The GREATEST of These Is LOVE

"The Greatest of These Is Love"

Several years ago I compiled a set of personal CDs which included many of my favorite contemporary Christian songs at the time. Each of the CDs was themed as I picked songs which I felt conveyed the theme I was attempting to get across. A number of family members received one or more of the CDs as gifts for Christmas that year. The fourth contained music a bit more edgy; that CD was reserved for Bill and me. In order, the themes for these CDs were "Love Heals", "Live Like You're Dying!", "And the Greatest of These is Love!" and "Love Your Life".

Most everyone who is going to read this blog will be able to quote one or more Bible verses or even cliches about "love". "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." [John 3:16 NIV] And again, "If you love someone set them free. If they come back to you it was meant to be." Of course, there are all manner of variations to that cliche about loving someone.

In the summation of "The Love Chapter" written to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13), the apostle Paul eloquent states: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." [1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV] Easy to remember, perhaps easier to quote or spout something close. What is often overlooked is the "tough stuff" of love, sometimes hard to remember and eve more challenging to carry out. 

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." [1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV]

Beautiful words. This portion of Scripture is often spoken at weddings but I contend that it applies to all of life. Another cliche seeks to remind us that "you can't live on love"! I would suggest that "you can't live without love". Human beings if neglected as babies and not shown love will not develop to their full potential. Elderly humans wither and die quickly in the absence of love. This is one of the reasons that the surviving spouse of couples who have had lengthy marriage relationships of 50, 60, 70 or more years of marriage frequently die within a short period of time of each other. At every stage of life, we depend on love to live as functioning humans.

Love is so much more than mindlessly repeating three words, chocolate and flowers on Valentine's Day or warm and fuzzy feel good moments. Love is hard work. Love is sacrifice. Jesus spoke about the love of His Father and His passing of that love command to us. He said: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." [John 15:9,12-13 NIV] 

It was stated earlier that love requires sacrifice. Jesus loved to the point of sacrificing His life to demonstrate that love. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." [Romans 5:8b] We know that God calls on us throughout Scripture to "love our neighbors as [ourselves]". Christ pushes us further when He says: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." [Matthew 5:43-44 NIV]

"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love." What can we say about faith? "Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." [Hebrews 11:1 NIV] By grace we are saved through faith as the result of Christ's death and resurrection. Hope is mentioned throughout the Old and New Testament. Paul writes about the hope that we gain as a result of our faith which comes through grace.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." [Romans 5:1-8 NIV]

There you have it! Faith, hope and love come to us through Christ and Him alone. As sinners, we were enemies of Christ and He died for us. The love that we demonstrate for family, friends and enemies is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in us. "We love because [God] first loved us!"

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” [1 John 4:7-12 NIV]

"TEN GOOD YEARS!"

"TEN GOOD YEARS!"

PREFACE: While contemplating writing this blog post, I am fully aware of the various responses which will be elicited by family members and friends alike. Please note that it is not my intention to offend or cause anguish to any reader.

Death is a part of life. Death is a fact of life. Like that tired cliche, "the only things certain in life are death and taxes." In other terms recently heard by this writer, humans have a 100% mortality rate. About 25 years ago, a young Lutheran mom with whom I was acquainted spoke of the importance of Lutheran parochial education to her family. She stated that she sought "to teach her children how to die so they would know how to live." 

Many of you will be bothered by what you consider a "cynical view of life". I would contend that a view of life in light of God's Word is neither cynical nor pessimistic. A realistic life view based in Scripture should never be reason for sorrow but reason for rejoicing. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 90, verse 10: 

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures;

yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10 NIV

And again in the same psalm, verse 12:

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 NIV

Today, 22 September 2017, marks six months since the death of William Joseph Snyder III, husband, partner, best friend, father and grandfather to name just a few of the roles Bill filled during his life on earth. As I anticipated the arrival of this date, I reflected on numerous Wednesday afternoons when I watched the clock and felt that twinge of sadness overtake me each week at 12:35 pm - the exact moment when Bill drew his last breath on Wednesday, 22 March 2017. It became imperative to me that by the time this date arrived, I owed it to Bill and myself to formulate and state a goal and a vision for life's future. 

In keeping with Scripture and my own view of life, I have chosen as the theme for my future life: "TEN GOOD YEARS!" To the biblical psalmist, seventy years was a full life and one was additionally blessed if he or she lived to eighty or beyond. It may be more than 30 years ago that I faced the realization that though the youngest among my siblings, there would be a distinct possibility that I would be the first to depart this physical, earthly life. It is true that I have not made it a habit of discussing this topic with close family members. I imagine reactions to range in the gamut of disbelief to anger.

The apostle Paul, writing about the resurrection of Christ, wrote that our faith might be misplaced: "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are above all people most to be pitied." [1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV] As Christian believers, our "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." [Hebrews 11:1 NIV] Belief in something that we do not see with our own eyes is difficult in a world which thrives on empirical evidence. While I have not seen the resurrected Christ, I believe in the promises of eternal life and my own resurrection.

With the writer of the Hebrews, I am reminded of "my great cloud of witnesses"!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, 

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, 

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Each of us may have our own "cloud of witnesses" who have died in the faith. For me, some of those witnesses include the love of my life, Bill Snyder, mother Elfrieda Turnmire, father Roy Turnmire, grandmother Amanda Wessel, aunts and uncles, former parishioners and individuals I gladly called "friends".

At 58 and with far more "nagging health problems" than either of my parents faced at the same age, I have no illusions of a life expectancy equal to my dad's 76 years or my mother's 97 years. It is my goal and prayer that God would grant me "ten good years" for which I will be grateful. At the same time, I am fully aware that the plan may be less than those years. If God, in His grace and wisdom, grants me more than ten years, I will be thankful but at the same time, I will not be disappointed if He calls me home sooner.

During the final weeks of Bill's life, I sang a hymn which I also sang at both of his memorial services - "Lord, You I Love With All My Heart". The final verse of that hymn expresses my hope and my confidence when I reach the end of my life here on earth:

Then let at last your angels come; To Abram's bosom bear me home

That I may die unfearing. 

Within my earthen chamber keep My body safe in peaceful sleep

Until your reappearing.

And then from death awaken me That my own eyes with joy may see,

O Son of God, your glorious face, My Savior and my ground of grace!

Lord Jesus Christ, Oh, hear my prayer; oh, hear my prayer, 

Your love surround me ev'rywhere!

John Ylvisaker penned a hymn used in many Christian churches to express faith in God's promises. This "modern-day" hymn is often used at baptisms, confirmations and even funerals. It is no mere coincidence that the hymn begins and ends with the same refrain: "I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold." The third verse of the hymn, "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" concludes with these words: "When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, I'll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise."

I admit that I have never liked surprises much, but there is a surprise I look forward to along with much anticipated reunions with those "witnesses" who have gone on before me. So yes, "ten good years" is my goal! At the same time, I realize God's plan takes place according to His timing. While I wait, I have the assurance of the Word of God spoken to Joshua:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Heavenly Father, through faith in Jesus Christ and according to Your will, I ask for the blessing of "ten good years". Yet, not my will but Yours be done. Grant me grace to live a life of service to You, my family and fellow humankind. When, at last, my days here on earth are fulfilled, send Your holy angels to take me home and grant me a peaceful transition through death and in to the wonderful surprise of eternal life. In the name of Him who was, who is and who is to come, Amen!