Not Far From Love

I think it’s easy sometimes to demonize entire groups of people as opposed to recognizing the individuality of each member in said groups. I suppose it’s less mental work in some ways, but it’s obviously a grave error. For example, in the Bible, given the multitude of conflicts Jesus and His apostles had with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, it’s easy for us to make blanket statements about every member of this crowd. But that’s not a fair assessment at all. While it’s true that Jesus referred to them as, “You serpents, you brood of vipers” (Matthew 23:33), it doesn’t mean that every last one of them was inextricably bound to Hell. It’s no different than when a high school teacher says to her class, “You kids are just plain awful today!” It’s quite possible that there are at least a few innocent souls hearing her voice.It’s fair to say that Jesus recognized good things when He saw them, even when they emerged from groups He considered evil as a whole.One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.The scene above speaks volumes to the integrity of Jesus. Even though He was conversing with a Scribe, He found a way to encourage the man to continue in his pursuit of the greatest command of all - to love. You see, that’s what God is looking for in a person’s heart - love. When a person begins to understand this, they are that much closer to the kingdom of God.For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.The Bible tells us that love is what transcends all fleshly prejudices. Love is what crosses otherwise impossibly broad chasms between two people. There’s only one thing that would ever motivate one person to look beyond man’s ugly outer shell for another person’s own good - love. Love’s great desire is to see others reconciled with their Creator. Love presumes it can do unfathomable things; and you know what, it’s proven itself time and again. Consider the Cross. Enough said, right?I think that in our disfavor of evil groups, our thoughts often become misguided regarding individuals within each group, leaving no place for mercy or understanding. Looking back on our own lives, it’s easy to see how God found a way to extract us from the perils of spiritual death and all those still abiding in it. What was His motivation for doing so? Love. That’s comforting to know, isn’t it? Well, why not share that good news with those still afflicted?Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.Love’s tender side couldn’t care less about the gnarly exterior of mankind. In fact, it understands it and looks upon man with compassion. Love, “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7). Love looks for the best in people not the worst. It’s encouraging, gracious, and kind. While love doesn’t tolerate evil, it accepts what it finds in fallen man as an affliction that can be overcome. That’s the power of love. It’s a gift.We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.Jesus is our perfect example. He hated evil and despised those who stood against Him. However, He looked far beyond man’s obvious shortcomings and encouraged him to pursue love itself, which, by definition is God. ”The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). If/when a person shows us a spark of love the way the scribe did in Mark 12:28-34, let us do as Jesus did and encourage them. Let us teach them that a humble heart, even though it may not be saved yet, is “not far from the kingdom of God,” that is to say, that a humble heart is not far from love.

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins