Monday, June 3, 2013
1 John 4:18 ... perfect love casts out fear.
WE BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE GOD
It's no wonder people have trouble trusting other people. Human beings are just not dependable, even when they actually care -- which isn't often. Even those who truly love others cannot always keep their promises -- and then they leave via death's door.
You would think that trusting God would be easier. At least He isn't going to suffer from diminished capacity and then die. But the fact is, ever since Adam and Eve chose not to trust God, all of their descendents have been "wired" to be afraid of God, not to trust Him.
But the one true triune God has revealed himself in the Scriptures in order to restore a relationship of living trust between Himself and us humans, us sinners. He knows that the heart of our problem is our own hearts, and that's where He goes to work.
"Work" is the right word here, for even God's description of His loving actions on our behalf are active and powerful. Not only is the Gospel the factual, historical account of God's acting in love in Christ in order to set us right with himself, the retelling of this great good news works with power in human hearts. In fact, it works with such power that we who are naturally fearful that we'll get what we deserve because of our sins -- we who have distrusted our Creator with a fierce rebellious hatred -- are no longer afraid.
The triune God casts out our fear with his strong love. The love which caused the Father to give His only begotten Son, the love which caused the eternal Son of God to become man for the express purpose of undergoing our death, the love which caused the Holy Spirit to sanctify the unholy through the Gospel-gift of Christ's righteousness. This divine love in action has given us victory over fear through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, hearts once cold and closed to God (our hearts!) are open wide -- wide open to receive a continual outpouring of love beyond human imagination: God's love.
Now our hearts swell with song:
Eternal triune Lord, Let all the hosts above,
Let all the sons of men record -- and dwell upon your love.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 241:4)
