Article January 19, 1935 Issue

"Love never faileth"

[Original article in German]

JOHANNA DEUTSCHMANN

In times of revolutionary upheavals it is of the utmost importance that the demands of progress be met. A German poet says, "The old falls, times change, and new life blooms among the ruins."

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, when hard times had come upon the children of Israel, their departure into Babylonian captivity had taken place, and the disintegration of the whole Israelitish race from within and without seemed inevitable, Love's comfort was voiced by the prophet in the words, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Certainly many of the priests and leaders had neglected to comply with God's law in word and deed. They had not foreseen that the halfheartedness of the greater part of the populace could entrain such appalling results. Yet in the face of the loss of money, property, nationality, and perhaps of those dearest to them, the prophet continued to voice the comforting words: "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart, . . . saith the Lord." This was more than human love could comprehend. However, even though at first reluctantly, the people of Israel did listen to the message. In humility they perceived that idolatry, pride, sensuality, self-righteousness, malice, envy, hatred, and revenge had not been conducive to the prosperity of the nation. So they strove more earnestly to obey the laws of Moses; and some of them returned to their homes after seventy years of captivity.

It was Love that about six centuries later sent to mankind the Messiah, Christ Jesus. Since then God has not been wholly veiled from men in the darkness of the belief that He was a despot from whom they would rather keep away than to whom, as Love, they would draw near. Through Christ Jesus He was revealed as infinite good, infinite Spirit, ever-presence, the fond Father of His beloved children.

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First Things First
January 19, 1935
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