By: Obed Pineda
Of the many warnings the Bible gives mankind, one of the starkest is “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1st John 2:15). One reason the Almighty constantly warns His saints to beware being seduced by the world is because the love is never mutual. The “love” that this world offers is neither pure nor complete; it is temporary and deeply selfish. Lamentably it is a love born from the lustful desires of the flesh and ambitious convenience that eventually runs dry once its victim no longer serves their purpose. On the other hand, when compared to the love that comes from above, it is revealed that “when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Echoing his own words addressing the Corinthians, the apostle Paul illuminates the selflessness and longsuffering of the Father’s love toward His creation (cf. 1st Corinthians 13:4-7). It is sapient to recognize that God gave His love to humanity first. In contrast, in the world the eschewed philosophy is “I will love you however much you love me.” Comprehending this sad reality sheds light on the inspired writer’s proverb, “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:5-6). Curiously, one of the unfair attacks that man utilizes to try to deny that God loves the world is questioning God’s purpose for establishing the final Day of Judgment. These forms of arguments all boils down to the hidden desire of no accountability and no responsibility. Ergo, what they are defining as love is in reality tolerance for unrighteousness. The love that God offers is to be reciprocated through grateful, upright obedience by those who love Him. At once this requires one to be responsible and committed to the commandments of our Lord, not begrudgingly but rather in a spirit of gladness understanding the freedom allotted to those who have been born of the water and the Spirit (cf. Romans 6:15-18, John 3:5-6). Holy Writ declares to us that our love toward the Eternal One manifests itself in our faithful service to Him, reciprocating His faithfulness to our salvation (cf. Romans 3:21-26). The value of containing this knowledge in our mind’s eye is that it reveals that God’s love is everlasting. For this reason, it is only His love that can sustain us into the afterlife, but also adequately prepare us for the judgment that is to come. The inspired John verifies, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts our fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1st John 4:15-18). The love that God offers is perfect because it makes an eternal promise, removing all doubt from the hearts of those who love Him. The beloved apostle authenticates the apostle to the Gentiles affirmation that “we love Him because He first loved us” (1st John 4:19). The Father’s scheme of redemption is what both inspired amanuenses provide as undeniable evidence that God loved humanity first. It is also how He emboldens the faithful saints for that final judgment. The Master promises those who are found living according to His commandments that they will hear on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23). The error that the unfaithful and wicked are making is that they are viewing the Judgment Day with incredulous eyes; their vision is blurred by their lustful ambitions. This, however, is not so for those who abide in God and His love. Once more, the meaning of this is to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing” (1st Timothy 6:12-14). Where the mention of a final judgment strikes fear in the hearts of the impenitent, it springs forth exceedingly great joy in the hearts of the faithful servants of Christ. Both John and Paul looked to the return of our Lord with great and joyous anticipation (cf. 1st Corinthians 16:22, Revelation 22:20). God’s perfect love had cast out all doubt and terror about coming face to face with the Almighty because they were confident of the devoted life they had lived in service of Christ (cf. 2nd Corinthians 13:5-6). The glorious blessing of finding in Holy Scripture their confidence of passing the final exam is that we, too, are able to do so. In his farewell letter to Timothy, Paul boldly proclaimed, “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2nd Timothy 4:8). Behold the sublime power of perfect, Divine love! Its source is found in the promises made by Him who cannot lie (cf. Titus 1:1-2, Hebrews 6:13-20). Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that those who are steadfast in the faith of Christ know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this Day brings the promise of victory and not defeat for them. Although it is human to doubt at times, it is when we must rely on the promises found in His infallible, inspired Word. God has provided for us the undeniable certainty, that if we (as true Christians) abide in Him, He is the “justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26b). This, regrettably, is not true for those who reject God’s love in favor of loving this world. The promise made from heaven to them is that Christ will return “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2nd Thessalonians 1:8). Knowing that He who has made this promise is the same who cannot lie, it is a no wonder why upon hearing about this final day of judgment they tremble and attempt to delay the inevitable (cf. Acts 24:25). Thus, may it always be our joyous cry “Maranatha” (1st Corinthians 16:22b).