“WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW”
1 John 4:7-12
The 1960’s were tumultuous at best. A lot of the cultural seeds planted in the 60’s are being harvested today. This past week we have been shocked into disbelief at the gunning down of 30+ college students who, without warning, through no fault of their own, and in the beginning of their lives, had their lives robbed from them.
As you well know, this event took place on Monday. On Tuesday around lunch I was asked this question, “Preacher, what do you make of this tragedy?” After questioning the questioner I offered my opinion of the matter. Here it is:
Over 40 years ago we took God out of our classrooms. Since that time, we have attempted to take God out of our Government and out of every facet of this culture. The result is: what was once one of the most devout, committed, and spiritually sensitive societies on the planet has now become a culture of corruption. Anytime you take away “a thing”, it creates a void, and thus a need is born. Because of the laws of natural and man, when a void is created there will always be “something else” to come and fill that void. From my experience, observation, study, and belief, when you take away the goodness of God, there exist only one other force in the universe which dares to fills that void. And that is the face of evil. Today, in the events at VA Tech as well as dozens of less publicized such events, we are witnesses of the Biblical principle we call “sowing and reaping”. My prayer is this, “God, be merciful to us and give us one more opportunity to right this sinking ship.”
In reviewing history, the 1960’s give us a preview of things to come. The rebellions & revolutions, which have been so much applauded today, have just begun to take their toll on our society.
Please hear me; what happened at VA Tech does not need to be laid at the feet of foreigners, false gods, or flawed leadership. We have always had these among us. Here is the question for the day; Will we admit and accept the truth that the reason this country (or county, community, city) faces these types of situations is not because of the darkness which is resident in the world, but rather, because those who claim to be believers and those which are identified as churches, have not been on the journey of letting “our lights shine” in such a way that this lost and dying world could see our “Father in Heaven.” Rather, we have been on the quest of protecting our traditions, proclaiming our heritage, promoting our personal agendas and calling it “Christianity.”
It is my conviction that the people in this country are looking for answers. They are not particularly looking for religion, church, or another meeting to attend, but rather, they are sincerely looking for answers to life. Since Jesus is quoted as saying “I am the life”, should it not follow that His believers, His followers, those who claim to be His; that we should be demonstrating with our lives and declaring with our lips that “He indeed, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?” Should we not be living in such a way that it would be said of us, “they have been with Jesus?” Is it not true that this country and world needs a first hand experience with Jehovah God and His son, Jesus? Is this not what this country and this world needs?
One more time, let me mention the 1960’s. It was in 1965 that Jackie DeShannon released the Burt Bacharach song, “What the world needs now is love.” Candidly, no truer words have ever been spoken. However, the concept forge by these lyrics are quite different than the true need. Let put in place a Biblical perspective of this love
Turn with me, if you will to 1 John 4 and we’ll read verses 7 through 12. As I began the final preparation for this message, it was obvious to me that God had orchestrated our message for the day to coincide with this week’s events.
READ TEXT. PRAY. This is a very powerful passage. The last 3 words in verse 8 constitute the axis, the hub, and the heart of this teaching. It matters not which order it is read.
Whether it reads “God is Love” or “Love is God” matters little because both give the eternal truth. Notice what the scripture does not say. It does not say, “God can love” or “God will love.” The New Testament says things like “God proves His loves” or “God demonstrates His loves” or “God loves so much”, but all of these spring from the central truth that “God is the very epitome” of love. It is His nature, His character, and His makeup. He is the author and finisher of our faith as well as our “hope” and our “love”.
When we come to grips with the truth that “God is love” it prepares us for the journey through our text. This is a message for those who claim to know Jesus as personal savior, are a part of His family, and as such, are attempting to give the people of this world exactly that for which they are searching. So the first question we ask is this: Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Have you admitted your sinfulness and need for forgiveness? Have you ask Jesus for this forgiveness? Why not do it right now?
Let us consider 7 actions, activities, and/or appeals which John makes to the family of God which will help us to comprehend, act, and declare His love to the world. And I submit, what the world truly needs is God’s Love.
1) The Request to the believers is a request to “love one another.” In other texts Jesus makes this a requirement, but here John seems to be saying a simple, “let us love one another.” To illustrate the spirit of this request brings me to reflect on a familiar statement heard in our culture; “can’t we all just get along?” This is always stated with somewhat of a condescending attitude as the intent is to minimize the differences between right and wrong. Yet, the answer to the query of “can’t we all just get along?” is “no” we really can’t because left to ourselves we are deeply entrenched in our in sin and selfishness. To love is to become like God the Father. To love is to demonstrate the Father’s Character. To love one is to have a change of heart and mind and become like Christ. One statement of application is this; “love must be returned to the church.” This must be authentic love. Why do I say authentic love?
