There was once a kind, compassionate shepherd who tenderly cared for his flock. Every morning he would open the gate to the pen where he kept his sheep, and he would call each sheep by name to lead them it outside. Each of the sheep would follow this shepherd because each knew his firm but loving voice. As he herded the flock along the field, there were times when one lamb would stray and wander far from the flock. Without hesitation the shepherd would abandon the flock to retrieve that single sheep which had traveled down the wrong path.

One day as the shepherd led the sheep out into the field; a wolf came along and attacked the flock, scattering the sheep. The good shepherd, however, stood between the sheep and the wolf. The wolf, seeing a bigger and closer target before him, attacked and killed the shepherd. Because the kindhearted man had laid down his life for the sheep, the wolf had eaten his fill and would leave the defenseless flock alone.

Sounds like a crazy fairy tale, doesn’t it? One has to ask what person would be foolish enough to die for some stupid sheep. After all, they can’t speak or play cards or fix television sets. They provide wool, but is that wool worth dying for? Sheep can easily be replaced. Whatever happened to this guy’s sense of self-preservation?

Well, guess what: That’s how God’s love works. We are insignificant specks of dust in this universe, barely worth mentioning in the cosmic scheme of things. Indeed, as morally abject sinners, humans have no right to be deserving of His love and protection. Therefore, what is so great about God’s love is this: He doesn’t care about our importance. God loves us anyway and desires for our safety and happiness. He wants us to live in a loving fellowship with Him. The only way that could be accomplished would be to remove our sins. Someone had to atone for our immorality.

That is a love so great that Jesus entered into the world so that the world would not be condemned, but that “the world through Him might be saved.” When we travel down the path of sin, He is willing to bring us back to grace. Even though we are sinners, Christ died for us on the cross. He died in one of the most agonizing and horrific executions ever invented by a man. Did you know the Gospel accounts are the most descriptive accounts of crucifixion? That is because this form of execution was considered so sickening that no pagan author could stand to write too much about it. Christ was humiliated and beaten and tortured for our sake! That is the greatest love ever known, that He would suffer and die to take away the sins of many.

Love is by far considered the greatest and noblest of human emotions. So many books have been written trying to explain it; so many poems have expressed it; so many corporations have exploited it for a profit. Let’s face the fact that Valentine’s Day has become an important moneymaker alongside Christmas and Halloween, as the rush is on to commercialize any holiday no matter how sacred or solemn it is supposed to be (i.e., Memorial Day Weekend sales. What about honoring the millions who gave up their lives for liberty? Fifty percent off of lampshades doesn’t quite cut it.).

Despite attempts to make love more like retail merchandise, I don’t think people are quite ready to trade in romantic walks on the beach for romantic walks down the produce aisle. Unfortunately, though, many continue to be confused as to what love is, when it occurs, and what it truly encompasses. To my fellow teenagers I say that I severely doubt that true love is found at age 14 or 16 or so. Some say they have found a wonderful, warm relationship with a special someone who understands them completely. That’s just great, but I have to ask this: Are you prepared for the pain when that relationship falls apart? “Oh, we’ll always be together. That’s not going to happen.” Yes, it most likely will. Few high school sweethearts eventually marry. Teenagers may understand this intellectually but not emotionally, and will not be prepared for a breakup to occur because their minds are clouded and they think this just can’t happen because the relationship is so strong and healthy. Well, doesn’t health fail and strength weaken? When a teenager considers dating, he must look inside and see if he is ready for a relationship.

Am I condemning dating? Nothing of the sort. I am saying you should not let your hormones carry you away. Plenty of teens are not mature emotionally and cannot tell the difference between a crush or infatuation and actual love. Each individual needs to determine what the heart is saying and determine what is being felt. Do you like this person because there is just some sort of chemistry and the two of you just seem to fit together as two halves making a whole? Or is this interest simply a result of the person’s outer beauty? With true love, beauty should not have an important role because in true love two people love each other as they are regardless of imperfections or past failings. True love is a reflection of God’s love. Imperfect as we are, God loves us just because He does, in spite of our wrongdoing.

I am not denying the possibility that teens can be mature enough intellectually and emotionally to tell the difference between infatuation and true love. Teens can do so, but it happens rarely. In fact, I must say that many adults are victims of infatuation as well.

A huge problem is sex outside of marriage. Why? Because in that case people will allow their emotions and hormones to cloud their thoughts and they get swept away into committing an act that should be reserved for two married people who really do love each other with all their hearts. A teenage girl will be convinced that her boyfriend could never leave her and because their love is so great, a sexual relationship is okay. So what happens to the guy when she is pregnant? Strangely enough, the boy who promised to stay by her side forever has disappeared….(A similar abandonment occurs when a guy learns his girlfriend has been unfaithful. This time, she drops him.)

In closing, I urge teenagers to think long and hard about their feelings and to carefully control their emotions so that they don’t get carried away into doing something regrettable. Also, do not make finding a girlfriend/boyfriend such a high priority. I have a friend who considers himself a social reject and a pathetic loser, despite the fact he has plenty of friends (although most aren’t a part of the “in” crowd). He believes that the only way to dig out of this imaginary hole is to find a loving relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Anyone who so desperately NEEDS a relationship is one sad individual and I have little more than pity for him. He is trying to fill in a hole in his heart that the relationship he seeks cannot fill. I know he is not a Christian, and if he were he would realize how loved he truly is. Any Christian should not be extremely consumed by a desire for a human lover because that hole in the heart has been filled by the love of God. Yes, healthy and caring relationships between humans are important. But they fall by the wayside when you experience God’s fulfilling, unfailing love. As one grows in Christ, he or she learns that these human relationships pass away, but our friendship with God never will.

Check out the True Love Waits web site to read more about teenagers and love.

“No greater love hath a man that he lay down his life for another.” Christ died on the cross for you, so what have you done for Him? Let us love others just as He loved us.

Reprinted with permission of CTP while merging with SloppyNoodle.com