The Law of Yahweh is Better than Winning the Lottery

In 1 John, we are told that eternal life is found in having fellowship with the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words salvation means being in communion with the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. John goes on to say that this is how we know what love is that the Father sent the Son for us, and furthermore, he says that we know that we have fellowship with the love of the Father and the Son because he has given us the Spirit. Salvation is entering the loving community of the Trinity, and this is why John says that if anyone says they love God and do not love their brother he is a liar. This is salvation: loving God and our neighbor. But how are we to love God and our neighbor? John answers that question also: “this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” Love, John says, is not a butterfly feeling in your belly. Love is not following your heart. Love is not a one night stand. Love is not an emotion, a feeling, a force, or any other modern lie. Love is keeping the commandments of God. And John says that this is the romance of the Trinity. This is the adventure of the Christian faith, the call of the gospel to enter the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the ultimate rebellion; this is the ultimate revolution. Dare to follow the Spirit, dare to believe in the Son, dare to have fellowship with the Father. We live in a society that is afraid of real life, afraid of real love, and afraid of real glory. But you have been baptized and adopted into the family of the Trinity. You have been called into this love, into this life, into this glory. Therefore keep his commands. The law of the Lord is perfect; and it is far better than winning the lottery.