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Love Conquers All
Today, I am dealing with the divine concept of Love. The Roman poet Virgil wrote in his epic poem “Eclogues” the words “Omnia vincit amor et nos cedamus amori.” Translated – Love conquers all. Thus, let us all yield to love!
HATE
Now, the opposite of Love is hate.
For the past few weeks the nation has been dealing with the shooting death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. Authorities arrested a father and son, days after a video surfaced online.
A former police officer and his son were charged with murder and aggravated assault. Arbery was shot and killed while simply jogging.
It must be noted that the young man was Black and the father and son who confronted and killed him are white. Racism and hate are suggested as the motive in the shooting death of young Mr. Arbery. If this is the case, as I honestly believe it is, it demonstrates once again, the dangers of hate.
In 1959, Mike Wallace and Louis Lomax, two television journalists, produced a television documentary, The Hate That Hate Produced . Louis Lomax, who was Black, told his colleague Mike Wallace, who was white, about the Nation of Islam.
Lomax had befriended the organization’s lead spokesman Malcolm X. The Nation of Islam’s leader Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X were portrayed in the documentary as haters of white people. Their hatred was said to have been a result of white racism towards Black people in America. Interestingly, Prior to the program, Malcolm X was barely known, even in Black communities in New York City; and the Nation of Islam barely had 30,000 members. But, after the program aired, Malcolm X became a national figure and the membership of the Nation of Islam doubled within weeks.
My opinion of the Nation of Islam or the program that aired is not my focus. The point I am making is that the title of the program is illuminating and revealing. Hate does have the power and the tendency to produce hate.
There is a natural occurrence in human beings to respond to hate with hate. It corresponds with an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth. This is an Old Testament code as spelled out in the Exodus: “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Exodus 21:23-25
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stated that the obvious outcome of such a philosophy would result in both a blind and toothless society. Dr. King is right. We are not Old Testament people living under Mosaic Law. We are New Testament creatures living under grace, God given grace.
Former President Richard Milhous Nixon while giving his farewell remarks after resigning from office stated, “Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.” You may think of Nixon what you will, but his words ring true – “those who hate you don’t win, unless you hate them.”
Hate is not born of God, because God is love. The Apostle John writes, “Let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
Hate is the scornful creation of Lucifer. Lucifer envied God. Lucifer thinking too much of himself thought that he could overtake God and become God himself. The idea to overtake God was born out of Lucifer’s own imagination, self-wisdom and envy. When God kicked him out of Heaven and removed him from his divine post as chief cherubim, Lucifer took demented angels with him. He caused Eve to move Adam into the realm of disobedience, sin and death.
Jesus said to those who were opposed to Him and God, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. John 8:44
Satan is the author of hate. His goal is to use hate to lure men and women away from the order and commands of God, which are based on love. Nixon is right, when hate can pull you into hate, then he – Lucifer – wins.
This is a very difficult concept to grasp because of the very nature of man and woman. There is a natural desire to return fire for fire. My mother would warn me, “If you bark back at the dog that is barking at you, people will not be able to discern, which is the man, and which is the dog. Once you slip into hate, you become a hater, as well. It really doesn’t matter that you are responding to hate. God is not concerned about why you began to hate. He is disappointed that you allowed yourself to hate.
Vengeance is Mine
What am I talking about? There are commands of God, which we must always be mindful. First, “Vengeance is Mine”, said the Lord. Paul records, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it were possible, as much as be in you, live peaceably with all men. Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19
Paul was reciting what God had said to Moses, “To me belongs vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand…” Deuteronomy 32:35
We must all be mindful that God and only God is the righteous judge with the power to recompense all evil, completely. Yes, it is hard to watch evil reoccurring over and over again. Especially when it seems that those who do evil go unpunished.
And now the song for this lesson: “Tempted and tried we’re often made to wonder. Why it should be thus all the daylong. While there are others and they are living all about us, never molested though they seem to be in the wrong; Oh farther along we’ll know all about it. Farther along we’ll understand why. Cheer up my brother; live in the sunshine. We’ll understand it all by and by.” I like the Carlton Pearson version live at Azusa. He really brings those lyrics to life.
Yes, though we do our very best to live according to the precepts and commands of God, we are often tempted and tried. We deal with evil all about us. And, in the face of what is so obvious to us, it seems that from time to time, evils doers go untouched and often seem to even prosper in their evil doings. But the songwriter is right, “farther along we will know all about it; farther along we will understand why”.
What we must do is allow God to handle His business and while He is handling His business, just keep on living right and living in the bright sunshine of obedience and faithfulness.
Let me be clear. I am not suggesting that we do not call out wrong. Wrong is wrong and we must call it like it is. We should not ignore wrong or evil. We must challenge evil at every turn. But what I am saying is that we must know that God is mindful and when it is all said and done, He will deal with all evil, even if it seems to slip by unpunished in the present times.
I think of David. David understood this concept very well. He defeated the giant Goliath. In doing so, he won favor with King Saul. When Saul was overcome with evil spirits, David played on his harp and soothed the King’s spirit.
But one day, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, “the women came out singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music”. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, “Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands”.
