Discovering Unfailing Love (part 1)

In this world most things are anything but reliable. Whether we look at the stock market or the price of gas, it seems everything is in flux and this can cause great anxiety in most of us. Whether it’s a product or a relationship it seems everything and everybody is beyond the value of our personal trust. But what if we could discover something that was so reliable that each person, regardless of the station in life they find themselves, or the country they live in, could find that something or someone to give ourselves over to 100%?  Wouldn’t we grab the chance of such fulfillment, regardless of the cost? I believe there is is only one thing, or one person in the universe, that is worthy of that kind of trust.

One man, who had a really hard life, wrote about such trust. His profession was so tough he even despaired living. His name was Jeremiah and he lived in a time in Judah’s history when hunger, death and destruction were prevalent. He is called the “Weeping Prophet” because of his hard life and his calling.  So much of what he saw in humanity had turned bad and destructive from the wealthy to the poor. Integrity or trustworthiness was no longer a reality but only a vague recollection of the past.

The nation of Judah had been utterly defeated, the Temple destroyed, and captives taken away to Babylon. Jeremiah’s tears were for the suffering and humiliation of the people. He wept because God had rejected the people for their rebellious ways. The Jewish people had become so corrupt and untrustworthy that God was letting judgement come in its full measure. The great city of Jerusalem was falling because of the stubborn sinfulness of God’s people.

In the middle of such sorrow, Jeremiah penned the book of Lamentations.  In this small book of sorrow Jeremiah penned a remarkable section where he explained his one hope.

Lamentations 3:19-24       “Jeremiah’s Hope” 

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

[22] The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

Even though he was facing the hatred of people he hoped in God’s unfailing love. He believed that even when he had prophesied  destruction from God there was still an opportunity to experience God’s love. He believed that at the core of God’s heart was this amazing love for the Jewish people……and all people.

In our current Christian culture the idea of God having “Unconditional Love” rather than unfailing love has dominated Christian thinking for at least the last 60 years. From the songs we sing to the preaching and teaching, people have been taught that God’s love is unconditional and nothing we do can change that. This, in my mind, is so unfortunate because the scripture never says that God’s love is unconditional. It’s a concept that has grown from the Christian cultures shift of God calling humanity to repentance to God calling humanity to his great love. Though this sounds good, it changed the emphasis of scripture and man’s accountability to God. The scripture does say that his love is “unfailing”, which is used over a thousand times depending on the Bible translation. This means that His love will not fail us when we embrace it. “Unconditional” implies that our actions don’t matter. Many teachers proclaim that once you trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior nothing will separate you from the love of God. Your eternal destiny is now set. Romans is often quoted concerning God’s unconditional love.

Romans 8:35        (All things outside the will of the individual)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

But in using this verse the reader fails to embrace the whole of Romans that has built up to God’s intention of transformation and freedom from the destruction of a sinful life.

Romans 8:1-2      (No condemnation to those “IN” Christ)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:4-8     (It’s our choice to walk in the Spirit or the flesh)

So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:13-14    (Flesh or Spirit is a choice of the believer)

For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Needless to say, there are many things we could cite to illustrate that God’s love is amazing, but when we use the word unconditional we imply God’s love is all that is required in order to receive the benefits of His love. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks very strongly when explaining that his life flows when we abide and cooperate with his offer of love and grace.

John 15:1-7     (Abiding is personal preference not God making us)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Let me encourage everyone……God’s love is amazing and beyond compare. It is His love that draws us to Him and it is His love that keeps us in the Father’s embrace.

Questions:

1) Are you taking advantage of God’s unfailing love by drawing near? All you have to do is call upon the Lord.

2) Have you tasted God’s unfailing love or just heard about it from others? Know for sure that God’s love is available.

God’s great love is unfailing and will change any soul that calls upon his grace and power!

Pastor Dale