2) The Reason we are to love. The answer is very simple, “love is from God.” Scripture tells us that “God is love”, “God loved the world so much”, and that “God demonstrated or proved His love.” Interestingly, every time God’s love is mentioned it seems that is cost Him something to show it. When we love with the Love of God, it cost us. The love of God might be free, but it’s not cheap. We can only show this type of love when we are connected to the Father, which is;
3) The Reality about this love which the world needs. True love is not something we can conjure up, nor is it something we can fabricate. The Bible says, “The one who knows God, loves; and the one who does not know God, does not love.” Seems to me there is no middle ground. We do or we don’t. And whether we “do or don’t” love is determined by whether we “do or don’t” truly KNOW God. Consider this, how can an individual know the goodness, grace, and graciousness of God and keep it away from the people he or she says I love? How can an individual receive forgiveness, release, and relief, from sin and not want that for those around him/her? The reality is this; “if” we know God we display a God’s love which permeates every part of our life just like it did Jesus. Now some will say, “Preacher, how can you make this claims about the love of God, don’t you know about the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Achan? Is that love?
4) The Revealing of God’s love. Truth is, if you think any of the punishments found in the Old Testament was not an act of God’s love for His creation, I can give you a “one up.” How about Jesus in the New Testament? If anyone didn’t deserve to die a cruel death, it was Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God. Yet, the very way God’s love was and is revealed to us and the world is in the truth that God didn’t just allow Jesus to come, nor did He simply hope Jesus would fulfill His assignment, God “sent” Jesus for the expressed purpose of “giving His life” for us. The cross is God’s love revealed. In the cross there was immense pain yet through the cross there is immense pardon. Even today the cross stands as a monument to God’s love.
5) The Recognition about the distinctive of God’s love. Love, as demonstrated by God, is not necessarily a reciprocal issue. God’s love (and the love we should offer) did not begin with “US” loving Him, but rather, He first loved us. He even loved us for no apparent reason. God found us in our sin, loved us in our sin, and wants retrieve us from our sin. He doesn’t wait for us to become like Him. The best way to convey it is to say, “God loves the unlovely, the unlikely, and the unlikable.” The world around us is aching to see a people who are showing God’s love in authentic ways.
We have walked through this text and yet these last two thoughts are where the water hits the wheel for us.
6) The Response to God’s love. Look at what the scriptures teaches us. “If” God’s loves us like this or in this way (and He does and has proved it time and time again) then our response is a requirement, we “MUST” love one another. The Greek word for must indicates a “debt” or an “obligation.” Thoughts like “ought”, “need”, or “behoves” are used, but the truth is, we simply have no choice. Now let’s flesh this out a little. When we love like God loves, we become the givers and not the takers, the encouragers not the discouragers, the initiator of good and not the instigator of evil. To love like God loves is to “lay your life on the line for others.” The story is told about the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, couldn’t afford to send a lengthy message or telegram to the discouraged workers and so He sent a one word telegram, “Others”. May I submit, that this one word distinctly declares the God’s love? Additionally, it serves as the call and challenge for us.
7) The Results of displaying God’s love. When our lives are actively demonstrating the love of God, a couple of divine things happen; first, God remains in us. The KJV word is dwelleth. The Greek word actually means that He “tarries”, He doesn’t depart, He doesn’t leave, and He continues to be present until the very last. As an aside, wherever He is, wonderful things happen. You might be thinking, “how can I or we change the world?” The answer is, by changing your part of the world. But not only does God remain in us, but His love is then “perfected” (I.E. completed, finished, fulfilled) and accomplished in us. This means that God’s love is revealed to this world through ME and His love will change the landscape of this world.
Remember that General Booth Telegram which I just mentioned? I have heard that illustration used many times. But here is what I read on the Salvation Army web site;
It is often said that, one year, early in the 1900s, when wireless telegraphy was in its infancy, William Booth sent a one word message, Others! by telegram to encourage his officers around the world.
As with many other famous historic incidents, there is no documentary evidence, although we have searched far and wide, using our international contacts with other Heritage Centres and Salvation Army archives. We do know that Others! was Bramwell Booth’s motto for the year 1895, and it was also the title of the Army’s annual report for 1894-95. This motto appeared on printed cards around headquarters when Evangeline Booth was National Commander in the United States, and, in recent years, a special ’Others’ award has been presented to a number of people in the USA in recognition of significant humanitarian service. This we know, but if you can help us to solve the mystery of the telegram, we would love to hear from you.
When the ’Empress of Ireland’ went down with a hundred and thirty Salvation Army officers on board [29th May 1914], one hundred and nine officers were drowned, and not one body that was picked up had on a life-belt. The few survivors told how the Salvationists, finding there were not enough life-preservers for all, took off their own belts and strapped them upon even strong men, saying, "I can die better than you can;" and from the deck of that sinking boat they flung their battle-cry around the world - Others!
This is the love which the world desparately needs!
