From several Scripture passages, we are given information, generally partial in scope, about God’s nature. This is sometimes veiled so that imperfect mankind is not too overwhelmed with the realities of perfection, holiness, and the many attributes of God. We might despair of any adequate acceptance of ourselves, a prelude for our search for God – so to have him become engaged and personally integral to our lives. One has to feel some worth for self to believe that a person like God would give attention to something that is, without God, of little value. We receive life for a few decades, and die. Why should God bother with that scenario when there are magnificent angels for fellowship, if fellowship is a high value? Angels preceded mankind in the creations of God. They are holy, doing well. Why bother with mankind?
Mankind’s only hope is found somewhere in the love of God. That love is partly summarized as a gift, a gift that God formed from himself. So the gift is not a shelf item, but something that is assimilated by the soul, and can be lived out, to a meaningful degree, in human nature and conduct. One’s human nature has to be worked over by God to achieve this love (agape) in purity and assimilation. The Apostle Paul captured, by the Holy Spirit, what the love of God is, and was guided to describe part of that truth in words that urge the reader to take on the increasing and perfect gift of love. (1 Corinthians 13)
For this day in Volume 1 of these Pages, there is reference to a congregation that was somewhere in the neutral zone of love. For them love was something that just happened, or it didn’t happen. They did not sense that they had some responsibility for it. If it didn’t happen they were the most responsible for the omission. Love is a commandment from God, so requires an act of the human will to move forward to live within God’s identification of love. Too many people see only the emotional, sometimes involuntary, dimensions of love, so if the varied and ephemeral emotions are not triggered there will be no love, or only a sample of it – inadequate to spiritual fulfillment. Mature love brings a bit of the context of heaven, and the nature of God, with it. There is mystery in it. The poem has it: The love of God is greater far . . . . than tongue or pen can ever tell. . . It goes beyond the highest star . . . . and reaches to the lowest hell.
There is an interesting logic from God that may not be understood, perhaps by most persons. Perhaps there is no wholly adequate analogy that reflects God. The logic is that since God loves mankind, who in some ways is unlovable, the unlovable ought to become lovable. God proves that it is possible to love those who may or may not be lovable. If they do not catch that context of God, then they reject God, because those persons may believe God unlovable – irreverence. This is found in evidence including human and spiritual infidelity, hatred, and the like sins. A young lady told the reporter she could not love God because he permitted a hell. As I write this the news has reported that a man murdered his wife with a baseball bat, and set fire to the house with his children cowering in fear in the basement. The children, rescued, feel bereft of love. The stories are too numerous to be disregarded relative to God, love, sin and redemption.
The narrative is lengthy. The lead actor of a popular TV program is being interviewed, often and long, for his neglect of family, his alcohol and drug abuse, his broken social duty, his hiring of a pornographic actress to care for his children. The public is soiled by his indecent exposure. If holy love were to replace his rebellions, his ego centeredness, his diffuse ramblings of the mind, the man and his family would be lifted. Even if the Christian context were made up as a bromide against death, it would be better than the reality of what this person is doing. Even competent professionals may miss the point. With various aids they may patch up part of the man’s life, but his future lies in the forgiveness of God and the love of God to be shed abroad (daily experience) in his life. (Romans 5:5; Titus 3:3-6) The first duty the physician has as a professional is to do no harm. That is an initial duty to society – to do no harm. The Christian wants not only to avoid the wrongs, but find the best conduct in righteousness (right). That takes some faith beyond ourselves and achieved in forgiveness, righteousness, love and service to mankind. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020