The Eternal Value of Love

The Eternal Value of Love

“The world and the desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live forever.” 1 John 2:17

My first car is certainly recycled by now, its rusting exterior either melted and used elsewhere or degrading at the bottom of a landfill. Perhaps the rubber from the tires are now part of the asphalt I travel on with my new vehicle. That 1967 Volkswagen van was decorated with tie-dyed curtains and the spare tire cover was painted with an alpine scene. Since then I have gone through at least a dozen vehicles.

Given a couple of generations from now, all those vehicles will be out of commission and returning to the earth in one way or another. Yet, when I owned them they were highly important to me. I picked up Patti for our first date in my VW van. I took Patti and our first son Michael home from the hospital in our AMC Matador. I raced from San Francisco to our home in Concord, Ca, 35 miles away in our Ford Fiesta when it was time for her to deliver Jonathan, our second son. All four of us fought a snow storm in North Dakota driving our Chevy Celebrity and our baby daughter Sarah home from the hospital. Now we drive a pair of Kias; a white Forte and a black Soul.

Most people also know I own a 1978 MG Midget which is currently garaged, awaiting a new electrical system. Who knew mice would make a meal of wire and plastic insulation? I hope to get it running again. There is nothing like weaving along Highway 4 along the Columbia River with the top down and a smile as wide as the windshield.

God has lovingly provided the transportation needs as a family. In fact, He promises to provide all our needs as we “put God’s work first and do what He wants.” (Matthew 6:33). He does that so that we can make the “forever” principles our priority. As followers of Jesus, we have changed our outlook. We are literally “of another world”.

The more we know Jesus, the less our hearts long for the best of “this” earth. In fact, desiring less is the most stress-free way to live. Most of us worry that we may not fulfill every dream or aspiration in life. When it seems we won’t have our dream job with the perfect boss, we begin to enjoy life less. Life is full of moments when we experience far less than we expected. Do we stop dreaming then? Do we lower our expectations? Of course not!

As followers of Jesus we have an entirely new focus and destiny! This destiny is given to you by God Himself. His plans for you are eternal. His gifts do not rust or fade. His treasures fill the deepest longing of your heart. You can never trade in the eternal values of God’s kingdom for something better. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more; there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less. Follow His way of love by faith.

Though we might consider quite a few eternal values, the highest is love. Over and over the Scriptures tell us that God’s lovingkindness is eternal. “The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.” (Psalm 100:5) Jesus was asked how we can do the Father’s will. Or, asked another way, “What does it mean to obey God?”

Here is how Jesus replied: “God wants you to have faith in the one he sent.” (John 6:29) God has made it as clear as He can: He loves you! Not only that, He loves every inhabitant of this earth. So deep is His love, that He made it possible for us to approach His incredible perfection without fear. Every act of disobedience, every sin, every failure was forgiven when Jesus gave His life on the cross. Rising from the dead, He is alive now to dwell within our lives as we have faith in Him.

But that is only the beginning, and this is where we sometimes miss the point. If we truly understand the immeasurable depth of His love, we want everyone to know and experience it. It is time for His followers to turn a deaf ear to the “desires” and opinions that fade away. In God’s kingdom there is no difference; male or female, white or black, rich or poor, Democrat or Republican. Every true follower learns to put those earthly differences aside, and to put them aside for good. Let us be men and women who obey God, sharing and living in His love that He lavished upon the world through Jesus.