By Dave Frodsham, lead elder, Jubilee Church Wirral

This blog is linked to “Perfect Love” Dave’s message from Sunday October 23.

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12a.

We only really notice how effective street lights are when they are switched off at night and we see how dark it really is, as they are essential for us getting around in the darkness.

But when the sun rises in the morning, we no longer need the street lights and their light; if the lights stay on, they have no impact whatsoever.  I heard John Piper mention this in a sermon and thought it was such a helpful illustration when we think of spiritual gifts in relation to Jesus coming again.

We need spiritual gifts to be used with love, like Christ loved us until the day he comes again. They are like the street lights leading us to the dawn, when there will be no more need for their light.

“But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:10

Spiritual gifts are essential for us to point people to Christ in this world, to love them like He did and to be the light through us directing them to God.

In 1 Corinthians 13: 8-13, Paul tells us that when the perfect comes all the partial things will pass away. Spiritual gifts, he says, are partial and so is our knowledge, even of ourselves and that we only know it like a reflection like looking in a bad mirror.  On that day when we see Him face to face, we will know fully as we have been fully known by Christ.

We were recently in the Lake District and visited the house of Beatrix Potter, who wrote “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” over 100 years ago. She left the house, where she wrote many of her books, to the National Trust and it is being kept very much as it was.

In it was a mirror which reminded me again of this passage, it was very old and I could barely see my reflection in comparison to the reflection I see in my mirror at home. I know that when Jesus comes again, I will fully know myself – who I am rather than the image I see today. All will be well as it is Christ’s image I will see.

We need to have this eternal perspective, or hope as we go through our daily lives as we use our spiritual gifts to serve one another and the people around us.  Jesus tells us in John 14: 1 not to let our hearts be troubled in this world but to believe in Him. He has gone to prepare a place for us, and promises to come again to take us there.

The way to get there is to believe and follow Him.  If you were wondering why He’s taking so long, it’s not a building site and the rooms just aren’t ready yet. He is actually waiting for us to be all be ready for Him – He is patient in wanting all to come to repentance and be saved. (2 Peter 3:8-10)

So, love like Christ loved you, using the gifts that the risen Christ has given you, and we will all be praising and celebrating that Jesus is our saviour and Lord until that day – the day when the perfect love comes again.

Much love and God Bless,
Dave