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John said: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments" (1 Jn. 5:3).
What does loving God have to do with answering life's difficult
questions? Someone who loves God, keeps His commandments. Therefore,
he properly deals with every question in respect to his soul (e.g.,
obedience to God, salvation). And this person lives free from the
fear of death and judgment.
John said: ""Love has been perfected among us in this:
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He
is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears
has not been made perfect in love. We love him because He first
loved us" (1 Jn. 4:17-19).
A person who has been perfected by love may not be able to answer
every question of life. But, he has answered the most important
question of life - Do I have eternal life?
A person who has been perfected by love also lives free from burden.
John said: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.
And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 Jn. 5:3).
A person who keeps God's commands out of love, is not burdened.
And since God has given us "all things that pertain to life
and godliness" (2 Pet. 1:3), nothing can burden our souls.
From this perspective, the things which do not pertain to life and
godliness are inconsequential.
Dealing with the difficult questions of life is a matter of attitude.
There are some things which have not been revealed to man. And there
are other things which are difficult to understand. A person who
has been perfected by love obeys God and peaceably rests in the
knowledge that he has eternal life (cf. 1 Jn. 5:13).
Love is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14). Paul said: "Love
suffers long and is kind, love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek
its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (1
Cor. 13:4-8).
A lawyer asked Jesus about which commandment in the law was the
greatest. Jesus said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This
is the first and great commandment.' And the second is like it:
'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:37-40).
When we are faced with the difficult questions of life, we will
make the proper decisions if we love the Lord. We will keep the
Lord's commandments and be willing to suffer any consequences associated
with obedience to Him.
But if I knowingly disobey the Lord, I do not truly love Him. Jesus
said: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (Jn. 14:15).
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