LOVE IN HEIGHT AND IN DEPTH

Apostle Paul equally added to what should not separate us from the love of Christ: Nor height, nor depth.... Romans 8:39a. Now, what was does he meant by height amd depth? What was he implying? We shall consider them separately.

Love in Times of Height
Height amongst other things is a high place or position. It is where something or someone is at its or his or her best or strongest. It is a better or greater level.

Now, our love for Christ should be consistent in times when we are highly placed, attain some positions, pre at our best, are strong, attain a better or greater level in life.
The point being made is that our love for Phrist should not be vitiated or compromised as a result of any height we have attained in life.

Hmmm! This is where the nucleus lies. When many a folk are exalted by God, then; what next? Honey, there is every tendency when you are lifted above others or b9ing highly placed or decorated by God, for pride to begin to set in.

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Some of us Where humble in our little beginning, have become so proud because of some achievements and opportunities. This is quite unfortunate. It is such that we are no longer committed to not just Church activities, but much more, our commitment and faithfulness to Him.
It is very easy to be committed when the chips are down or when we are still struggling in life. However, when we attain some heights or levels or when some opportunities cross our paths, then; we begin to draw back from our personal commitment to Him.

As a matter of fact, it is at the times of strength, placement, attainment and greater levels and opportunities in life, that our true nature emerges.

It is easier to claim to love Christ when your chips are down or when you are still low. It is when we are highly placed or encounter great opportunities that will actually determine our love for Christ or otherwise.
I have always advocated that, you don't knowv,/hether someone is a thief, until you give him the opportunity to steal, and he does otherwise. When you have. the liberty to commit a wrong act, yet, you restrain yourself from such, then; you are indeed discipline.
Then, when you are restrained because of those around you or you are not at liberty to act because of some other circumstances, then; you cannot claim to be discipline.
In the same vein, when you are in abundance and have the liberty to do anything, but you chose to be committed and faithful to Him, then; we can truly say that your love for Christ is consistent.
Sweetie, when you have all the connections or opportunities at Your disposal, but you still prioritize your love for Christ above such, then; you are deemed to truly be in love with Him.

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This was the concern of the apostle. He had witnessed men pledged their loyalty and commitment to Christ in times of need. But his reasonable contemplation and fear was in time of supply and rest, where will those commitment lie.

Hmmm! This was the case of Uzziah: And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord , God made him to prosper.....And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 2 Chronicles 26:5,15b,16.

You can see what height, attainment and achievement could cause a man. One who sought the Lord and highly exalted by Him, then; allowed all his achievements to becloud him or enter his head; to the end that he wanted to usurp the priestly assignment. You know the rest of the story.
Honey, if we are not careful, our heights and achievement may pose a serious threat to our walk with Christ. Watch that spear!

Love in Times of Depth
Depth amongst other things is the quality of knowing or having a lot of details about something; the ability to provide and explain these details. For this purpose of this study, depth speaks of the quest of knowledge Hmmm!

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Honey, it is not out of place to quest or seek for knowledga However, in our quest for knowledge, we must ensure we do no stray for the pathway of Christ.

This is so because knowledge puffs up, as was captured by Apostle Paul:
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:19-22

Dear, we must come to understand that our quest for worldly knowledge and wisdom should not vitiate our faith in Christ. Christianity is a thing of faith and not of fact.

We don't philosophize the Bible but "faithsophize" it. Christ in us is not all about signs nor wisdom (even of scriptures), but about our simple, constant and consistent faith in Him and love for Him.
Let us not be carried away by the depth of the wisdom of the world, nor even that of the so called gospel of grace, which tends to draw us away from the simplicity of Christ.
And this, Apostle Paul posits: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Colossians 2:8,18.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3