Day 2667 of the 7 day Bible verse challenge. 1 John 3:18. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. NIV
Without truth, we have no foundation. That’s been the theme of the last several posts, and today I think we need to address this pitiful excuse for love that our world has adopted. You see, these days all people need to feel loved is to be left to make their own choices without being questioned or having their mistakes pointed out. People want to be allowed to do as they please without being reminded of the consequences of the sin that lives within the desires of our hearts. People think love is nothing more than agreeance or appeasement. But is that really all it is, and is that all we’re called to do?
I want us to consider for a moment the most perfect example of love there is. As Christians, we’re claiming to be reaching for the example of our Lord and Savior. But is that really the message we’re sharing when we agree with the fallen desires of those we’re called to love? Are we really loving like Jesus does when we allow our family, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, our brother and sisters to remain in sin because they’re comfortable there? Are we loving like Jesus when we avoid saying what needs to be said because we know it will be offensive and met with persecution?
Jesus didn’t come to this earth to pat everyone on the back and tell them what a great job they were doing. He didn’t walk around winking at sins and laughingly telling people to knock it off while remaining willing to accept their refusal to do so. He didn’t share messages pointing people to their sinful nature. His main objective isn’t comfort in what we find acceptable or pleasing or pleasurable. He didn’t run from the persecution He faced in speaking the truth that went against the wants and wishes of a fallen society. He didn’t worry about what this world would do to Him or say about Him because His mission is more important than His universal acceptance.
Friends, if we’re to be Christians then our aim should be to live Christ-like lives filled with Christ-like love. It’s a love that doesn’t seek comfort, but strives for continual growth. It’s a love that will not overlook the sins that will lead to death just because those lost in those sins are happy there. It’s a love that doesn’t run away or remain quiet because we’re met with vile push-back and persecution for sharing a truth that confronts the lies that have humanity held captive. It’s a love that is willing to lay down its life if it means that someone else can live.
When we put ourselves and our fear of hatred or judgement come before our task of sharing the Gospel then we’re not loving anyone, we’re failing everyone. When we hold back the truth because we know someone won’t like it, we’re letting them down. When we avoid the hard topics in God’s truth that are now seen as offensive because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, then we’re saying that those feelings are more important than the eternal destination of our souls. When we’re willing to turn a blind eye to sin rather than confront those dangerous lies, we’re saying that maybe this God we’re claiming to serve will do the same.
But friends, He won’t. And since He won’t, we can’t either.
But sadly, that’s exactly what many are seemingly okay with doing. They’ll say what people want to hear rather than speaking the truth that sets us free. They’ll avoid the very topic of sin because it’s blatantly offensive to sinners. And we’re all sinners. But nobody wants to admit that. So many people are so comfortable in the lies that make them feel good that they don’t want anyone to try to help them out of those pits that they’re truly living in. Rather than having to realize the tragic state of their fallen existence, they just hang up some pictures, weave a warm blanket, and settle for making their pit of self-induced deception all cozy so they never want to leave.
But that’s where we’re finding this new battle ground in our world and our lives and our calling as Christians. We’re called to love people in God’s definition of love. It’s a love built on this willingness to lay aside what’s good enough and seek something even better. It’s a love that has the courage to say what needs to be said rather than what people prefer to hear. It’s a love that comes from a heart set on seeking only the best for those around them, not one that’s willing to let people settle for the sins they don’t mind having control of their lives.
Friends, love does not delight in evil. Love doesn’t accept darkness remaining in the souls of our brothers and sisters. Love doesn’t settle for letting people remain in sin because remaining in sin means remaining apart from Christ and remaining apart from Christ means heading toward an eternity of suffering, and if we don’t want better than that for everyone then we don’t love them. But that message, that idea isn’t acceptable anymore. Like I said, people have learned to equate love with acceptance, but we can’t be willing to accept sin in our hearts or in the hearts of anyone else because sin is death, and letting others plummet toward their eternal demise is not good enough!
When all is said and done, God isn’t going to ask us how many people we made feel good. He isn’t going to ask us how many people we appeased. He isn’t going to ask us how comfortable we made those around us. But He just might be interested in whether or not we shared His truth and tried to help fight the good fight and overcome the sin that is running rampant around here. He just may be interested in whether or not we did what was right instead of what was easy. And make no mistake, in a world that has decided love can, and often times should lie, our job will not get any easier. But our calling remains, and that calling is to share the truth and never settle for anything less.
This world just wants us to agree with what they want and leave them alone if we don’t. They want us to lie to them in order to keep them comfortable in their illusion of freedom and happiness and to never warn them about the dangers in living a lie. But knowing the truth is where we find true freedom. Knowing the truth is what helps us see our weaknesses and issues and fight to address them rather than succumbing to the fear of change. We have to stop shying away from the truth and remember that we can only really love someone by sharing that truth so that they at least know there’s another path than the one they’ve settled for following toward temporary comfort and delightful deception.
We will be hated for doing what we’re called to do, but that’s okay. Our job isn’t to be liked or to make people comfortable and happy. Our job is to build something in eternity, and we need a foundation of truth to do so. Let the world hate us. Let them call us names and claim we’re mean and hateful and bullies and whatever else they can come up with. Let people fight against us for doing what’s right. Our reward isn’t a lifetime of being liked or finding peace in a broken world. Our reward is knowing in our hearts that we’ve done everything we could to try to be a part of the solution that helps others find eternal peace rather than shutting our mouths and being a part of the problem that will land people in the fiery eternity that awaits those who didn’t heed the warnings because they chose not to do so.
We’re here to help people know they have a choice. If we don’t tell them then their blood is on our hands. But if we do warn them, then they at least have a chance. And friends, sometimes giving someone a chance is the very least that love can do. If they don’t take it that’s on them. But at least we’ll know we tried, and that’s exactly what Christ calls us to do.
