"But love is what counts. Love is the greatest." Unfortunately, many who make statements like the above are not aware of what real love is.

So many will say that to have all the right standards of holiness and to lack love is a waste. I agree. I Corinthians 13 makes that painfully clear, doesn't it?

A wise man told several of us young men years ago at our ordination service, "Go ahead and preach that hard message, young man, but make sure you can cry over it first." That sage advice has stood me in good stead many times.

If you are like me, you have met those who had outward standards of holiness, but were mean and ugly in their spirit. I can only point back to II Corinthians 7:1 and remind all of us that it takes cleansing in both areas, flesh and spirit, to perfect holiness.

External holiness standards without love must be as big a disappointment to the earnest seeker as the fig tree without figs was to Jesus. (Mark 11:12-14). We must state in all fairness, that many who believe in and practice holy living have not had much love shown to them by people who profess much love. Some believers in holiness have had the firmness of their dedication, and their lack of compromise mistaken for an ugly spirit.

To all who really stand for holiness, I feel it necessary to exhort that you, above all others, must show love, or the cause of holiness suffers.

It is important, however, that we know what love is. Many do not.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me... John 14:21

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings... John 14:24

We must establish that love is not just some sentimental feeling that brings tears to our eyes or makes us want to hug everybody. Real love can be tested and proven.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:3-5

So you see the measurement of love goes far deeper than a sweet, syrupy feeling. A few years ago a defendant at a murder trial was asked by the judge what kind of emotion she had as she was stabbing her victim several times. Her reply was that she felt so much love for her. That kind of love I can do without.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

Here is another test. If we find ourselves attached to this worldly system we live among, we are in danger. We are not to love the amusements of the world. Most churches preached against worldly amusements years ago. Preachers in almost every denomination cried out against drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, attending the theatre and dance, gambling and sexual sins. Now, there are a large number of churches incorporating many of these things into their programs, including mixed swimming, etc.

Putting Christian words to rock and roll music and calling it Christian rock makes as much sense as putting Bible verses on cigarette packages and calling them "Holy Smokes", or making the whiskey bottle in the shape of a cross and labeling it "Holy Spirits". There must be a separation from the evil system of this world if we are to please God and enter into heaven.

There is a two -pronged test we can give ourselves to check out our standing with God.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 John 3:10

It is extremely important that we know whether we are children of God or children of the devil. Most professing Christians will look at you with shock and dismay when you make a statement such as I have just made, but we must know where we stand with God, and there must be no doubt. In dealing with thousands of individuals over the years concerning their standing with God, I have received a variety of answers such as: "I think I am saved." "I hope I am saved." "I am trying to be saved, after all, no one can really know until the day of resurrection." I submit to you, that to wait until the day of resurrection to find out whether or not we are saved, is a very risky business at the least. We can know!

To those who reply that their salvation and standing with God is sure I always like to ask the question, "On what do you base your answer?" Again, there are a variety of answers offered. "I was baptized when I was a baby." "I joined the church." "I sing in the choir." "I do good works." "I have a good feeling." Let's go back to the Bible way of knowing of the sureness and certainty of our relationship with God.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:3-5

We can readily see by staying true to the scripture that there is a sure and certain way of knowing of our relationship with God and with Jesus Christ. It is not based on feeling, surmisings or suppositions. We know that we know God if we do what God tells us to do. Thus we have part one of our two-pronged test to check our relationship with God.

Those who hate people or even are prejudiced against them because of the color of their skin or because they are of another race, nationality or religion need to read the above verses and then fall on their knees in repentance. There can be no right relationship with God when we hate our brother.

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:10-11

So you see we can actually test our relationship to God by using this two-pronged test of obeying God, and loving our brother. The amazing thing about this is that they work together. Some who have very high personal standards of holiness are very inadequate in their love. Holiness without love will cause a person to become a very bitter individual. Love, without holiness, will cause a person to be very giddy and shallow. There must be the two of these, holiness and love, together. Love is a test of true holiness. Holiness is a test of true love. I want you to see how beautifully they work together.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:2-5

So you see we can know whether our relationship with God is legitimate and whether our love for our fellowman is legitimate. We must stay in the scripture and not trust to our emotions, whims and fancies. These will only lead us astray. Talk about a powerful combination! Holiness, coupled together with love, cannot be conquered.