From The Flyleaf of My Bible - Entries from February 2012

When a Christian Dies

The "God of all comfort", referred to in last week's FLYLEAF from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, has provided more wonderful comfort for us in 2 Corinthians 5:8.

We are confident,
yes, well pleased rather
 to be absent from the body
and to be present with the Lord.

Whether we are facing our own death or that of a fellow believer, we face two opposite emotions.  We or they are going to be unavailable for continuing fellowship here on earth, temporarily.  That produces a sense of real loss and sorrow, temporarily.  However, we know that we or they will be with the Lord, in heaven immediately and forever. That produces eternal joy . 

The sorrow is temporary.  The joy is eternal.  What a comfort!

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:8a

All right, this one is not in the Flyleaf of my Bible, but it should be.

This week we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

In my study-meditation of this verse, I came to the conclusion that it does not mean that love always gets what it wants.  We know that from many other clear Biblical passages, such as, 1 John 5:14-15. It is also obvious from our personal experience.

However, in its context it seems clear to me that it does mean two wonderful things:

1-    Love lasts forever, in contrast to prophecy, tongues and knowledge -1 Corinthians 13:8 and faith and hope – 1 Corinthians 13:13.  It also lasts forever because the True, Eternal God is love – 1 John 4:8.

2-    Love keeps on loving regardless of circumstances and responses.  Various Bible translations translate 1 Corinthians 13:4a Love never fails, Love never ends, Love lasts forever etc.

This love, agape in the Greek language of the New Testament,  gives whatever God’s Word says to give, how He says to give it and when He says to give it, whether I feel like it or not, expecting nothing in return, except that we know that it pleases God and it is what is best for the one loved.  If we love someone this way, nothing they do can stop us from loving them; therefore, love continues to love.

Some of the verses in the FLYLEAF of my Bible were taught to me by godly friends.

One mature, godly lady member of a church that I was pastoring was facing very serious brain surgery. She was told that after her surgery she would no doubt be paralyzed from her waist down and it would likely be worse than that. While visiting, sharing Scripture and praying with her the morning immediately before she was wheeled into surgery, she had an amazingly peaceful countenance.

After this surgery, she had no paralysis at all and enjoyed a full recovery. During a subsequent visit, after she had recovered significantly, I asked her what gave her such peace that morning before her surgery.

She simply said, "Why Pastor it was Psalm 56:3."

I said, "What is that?"

She again simply said, " What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

Psalm 56:4 goes on to say, "In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?"

These truths are repeated by the Psalmist in Psalm 56:10-11.