One Eternal Element

When it is all said and done my friend, there is only one eternal element that exists in this world. Everything else will one day be done away with. That element is the love of God. The scripture says that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, which he hath given unto us" (Rom. 5:5). So according to the scripture, there is no one who possesses the love of God unless they have been baptized with God’s Spirit. That makes sense because receiving the holy Ghost is unequivocally the scriptural new birth experience, or remission of sins (I Cor. 6:11; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 8:9; II Cor. 5:17; I Cor. 12:13). It also makes good scriptural sense because the holy Ghost IS the Spirit of God, and God is love (I Jn. 4:16). Jesus warned that many would wax cold from that love because of abounding wickedness in the world, so it is evident that we will have to do more than receive the love of God; we will also need to endure, or continue in the love of God in order to inherit eternal life (Mat. 24:12,13). The apostle Paul made it crystal clear that unless we possess and continue in God’s holy love, we cannot be saved, regardless of good works done, or spiritual gifts exercised (I Cor. 13:1-3). He also clarified that all manifestations and gifts of the Spirit will one day be done away with, but that the love of God is eternal and will never pass away (I Cor. 13:8-10). Even faith and hope will one day cease, when all that has been believed or hoped for becomes the one evident reality in existence (I Cor. 13:10-13). Yes friend, this great apostle told us that "faith is the evidence of things not seen,” and also that “hope that IS seen is not hope" (Heb. 11:1; Rom. 8:24). When the perfection of the glory world is manifest to those "who have been accounted worthy to obtain that world,” all that has ever been believed in or hoped for will be clearly seen, including God and his Son (I Cor. 13:10,12; Lk. 20:35; Rev. 21:22,23). But make no mistake about it, if anything is lodged in your heart or mine when we finish our course, that is contrary to God’s holy love, we will not see that glory, nor will we see God (Mat. 5:8; Rev. 21:7,8,27).

There simply is a place in Christ where his love is what motivates all that we do. There is such a thing as preparing our hearts before God so that when push comes to shove, so to speak, his love is all that is found in us. It happened with Jesus (Lk. 23:34). It also happened with Stephen, and we can trust that it has happened in the lives of all true followers of Jesus; whether recorded or not, or whether or not in circumstances less than being put to death (Acts 7:60; II Tim. 3:12). I can surely attest to you by the holy Ghost that God has situations and circumstances lined up and ready for us, to show us whether or not we are truly “keeping [our] hearts with all diligence" (Prov. 4:23). There are things that happen in our lives that are going to squeeze whatever is in our deepest heart out of us to be seen by all. We should rejoice and leap for joy for that opportunity, because these things are not coincidence, and they are for our salvation. If we pass the test, then we know to stay diligent and persevere in holiness. If we fail, then be assured that it is only God’s way of giving us the opportunity to take the slack out of the line. Jesus clearly commanded us to do the following: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Mat. 5:44). If we could not do these things, he would not have told us to do so. I assure you that by the power of the Spirit of God we are absolutely able to do these things. Hear this powerful proclamation from the apostle John: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world" (I Jn. 4:17). That IS our calling, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who certainly did all of the above without fail (I Jn. 2:6). There is no other way to expect to have boldness, or confidence in the day of judgment, other than by steadfastly manifesting God’s love in our lives; because that love is all that will remain after everything else is gone (I Jn. 2:15-17). Love always seeks to edify and love always looks out for the good of others. (Rom. 14:19; Gal. 6:1-3; Philip. 2:4). In short, there is just no other vehicle that can or will carry us from here to a glorious eternity, other than the perfect love of God. Amen.