The Thing You Have Heard from the Beginning

By Brandon Morgan

In the midst of a storm, it’s easy to keep our eyes upon the winds and the waves. In the midst of cultural and economic upheaval, it’s human to assign meaning to what we see happening. And as saints in the church, it can be a reflex to immediately pull out our spiritual barometers and draw conclusions between the things we see and the things that God is supposedly doing (or is not doing).

None of these things are wrong. They are simply reflections of those that have been framed within dust. But, when we consider the prophetic voice for the end times Church, it’s not enough to see the signs of the times; we must discern the signs of the times. To discern is to perceive or recognize, and for us to discern accurately, we need to be illuminated by the light of our Father, by the One whom we see light by gazing into His light. (Psalm 36:9, “In your light we see light.”)

I’ve got you on the edge of your seats haven’t I? Your appetite is whetted for a fresh word, something that can bring an explanation to the changes, to the turbulence, to the chaos that’s been brought forth in this season. But nay, this will not be a sweet that you will be able to roll around in your mouth, savoring for the time. Rather, this will be a foul tasting medicine, lodged within your cheek, reminding you of your duty.

Scripture says,

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:7–11, NKJV, author’s emphasis)

We are compelled, as children of the light, to walk in love. There might be some confusion about what that means, so I want to take the next few paragraphs to clear that up.

DIVIDED LOVE IS NOT LOVE WHATSOEVER

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17)

What John is saying here is so revolutionary that it was hard for me to catch. But John is essentially explaining that there is something seriously wrong with finding affection and comfort in the things of this world. That there is something off with satisfying our mouths with every passing fancy that we desire. That to glory in ourselves is not good. And that if we follow these inclinations, we make ourselves incompatible vessels for the love of the Father.

TRUE LOVE TAKES PLACE IN ACTION

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” (1 John 3:16–19)

I love what John posits here. He’s essentially saying that Christ didn’t just think about saving us. He gave Himself up freely for us. Now if we say we abide in Him, shouldn’t we walk as he walked? Do we just think about love or do we do it? Very practically, your brother is in need. Perhaps he’s been laid off or lost his home, so now what is the physical action that you do to express compassion? Based on my reading of this Scripture, it essentially says, if you have and your brother does not, and you do nothing, then how can you say the love of the Father abides in you?

Now this isn’t to say we shouldn’t be discerning or wise, but I honestly feel as though we use “praying for wisdom” as an excuse to skirt our duty. I’ve seen where folks will say something like, “I want to pray before I help.” Whereas, I think it’s closer to the heart of the Father to have a default of giving and praying to discern how to give.

But boy, are we big feelers. When someone is going through something, we think our sympathy grants us heavenly treasures. It reminds me of what Lewis wrote in The Screwtape Letters about relying on feelings: “The more often he feels without acting, the less he will ever be able to act, and in the long run, the less he will be able to feel.” (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, Letter XIII)

That tug of discomfort that one might call sympathy or empathy is great, so long as it leads us to action.

I’m not trying to beat anyone up with these words. It’s just that so often I find that we think that feeling bad for someone going through a rough patch is an outworking of the love of Christ. Christ didn’t just pity us, but He did something about us when we were yet in a miserable state. (Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”)

THE DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12)

Wow. What a statement. In the New Living Translation, the latter part of this Scripture says, “love is brought to full expression in us.” By loving one another through action, not having divided loyalties, we can testify that God’s love reigns in us.

One last note about the author of this letter. According to early church tradition, when John the Apostle was too weak to walk and he was carried into church meetings, he would only say one thing: “Little children, love one another.” When asked why, his rationale was the same, “Because it is the Lord’s command, and if this alone is done, it is enough. (Attributed to Jerome, Commentary on Galatians, and early church tradition.)

CONCLUSION

I’ll be honest with you. I found myself challenged in writing this article. One of the things I try to do when writing is to find an applicable situation in the world to apply to the word I feel that the Lord has put on my heart. But, perhaps it is the world’s distractions which rob us from the simplicity of the message. So let me bring about the application right here:

When fellow parishioners are laid off, “little children, love one another.”

When you kneel in prayer next to someone who voted differently than you, “little children, love one another.”

When you are pressed on all sides, “little children, love one another.”

When you grow frustrated with the state of the world, “little children, love one another.”

Why?

Because it is the Lord’s command, and if this alone is done, it is enough. (John 13:34–35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”)

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