GlobalChristians

Eternity 33 - Love That Passes Knowledge

We continue our series on Paul's prayer to the Ephesians....

(Ephesians 3:19 NKJV) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

What would eternal life be like if it was not also grounded in eternal love? Eternal life without eternal love would be Hell. To be abandoned, unloved, separated and alone for eternity would be unimaginably destructive. Love must accompany us all the way or we are undone.

Thankfully love does accompany us all the way!

(Romans 8:35-39 NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." {37} Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. {38} For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, {39} nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This eternal love is more than the nice emotions or elegant doctrines that inspire our minds. No! Rather this eternal love is a personal spiritual power that transforms the Christian from glory to glory. The love of God is "poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:4,5). It is tangible, real and the basis of our rejoicing.

The love of God is something you "have in you" or don't "have in you" (Luke 11:42, John 5:42), which our hearts can be directed into (2 Thessalonians 3:5) and which can be perfected by obedience ( 1 John 2:5) and which compels true servants of God ( 2 Corinthians 5:14).

The love of Christ is two-fold. Firstly it is that spiritual power that dwells in our hearts and fills us with joy, His personal touch and Presence in our lives. Secondly it is also His practical care for us and His plans and purposes for us. It involves the place He has prepared for us in Heaven and His daily care and provision now.

Just as a Father's love is both a personal caring hug and practical daily provision so God's love is both personal and practical.

God's love or us can be His sending a friend with a casserole when we are feeling down. His love can be keeping us safe as we work as missionaries. God's love for us also involves thousands and millions of years and perfect plans and destinies.

The love of Christ is "beyond knowledge" because it is grounded in an infinite and perfect Person. Jesus is not some symmetric diamond or a static Platonic ideal, He is a Person with a history and purposes and a destiny and who has plans that stretch into infinity and involve nations. In fact the Universe is upheld by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). It is this vast cosmos-creator and sustainer that loves us and who died for us.

The love of Christ will unfold in His plans and purposes, His new creation and His rulership and His place for us in the heavenly realms - a place that will astonish the angels (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Throughout eternity we will see God working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28) and we will celebrate His wonderful grace towards us in all things.

In the love of God we will be given new names and thrones, and cities and nations to rule over and angels to judge and a place in the eternal city. Because of His love we will dwell among beautiful people and holy things and behold power and perfection.

We do not fully know this future, and so we cannot fully plumb the love of God which has planned this future for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Blessings,

John Edmiston