prayer and speech are filled with the spirit of Satan and the voice of his hosts. No one senses that evil spirit more than God does. Yet, He permits us to come to Him through His Son. And we have full access to His self-denying Son, who adsorbs the sinfulness of our prayers and translates them into prayers acceptable to His Father.

So, our Father disciplines us by His Spirit in order to lead us to need His Son; and His wounds go deep. They can come by way of our world of sin, or they can come by way of His messengers. From either source, the world or the messengers of His word, we receive His kiss of life or we get offended by His necessary wounds, and choose the enemy’s kiss of death. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. 27:6). “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (Deut. 30:19).

If we will receive the wounds of our Friend and Father who will never leave, but always pity those who fear Him, then His Spirit will have control of us and clean up all the toxic aspects of our nature and character. He will bring us to happiness that this world of sin can never provide us. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” (Job 14:4). We must be transported away from our love for this world to loving another world. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil. 3:20,21).

In Him “mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (Ps. 85:10).

 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” (Rom. 12:9,10).

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” in His kingdom. (Gal. 5:22,23). Love—the gift of self-denial, the power to forgive and have complete awareness of others’ needs, and a burden to uplift everyone we meet—is the antidote for this world of sin. Love can do no wrong, because “love worketh no ill to his neighbour.” (Rom. 13:10). The love from Christ makes victory over sin and self-focus easily accomplished.

Jesus, the Son of the God of love, was sent to show us the power of love in His every act, gesture, and word. He came from the the throne of God’s great heart of love, and love was His continual motivation. “And He charged them that they should tell no man: but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” (Mark 7:36,37). Even before He began His public ministry, the Lord could not wait to heal those around Him who were distressed by disease and sin.

“Jesus was the healer of the body as well as of the soul. He was interested in every phase of suffering that came under His notice, and to every sufferer He brought relief, His kind words having a soothing balm. None could say that He had worked a miracle; but virtue—the healing power of love—went out from Him to the sick and distressed. Thus in an unobtrusive way He worked for the people from His very childhood. And this was why, after His public ministry began, so many heard Him gladly.” The Desire of Ages, p. 92. The Son of God has ever been our Tree of life. He performed the first kiss of life to Adam in Eden, and through the many promises of His unending love, He still kisses us with life.

“Is the Law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a Law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the Law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” and trust Him (Gal. 3:21,22).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:1,2). Faithful have been the wounds of our Father of wise, righteous love. And to every mischievous, but humbling, heart His Son will intercede for and guide to see the goodness of God in all of His faithful wounds through His Law. He will give us repentance and a new heart to know God’s love.

“All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.

And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing….

And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life….” (John 6:37-40).

His life starts today if today our pride bows before our Father and His overpowering righteousness. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1Jn. 5:12). The Son’s love will bring us all the way to righteousness because love worketh no ill to its neighbor. We can trust righteous love because righteous love will never hurt us. His love doeth all things well. We can trust Jesus’ healing love.