Love, from the Beginning.

It's the beginning of a new week; the beginning of a new month; and, just one month away from the beginning of a new year!

Beginnings are, of course, of great importance - although as the old fable of the tortoise and the hare reminds us, finishing is even more so! 

My third book, "Defending the Faith", is based on John's first letter. The pungent phrase "from the beginning" occurs no less than nine times in the first three chapters of the short letter. One of those occasions reads: "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another," (I John 3:11).

Just prior to His crucifixion, in His great discourse to the disciples, Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)

 

Thus, while in one sense, Christ's command to love one another was a new commandment, in another sense, as John states, it has been with us from the very beginning of the world. "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard." (1 John 2:7).

 

The first verses of John's first letter show that this "beginning" is the same beginning as is referred to in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 (q.v.): "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us." (1 John 1:1-2). Note also 1 John 2:13: "I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father."

 

"Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24). This is an eternal commandment, for "God is love" (1 John 4:16) and "love is of God" (1 John 4:7). In the upper room, Jesus prayed to the Father: "Father, ... ... you loved me before the creation of the world. ... I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:24, 26).

 

Love, therefore, has been at the center of God's plan from the beginning, but a new pattern and measure of that love was given us by The Lord Jesus, the Christ. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34; emphasis added).

Take Time to 'Sharpen Your Axe'

There's an old story about a man who was strolling through the woods when he heard the sound of chopping. On investigating, he came across a man, perspiring profusely, as he worked at cutting down a large tree. 

"What are you doing?" asked the walker. 

The response was abrupt! "I'm cutting down this tree, can't you see?!"

"That's not what I meant", said the walker. " I can see what you're doing, but it looks as if you have been working very hard at the job. I really should have asked you how long you've spent doing so!"

"About two hours", came the reply. "But the axe isn't as sharp as I would like it to be."

"Then why don't you take some time to sharpen it?" asked the bemused walker. "That would enable you to complete the job more quickly, and more easily."

"I don't have the time to do that - I have to get this tree cut down!". 

The same wise advice is given by the writer of the First Testament book of Ecclesiastes: "If your axe is not sharp, you will need to be very strong to use it. If you are wise, you will make the axe's edge sharp again. That is how wisdom helps you to do things well." (10:10; Easy English Version).

In our own lives, there are many ways by which we may "sharpen the axe". It may involve additional training; further education - academic, practical, or both; reading helpful books; sharing with, and learning from friends, colleagues, or others.  In Proverbs 27:17, we are reminded that "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

However, one method of "sharpening" is particularly beneficial, yet many of us are reluctant to employ it. It is "Rest". Have you heard the maxim: "More haste, less speed"? Sometimes working harder when depleted physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, actually diminishes results of our effort. Taking a rest - a short break, a brief nap, a day off, even a holiday - can restore energy, renew spirits, and revive optimism.

There are those who seem to think that Almighty God demands continual activity from His people. However, when we read the Scriptures, we discover that there a lot that refers to the importance of rest. Indeed, it starts at the very beginning. In Genesis 1 we read the record of the creation. Then, in Gen.2: 2-3, we read: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." (emphasis added). This is repeated in the giving of the Ten Words (Commandments): "... in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it." (emphasis added).

An earlier commandment states: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." This is not, as some think, a restriction, because the Lord Jesus declared: "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath;" (Mark 2:27). To Father God, rest is not only good, but essential for fruitful, productive living.

When we look at the earthly life of the Lord Jesus, we see the same thing as, in spite of the demands being made upon Him, He often broke away from the crowds and "... withdrew to the wilderness and prayed." (Lk.5:16).

Peter, in his first letter, tells his readers: "... the Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." (2:21). Is it unreasonable to conclude that making certain to get sufficient rest would be one way by which we might "follow in His steps."?

So, how sharp is your axe?!