The greatest of these is love
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
A review of our world in the year and a half just passed reveals nations in turmoil without and within. Often leadership is more concerned in maintaining their position and condition than in the needs of their country. They work to provide themselves a “golden parachute” rather than building a sound foundation for those they are suppose to serve.
As we try to view this present world through the eyes of Jesus Christ, we may conclude the world is lost without hope. But that view, though we are trying to have His perspective, is likely generated through earthbound eyes, rather than His all-seeing eyes.
When Jesus first came to this earth He preached hope and faith, yet the world was in as evil a state (maybe worse) as it is today. Despite all He saw and knew to be true, He nevertheless taught faith, hope, and love to twelve disciples and they changed their world.
Today there are approximately 1 ½ billion plus Christians around the world. You would think that these believers in Christ Jesus, believers who have supposedly learned faith, hope, and love, could effectively reach the remaining 5 billion people. But we are not!! Why?
Perhaps it’s because we don’t believe that simple message of Christ: faith, hope, and love. In the past 10 years I have been in over seven countries taking this message. Around the world this message attracts many to faith in Jesus Christ. Their response is sometimes overwhelming, as it was in the Republic of Georgia in September a few years ago. In a public park area in the center of the city, our team (which included my nephew) sought to hand out Bibles in their language. Once the word spread around that region of the city to what was happening, we gave out thousands of Bibles within 30 minutes. People were still coming begging for a Bible, after we had given out all we had.
Is the message still vital today? Yes, as demonstrated by those who received a Bible and sat down at the nearest location to read it – an hour later still seated reading the message. So, the real question for each of us regarding the message of faith, hope and love, is this: “Do I believe this message?”
••• Editor’s note: James Duncan is the pastor of Mountain Bible Church, Jacket, Mo. The views expressed are those of the author. He may be contacted at P.O. Box 146, Pea Ridge, AR 72751; or by telephone at 417341-8504; by e-mail at james. ahscrolls@wildblue.net. His Web site is www.jamesduncan-writer.net.