THE WILL TO LOVE - Vital Christianity

14The familiar story of David and Goliath shows again that God had a greater purpose thanjust the immediate rescue of His people. David warns Goliath,“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, andcut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines thisday to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth that all the earthmay know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Sa 17:46).In the same way, Solomon, David’s son, saw God’s universal purposes in the building ofthe temple in Jerusalem. In his dedicatory prayer, Solomon expressed his desire that the glory ofGod be seen through the temple worship.“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a farcounty for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name, and yourmighty hand, and of your outstretched arm). When he comes and prays towardthis house, hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all for whichthe foreigner calls to you; in order that all the peoples of the earth may knowyour name and fear You . . . Let these words of mine, with which I have madesupplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, andmay he maintain the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires; that all thepeoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.”(1 Ki 8: 41-43,59-60)WORLD-WIDEGod’s purpose is world-wide. As Peter put it, “God is not willing that any should perish,but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pe 3:9).Throughout biblical times God verified His message by signs, wonders, miracles. ThoughGod still verifies His message through these means, I believe that the primary miracle by whichGod verifies His message today is through the unity of His people. And this is by far a greatermiracle than cosmic, physical miracles. I believe it is much “harder” for God to change selfish,depraved human beings than it is to hurl this whole universe into space by the breath of Hismouth. The miracle of seeing self-centered believers united in love is by far a greater happening.And only God’s grace is able to do that.If you were Satan and you knew what unity among Christians will reach the world withthe message of truth, what would be your strategy? To divide Christians” Of course! And Satanhas done that very thing. And he has been quite successful. Divide and conquer is his strategy.