"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. " — I Cor. 13:12
A major aspect of Love is humility. And, humility is a quality sadly lacking in the natural man. Love, in the proper sense of the word, is essentially outgoing, self-renunciating; its counterpoint is pride, which is essentially self-seeking and self-exalting.
In his objective of showing the priority and superiority of Love to all other virtues, the apostle penned the great paragraph that begins at v.18 and runs to the end of the chapter. Here he affirms that Love will endure when all else fails, and is the supreme grace ( v.8, 13). In the process, two things are contrasted, as pointed up in our text for today: "now," and "then." "Now" is the realm of men and things; the world as we know it. "Then" points to a future, both as to time and place, elsewhere called in scripture, "the world to come." Central to "now" is man; central to "then" is God.
While our text speaks essentially in the spiritual realm, it evokes a principle that applies to all aspects of "now." That principle is, no matter what we see, we see but an imperfect vision of reality and, regardless of what we know, be it little or much, our knowledge is fragmentary, partial, inadequate. Should man truly recognize and endorse this principle, it would induce humility and stimulate Love. But, fallen man repudiates the principle, fancying that if we do not know everything today, we will know it "tomorrow." Regardless of man's feverish investigation of all aspects of being, this truth remains, and will remain unaltered until the end of time. We see imperfectly, we know fragmentarily. Much of what we "knew" yesterday is outmoded and repudiated today. Man, however 'advanced,' is "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth [II Tim. 3:7}."
It is the vanity of the human heart that sends us on an endless quest for knowledge that ultimately leads only to confusion. The key that opens the door of knowledge to the chamber of wisdom is God, and God is Love. Man in his vanity and pride sees the handiwork of God, but entirely misses His fingerprints. (Cf. Romans 1:20-22ff!!)
Long ago a wise man asked the rhetorical question, "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection [Job. 11:7]?" The implied answer is self-evident. The prophet later wrote in God's behalf, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts [ Isa. 55:8,9]." Neither science, philosophy nor religion will ever come to "the knowledge of the Truth" by reflection or research. Of this the preacher needs to be as mindful as the professor.
The transition from "now" to "then" is accomplished by "faith which worketh by Love [Gal. 5:6]." "Then," and not until then, we will see [Him] "face to face;" "then" we shall know even as (now) we are known— of Him. "Then" we will be like Him, for "it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know (by revelation) that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is [I John 3:2]." And "then," when He is unveiled before us, we will see clearly and coherently all that for "now" "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE Him [I Cor. 2:9]." O glorious day!!
Long ago God extended this wonderful invitation, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [Isa. 57:15]." For the present an invisible barrier stands between "now" and "then." God penetrated it supremely in the incarnation; a man penetrates it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Love is the key to both.
"O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer." — Psalm 31:23
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
A major aspect of Love is humility. And, humility is a quality sadly lacking in the natural man. Love, in the proper sense of the word, is essentially outgoing, self-renunciating; its counterpoint is pride, which is essentially self-seeking and self-exalting.
In his objective of showing the priority and superiority of Love to all other virtues, the apostle penned the great paragraph that begins at v.18 and runs to the end of the chapter. Here he affirms that Love will endure when all else fails, and is the supreme grace ( v.8, 13). In the process, two things are contrasted, as pointed up in our text for today: "now," and "then." "Now" is the realm of men and things; the world as we know it. "Then" points to a future, both as to time and place, elsewhere called in scripture, "the world to come." Central to "now" is man; central to "then" is God.
While our text speaks essentially in the spiritual realm, it evokes a principle that applies to all aspects of "now." That principle is, no matter what we see, we see but an imperfect vision of reality and, regardless of what we know, be it little or much, our knowledge is fragmentary, partial, inadequate. Should man truly recognize and endorse this principle, it would induce humility and stimulate Love. But, fallen man repudiates the principle, fancying that if we do not know everything today, we will know it "tomorrow." Regardless of man's feverish investigation of all aspects of being, this truth remains, and will remain unaltered until the end of time. We see imperfectly, we know fragmentarily. Much of what we "knew" yesterday is outmoded and repudiated today. Man, however 'advanced,' is "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth [II Tim. 3:7}."
It is the vanity of the human heart that sends us on an endless quest for knowledge that ultimately leads only to confusion. The key that opens the door of knowledge to the chamber of wisdom is God, and God is Love. Man in his vanity and pride sees the handiwork of God, but entirely misses His fingerprints. (Cf. Romans 1:20-22ff!!)
Long ago a wise man asked the rhetorical question, "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection [Job. 11:7]?" The implied answer is self-evident. The prophet later wrote in God's behalf, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts [ Isa. 55:8,9]." Neither science, philosophy nor religion will ever come to "the knowledge of the Truth" by reflection or research. Of this the preacher needs to be as mindful as the professor.
The transition from "now" to "then" is accomplished by "faith which worketh by Love [Gal. 5:6]." "Then," and not until then, we will see [Him] "face to face;" "then" we shall know even as (now) we are known— of Him. "Then" we will be like Him, for "it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know (by revelation) that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is [I John 3:2]." And "then," when He is unveiled before us, we will see clearly and coherently all that for "now" "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE Him [I Cor. 2:9]." O glorious day!!
Long ago God extended this wonderful invitation, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [Isa. 57:15]." For the present an invisible barrier stands between "now" and "then." God penetrated it supremely in the incarnation; a man penetrates it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Love is the key to both.
"O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer." — Psalm 31:23
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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