While I was watching the funeral ceremony for this well known 68 year-old retired firefighter who volunteered to go to the scene to save lives, I was deeply impressed by his love and care for mankind. Beyond his heroic act and selfless love, I see the greatness of God's love. In this cold world of New York City everyone is busy with their own interests. But this aged former firefighter selflessly sacrificed himself for others. In his courage and selflessness there was not only the accomplishment of duty, but an example of the highest form of human love. The Bible tells us "No one has greater love than this, that one lays down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). In Romans we read, "For while we were yet weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will anyone die, though perhaps for the good man someone would even dare to die. But God commends His own love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8).

In Genesis 1:26, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…" We were created in God's image, thus we have the potential to express His divine characteristics (Romans 1:20) which are love, light, and righteousness. In order to turn the occasional sparkle into a way of life, we need to accept the way of salvation God has prepared for us. We need to know God as the source of love.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"He who does not love has not known God, because God is love." -1 John 4:8