The Father's Transforming Love
Greetings, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to
explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly
Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This
morning we seek to understand how the Father's love transforms us.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Father's Transforming Love
"It is joy to the just to do judgement: But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The
man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the
dead." Proverbs, Chapter 21, Verses 15 and 16.
Jesus said, "depart from me, you workers of iniquity, for I do not know you. You are not like me, and
neither do you strive to become like me. I am righteous, and I am Truth." And the departee said, "But
I praised your holy name, and told everybody about you. How is it that you say you do not know me?
I never denied you before men. How is it that you now deny me before the heavenly host?"
Brothers and sisters, consider the meaning of this parable to help us understand how the Father's love
transforms us into the image of his son, Jesus. Once upon a time, there was a man and woman who
decided to marry each other. Neither of them being one to look very far into the meaning of anything,
they married without thinking too much about what they were doing. Conflict broke out right away
over the most menial of things. But as time wore one, the conflicts increased in number and
magnitude, and their patience with one another wore out. So it was off to divorce court.
Next, there was another couple who married. Now one of these partners had a profound sense of
duty; the other partner thought he had too, and he did until things got rough (as they will in the
experience of life). The dutiful partner's allegiance vanished under the strain. But the other partner
was very dutiful, never wavering in carrying out her duties no matter how irresponsible her partner
was. She continued in her duty, resolved to carry on to the bitter end. Finally they were old and done,
and the call of duty sounded no more.
Then there was still another couple who married. In one, the sense of duty was strong, but not strong
enough. In the other, the sense of duty was overshadowed by love. As the struggle of life waxed
strong, they steeled themselves for the battle, and carried on until disaster occurred, striking one of
the partners, leaving him only a shell of what he had been. But still the remaining partner lovingly
cared for him. All through the long, hard disappointing years, she ministered to all of his needs with
merciful patience. No partner was ever as attentive or as sensitive, but when asked if she would do
it over again if given the chance, she said no and sadly walked away.
Finally the last couple appeared on the scene. Their life struggle was similar. One of the partners was
struck down in the prime of his life. He too was reduced to the state of an invalid. The partner who
remained in good health took to the task like a duck takes to water. Her enthusiasm was only limited
by her opportunity to do something for her now helpless partner. Her courage never faltered. Her
love remained undaunted. Her hope never failed. Her faith remained strong. Her love for truth
increased. Her zeal for perfection soared. Her loyalty was undying, her unselfishness well nigh
absolute, and her spiritual pleasure was exquisite. When asked if she were given the opportunity to
do this all over again, would she? She replied, "gladly."
When asked why, she said, "when this disaster befell me, I was all but beside myself with
disappointment and grief. But one evening while I was feeling sorry for myself, a little old lady came
by to visit with me. After she finished talking with me, my soul was on fire; my mind was inspired,
and by body full of energy. In substance she said to me: 'It is true that a better life awaits those who
believe in Jesus Christ after this one is completed, and it is true that this new life is eternal life. But
imagine what a miserable place that would be if Jesus allowed people in heaven who disowned truth
and scorned righteousness.'"
"'Brothers and sisters, we must learn to love truth and to acquire divine righteousness by faith. We
must acquire a righteous character, and must live in truth like the Father's divine Son, Jesus. And we
must begin the process of loving truth and acquiring a righteous character by faith here and now as
we are. Our characters must become strong and courageous. A courageous character can only
develop in response to wrestling with hardships and reacting to disappointments. We must develop
love for our brothers and sisters, that unselfish desire to serve them. We can only develop this love
by faith if there is a need for it; thus, must there always be those above and below us.'"
'"We must develop hope, the fullness of trust. We can only develop this in the face of insecurity and
uncertainty, for there is no need to hope for what we see. Our faith--the essence of the unseen--must
grow. Therefore must the situations of life present circumstances that seem impossible to surmount.'"
'"We must develop a consciousness of truth, and a desire to live that truth. Therefore, life must
present the circumstances where mistakes are present and lies are possible. There must exist
perfection hunger in our souls. Therefore must life provide an environment of relative goodness and
beauty, surroundings that stimulate the desire and grasp for better things. We must learn to be loyal,
to be devoted to the highest duty. The development of this quality requires we carry on with the ever
present possibility of betrayal and desertion. The courage of devotion consists in the implied danger
of default.'"
'"Is unselfishness desirable, that measure of eternal life, that quality of self forgetfulness? Yes, it is.
Then, we must live face to face with the incessant clamoring of an inescapable self for recognition
and honor. We could not dynamically choose the divine life, in reality the Father's will, if there were
no self life to forsake. We could never lay saving hold on divine righteousness if there were no
potential evil to exalt and differentiate the good by contrast. Is the pursuit of true pleasure desirable,
the satisfaction of true happiness? Yes it is. Then, we must live in a world where the alternative of
pain, the likelihood of suffering are ever present possibilities.'"
And just before she left, she said to me: '"You may not master these qualities before your life is
completed here, but you certainly must pursue these qualities once you leave here if you hope to
avoid those damming words of the lovely divine Son, Jesus: "Depart from Me you workers of
iniquity, for I know you not.'"
This concludes today's message on how the Father's love transforms us. We hope you find something
in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day. Until next time, this is Dr. James
Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
The Father's Transforming Love
