Oliver Cavilleri's Love Story

In the early seventies, a movie, Love Story, touched many people’s heart. Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV and music student Jennifer Cavilleri share a chemistry they cannot deny - and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other. When they marry, Oliver's wealthy father threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail. Oliver and Jenny continue to build their life together. Relying only on each other, they believe love can fix anything. But fate has other plans. Soon, what began as a brutally honest friendship becomes the love story of their lives.

The Bible is a book of love stories: the love of Jacob for Rachel, of Boaz

for Ruth, and of Joseph for Mary. But the greatest story is not one of these; rather, it is the story of God’s love for ordinary people!

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. "John 3:16

1. It is the story of an unreasonable love.

‘‘For God so loved the world .

. .’’

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.

Unreasonable because God’s love is not requested or respected and is seldom reflected. When things go wrong in the world (war in Iraq, trouble in Iran, terrorism, homelessness, AIDS, drugs), most people blame God. The world’s response to trouble is to seek diplomatic, economic, and social solutions. God’s love is not respected (valued) because it is viewed as old fashioned, Victorian, rigid, restrictive. God’s love is seldom reflected in a world that worships success, popularity, and power. Yet, God still freely loves the world—what an unreasonable love!

2. It is the story of an unreserved love.

‘‘. . . that He gave His only Son . .

.’’

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath. Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!" Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost. The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

Unreserved in that what God gave, He gave freely. Without hesitation, no debates, conferences, or deliberations, what He gave was the only one—unique, incomparable, unmatched, and without equal. And what He gave was His Son!
What an unreserved love!

3. It is the story of an unrestricted love.
‘‘. . . that whoever believes in Him . . .’’

Unrestricted in that there are no qualifications to measure up to, achievements to master, or requirements to maintain. What an unrestricted love!

4. It is the story of an unrestrained love.

‘‘.

. . should not perish, but have everlasting life.’’

Unrestrained in that God’s love for you has no limits—nothing it cannot do (Heb.7:25)—and knows no bounds—no place where it is hindered or ineffective, and will never end (Heb. 13:5). What an unrestrained love!

5. Sadly, it is also a story of an unrealized love.

‘‘For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God’’ (vv. 17, 18).

There are many who have yet to respond or even hear of God’s

love.

At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. 

Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” 

Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead. 
Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, arm full of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what’s all this rumpus about?” 

Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.”

“Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.” 

The room fell silent. 

Lewis continued that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. 

After a moment someone commented that Lewis had a point, Buddhists, for example, follow an eight-fold path to enlightenment. It’s not a free ride. 

Hindus believe in karma, that your actions continually affect the way the world will treat you; that there is nothing that comes to you not set in motion by your actions. 

Someone else observed the Jewish code of the law implies God has requirements.

But the beauty of Christianity is that God’s grace is free completely and totally free. We didn’t earn it, we don’t deserve it. It was not given to us because we were better than someone else, or we gave more than someone else gave or we worked harder than someone else worked, or that we were more talented or better looking or more fit. None of that matters to God. Here the text again from the Message Bible:

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

So our mission is clear Those who know God’s love must take it to those who have yet
to hear. So that they may not only hear the greatest Love Story ever told be experience that love first hand.