I John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
How can we be sure we love our brother? Is there a fine line between loving and not loving? We know that 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the line between freezing and not freezing. How long would it take a lake to freeze over if the water stayed at exactly 31 degrees? How long would it take a frozen lake to thaw out if the air temperature remained at 33 degrees?
Jesus condemned lukewarmness. It is easier to identify love within our own soul if it is cold or hot. I Peter 4:8 states, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves.”
This brings us to the boiling point; 212 degrees Fahrenheit for water not under pressure. Does fervent love have a measuring point? Let’s go back the other way to absolute zero, -459.67 F. The temperature of dry ice is only -109 F.
A practical answer can be found in the Genesis 44 account of Judah before Joseph in Egypt. Judah is here pleading to Joseph to let Benjamin go home to his father. Genesis 44:33-34 says, “Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? Lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.” No doubt, Judah could remember when he and the brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Reuben was not a part of this. It was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph instead of kill him. Judah did not object to the plan to dip Joseph’s coat in blood and let their father believe that an evil beast had devoured Joseph. This news broke Jacob’s heart; “…For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning” (Genesis 37:35). In the following years, Judah watched his father grieve. It is hard to cover up guilt when we hurt someone deeply. Sooner or later, we must face the truth as Judah did in Genesis 44:16; “And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: ….”
Then we can try to make restitution. In verses 30 and 31, Judah expresses his love for his father. He doesn’t want his father to grieve over another son. Judah offered to take Benjamin’s place. He could not face going home without Benjamin. This brought Joseph to tears. It was then that he revealed himself to his brothers (Genesis 45). Real love prevailed. The family was united.
Perhaps a good gauge to tell if we have passed from death unto life, if we truly love the brethren, is to ask the question, “Am I willing to go home to the Father without my brother?” As Jesus hung on the cross dying for the sins of all who would believe, He had the wonderful blessing of knowing that one of the two who were crucified with Him would be going with Him that day to meet the Father.Â
If the Father is not willing that any should perish, and if we love the Father, let’s not break His heart. Some people can be hard to love—myself included—but they may be your or my love thermometer!