“Saul was very upset. The singing displeased him. He said they have credited David ten thousands, and to me they have credited but thousands!” (Samuel 18:6-8) Envy and jealousy are the seeds of hate. Saul began to hate David. Saul attempted to kill David many times. He ordered his servants to kill David. He hunted for David on several occasions. While David was sitting in his company, Saul took a spear and hurl it at David with all his might trying to spear and kill him. David ducked, but never retaliated. Scripture records, “There was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it.” (1 Samuel 18:10-11)
Nevertheless, on two occasions, David could have killed Saul. While, “Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his side: …Abishai said to David, ‘God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me smite him,’ … David said to Abishai, ‘Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless’?” 1 Samuel 26:7-9
On one of those occasions, David cut the corner of Saul’s robe while Saul and his 3,000 soldiers slept. Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut Saul’s skirt. (1 Samuel 24:4,5)
Keep in mind that Saul and his 3,000 chosen men were on the hunt to kill David. Nevertheless, David felt guilty that he stretched forth his hand against Saul, who was the anointed of the God. There was something greater going on in the heart of David. Not only was he not supposed to harm the anointed of the Lord, he also understood that God was his protection and his warrior.
The Battle Belongs To God
God fought all of David’s battles. He did not of his own have the force or power to kill a giant like Goliath. Listen to what David said concerning the giant of the Philistines: “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37) David continued: “This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:46
The same way God strengthened David and fought his battles, God will fight our battles. The battle is the Lord’s. If we will wait on Him and be obedient to His will, He will deliver us from all hurt, harm and danger. But we must always remember that vengeance is God’s and not ours.
Now Jesus comes along and expands on this command of God to better explain the divine purpose of why vengeance is the Lord’s. God is not at war with man. The battle is of a spiritual nature that has spilled over into the physical realm. God would have that every man, woman, boy and girl be saved with the salvation of life eternal. This is what John wrote, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
LOVE
Thus, Jesus teaches the concept of this love. He says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” And the second is like unto it, “you shall love you neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37,39
There are three loves included in the concept of agape love. First and paramount, the love of God, because God is love and all love derives from God. Second, you must love yourself. You can’t love others if you don’t love yourself. Pastor J.W. Stepherson would say, “You can’t give what you don’t have.”
I am convinced that the main reason so many people have trouble loving others is because they really don’t love themselves. And you can’t love yourself until you really love God. When you come to understand how much God loves you, then it becomes natural to love your neighbor.
You come into the understanding that God loves your neighbor as He loves you, without respect of person. And, when you love God you love everything and everybody and everyway He loves.
Now, Jesus takes it one step further. He takes love into the realm of the divine purpose. Love is not a frivolous force. Agape love is the seat of all loves. Eros, the love between a man and a woman, is born of agape love. It was instilled in hearts of men and women to attract them into the union of congress for the purpose of replenishing the earth. Philia, the love of family, is born of agape love. It was instilled in the mind of mankind to further the growth of civilization and governance. All institutions of life are born out of the family, out of the ability of people to work together in brotherly and sisterly love, for the betterment of all.
Love Your Enemy
So Jesus reveals to us the divine purpose of love, which is to re-unite man – meaning male and female – with God. Jesus said, “You have heard…, you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
But I say, 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;” (Matthew 5:43-44) I am always amazed how Jesus speaks New Testaments concepts into existence, because He is the Word.
Hear what Solomon wrote, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
Why did Jesus say love your enemy? Because as he states, “That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven… ” (Matthew 5:445) As the children of God, we must be about His business, which is winning souls to Christ.
Jesus was lifting up the wisdom of Solomon when He wrote, “If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22
Paul recites the same when he said, “Therefore, if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.” Romans 12:20
Solomon and Paul are not suggesting that we show love to our enemies in order to destroy them by burning them up. No, what they are saying is that our demonstrations of love are like ambers that flow from the altar of love, the altar of God, who is love. And when the ambers of love fall upon those who know no love – those who only know hate, the ambers of love may take hold of them and begin to ignite the curiosity that is with in them.
The person begins to wonder, why is it that this person I hate, shows me kindness? The person that I do my best to persecute, whenever I’m thirsty, she gives me water to drink? Whenever I’m hungry, he gives me bread to eat? Whenever I’m naked, they give me clothes to wear? When I’m without shelter, she guides to a place of rest? What is it about these followers of Christ?
This is why we must love – so that the ambers of our love will ignite a light within their lives, and then they, too, will want to know love and have it in their lives. When they come to want know love, then they can be led to God through the unyielding love of Jesus.
Paul writes, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8
Listen, we are going through a tough storm with this pandemic. People are hurting. People are on edge as they try and figure out how to make ends meet. They are struggling to keep food on the table. They are thinking and worrying about when will this horrible nightmare be over.
Sociologists have long known and suggested that when people are stressed, they become aggressive. Statistics already have recorded an uptick in domestic violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, suicides and violent assaults and batteries.
What the world needs now more than anything is love. Hate will never defeat hate. Violence will never end violence. For hate only produces more hate and violence only escalates violence.
No, what the world needs now more than anything else is love – agape love, the kind of love that, we, the children of God possess. We must be about our Father’s business and share love all over this world – well, at least among the people in our personal sphere, friend and foe alike.
I think back to the response of the survivors and family members of those who experienced that terrible tragedy at Emmanuel in South Carolina. Instead of spewing hate, they only spoke in terms of love. They stood before the killer, the man who had gunned down their loved ones and said “we love you and pray that you can find Christ in your life that you may know love too.”
Their response, their show of love, shocked this nation and at the same time, healed this nation and prevented what could have easily resulted in a clash between communities.
Virgil was right when he wrote, “Omnia vincit amor et nos cedamus amori.” Translated – love conquers all, let us all yield to love!
Daisy Williams says
Pastor I enjoy the Lessons today
daisy b williams says
I enjoyed the lesson today.