Miller 1

Nathan Miller
Mrs. Ingalls
EN301/EN541
14 September 2013
Blinded to Love
Love is a word that is used too loosely. A term that is used often, but is often based off of
personal benefits and emotions. The phrase, love has blinded you, is used a lot in intimate
relationships and can be true at times. Unfortunately, people are more often blinded to what love
truly is. This blindness is a result of the absence of Jesus Christ from their life.
How do we know what love truly is?
When Jesus Christ came down to earth, He not only was the perfect example to follow as
Christians, but He was a perfect example of true love. The best love story became a reality two
thousand years ago. Jesus left heaven to be half man and half God in the world of sin. His life on
earth was sacrificial and selfless. Our Savior was born in a stable instead of a palace. He labored
as a carpenter, instead of living a luxurious life of a prince. He did not live for His own benefit.
He went out to make disciples, serve others, and preached truth to the lost Jesus was innocent but
convicted for crimes He did not commit. He did not defend Himself when accused, beaten,
whipped, or nailed to the cross. He loved us to the point of death. Jesus, who lived a perfect life,
took the blame for our sins and died for us to protect us from the wrath of God. That is true love.
Jesus did not have to save us. He did not benefit or get anything out of loving us and
going through the process of dying and rising from the dead. He loved us unconditionally,
willing to sacrifice everything, even His own life. That is the example of true love that we must
follow.
What has blinded people of what true love is?
In the beginning when the world was perfect, there was the perfect love relationship
between God and His creations, Adam and Eve. It was perfect until sin came into the picture. Sin
was motivated by the desire to be like God. Adam and Eve did not show love to God because
they disobeyed Him. The reason for this sin and every sin for that matter is because of self-love.
This kind of love is the worldly and false love. This sin became a barrier between God and man.
Sin cursed mankind, blinding them to the love of God. Mankind and his sin nature have the
attribute of being lovers of self. Even in every-day relationships man tends to use these bonds for
the benefits of his or herself. Man is so depraved in sin that they subconsciously sin even when
they think they truly love other people. Sin is deceiving and blinding to the truth of love.
How does mankind know what true love is?

Miller 2
God opens the eyes of His children to the true love of Christ by saving His people from
the consequences of their sin: eternal death. He did not have to do this act, but did it anyways
because of His unconditional love. Christ defeating this sin takes down the barrier between God
and man. This allows for a personal relationship again, which allows the Holy Spirit to transform
mankind and open his eyes to true love and convicts them of their sins that had deceived them
before.
True love has been best exemplified by Christ who saved lives. He was selfless,
sacrificial, and a servant thats what true love is. Once saved, Christians are to show the world
the true love of Christ that they have experienced in their own life.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born
of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is
love. (1 John 4:7-8)