God Sent You A Valentine

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).

This week we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Most of us don’t have a clue why we do it, but we do. Tradition says we must. Hallmark Cards says we must. Our loved ones are counting on it. Whatever you do, don’t forget your Valentine.

I did some study on the origin of the Valentine’s Day celebration. I found that it is completely shrouded in mystery. No one knows for sure how this annual, national tradition got started in the first place.

We do know it has its root in both Roman and Christian history. Some would say it was an attempt to Christianize the Roman celebration of Lupercalia. Others argue that it was a celebration of the anniversary of the death of St. Valentine himself.

I also discovered that Lupercalia is immersed in mystery. No one knows which god was being honored. No one knows where or when the event took place or when it began. Therefore, Valentine’s Day is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma.

The conclusion is we are stuck with a celebration that can’t really be explained. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate it. It just means that we will probably never know why. And, we have to admit, it makes a lot of people feel loved and that is very important.

More important is the fact that God sent His Son who is the apotheosis (extreme example) of love gifts. He died that we might live. God gave His Son. Jesus is our eternal Valentine. If you want to know more pick up your Bible and get reading. The whole story is found there.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).