PAPER PULPIT: Eleven words of love that have changed the world – Gadsden Times

Peter Gregerson| Special to The Times

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)

So it is God's desire that everyone should be saved. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) Again, Jesus said about His first coming: "I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." (John 12:47)

God did not send his son to fail. He will accomplish His mission to "save the world" whatever the term "the world" means to God. In scripture, "all" and "the world" mean, at the very least, many will be saved. (John 12:32, I Timothy 2:4)

Jesus unlocks history and gives us insight as to the time required for the Kingdom of God to accomplish its life-saving work. (Luke 13:18-21)

Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches." And again He said, "To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all harvested."

Jesus indicated a long time period when he describes a tiny mustard seed slowly growing into a great tree, the Bible symbol of a populous, world-dominating nation which provided security for national groups (birds) in its branches. Compare with Egypt or Babylon as great world powers. (Daniel 4:10, 22; Ezekiel 31:2-6)

The second parable also tells why it takes so long. A woman inserted a tiny bit of yeast into a large glob of bread dough. This is a very slow process, but it changes the very character of the bread, from hard to soft. The key: "till it was all leavened." A slow process.

But is that true? Has the Kingdom of God very slowly changed the world of mankind? Many great historians testify that Christianity has changed the world.

Listen to H.G. Wells: "Jesus is easily the most dominant figure in history. A historian without any theological bias whatever should find that he cannot portray the progress of humanity honestly without giving a foremost place to a penniless teacher from Nazareth."

And what was the main idea from Jesus which is slowly changing the conscience of mankind? It is love of God and love of others.

This way of loving God and of loving and treating others was taught by Jesus to be "the greatest of all the commandments" given by God; "no commandment is greater," and it's the way to eternal life. (Matthew 22:36-39; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-28)

Jesus put this love into 11 unforgettable words: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Those 11 words of love have changed the world like yeast spreading in bread dough.

Look at the historical record of slavery and oppression of all kinds, economic and racial. Look at the world of women and girls. The world of babies, of workers, of the poor and the sick, of the mentally challenged or mentally ill, of the hungry and on and on. Yes, the glob of mankind is being slowly leavened by the yeast: the Kingdom of God.

Stop and imagine this world without Christianity!

Will you assist Jesus in his kingdom work? You will find a life of purpose, meaning and of personal happiness for yourself as we try -- with God's help -- to live by Christ's Golden Rule of Love.

And, He will return soon. Expect him!

Peter Gregerson is a lifelong student of the Bible and is a retired local businessman.

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PAPER PULPIT: Eleven words of love that have changed the world - Gadsden Times