I remember many years ago, having a debate about religion with a guy who was a Christian Scientist. He said something in his zeal to convince me that the Lord was not actively involved in the world that I thought was very profound. When I told him that Jesus loved him and wants him to love others, he said, “Yes, Jesus IS love”. He was saying any expression of love between beings is Jesus, metaphorically. I have wondered about that quite a bit since then. There are many people who have lived who have made incredible expressions of love for their fellow man and woman, but who did not know the Lord. Was their altruism and good will toward others enough to get them into Heaven? Even Jesus said that loving your neighbor is close to loving God! Paul even said that among faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love!

No, I believe that there is more we need than love. I believe that we are called to love. But again, there are many who do not know God, who love. We are not to worship the creation or love itself. I live right down the road from a secular humanist church, and I am sure they talk about loving their neighbors too, but they do not know the Lord. I believe that love, like all other created things, can become a god itself. Faith can itself be a god and hope can too. But despite what John Lennon says, love cannot save us. Love is not the real answer.

I definitely believe that knowing the Lord is to know true love. It is a great thing, probably the greatest, certainly Paul thought so. However, love without faith or hope is again, worshipping the creation. This is true as much as faith without love or hope is not how the Lord wants us to live in this world. Also hope without love or faith is just empty positive thinking.

We must embrace all three to have a full life: faith, hope, and love. And yes, the greatest of these is love. Spend some time reflecting on the father’s love for you….it requires faith and hope.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

—————————————————————————-W.