INTRODUCTION
In 1965, a song was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach.The title is, “What The World Needs Now Is Love”. This song has been performed over the years by many artists because it speaks a truth that we so often overlook in our everyday dealings. Each time the song is sung, I believe it infiltrates a listener’s mind and touches their heart, making them think on a level that they may not frequently think on. The message of the song indirectly speaks of the condition of the world and what the writer believes is needed to make the world a better place. In many regards, it is a prayer by Mr. David. Listen to these familiar words:
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s much too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love; no, not just for some, but for everyone. Lord, we don’t need another mountain, there are mountains and hillsides enough to climb. There are oceans and rivers enough to cross, enough to last till the end of time. Lord, we don’t need another meadow, there are cornfields and wheat fields enough to grow. There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine till the end of time. What the world needs now is love, sweet love; no, not just for some, but for everyone.”
In the verses of this song, Hal David expressed the sufficiency of the majestic mountains and hillsides, the sufficiency of oceans and rivers, and the sufficiency of cornfields and wheat fields. As he reflects on all that is available in the world, he, in his philosophical thinking, concluded that the world needed something more than mountains, water, and food stock. He recognized and implied that there is something higher and grander that is missing in this world. In the deeper meaning of the lyrics, we can see that Hal David’s inference is really not against the earth itself, but rather against we who inhabit the earth, more directly, mankind. In his perceptive view, Mr. David concluded that the world needed more love. However, he falls short in stating the real need of the world. Hal David says the world needs more love. I say to you today, what the world needed in 1965, what the world needs today, and what we need, is more GOD.
The 1960s were tumultuous at best. A lot of the cultural seeds planted in the 60s are being harvested today. In the past few months we have been shocked into disbelief at the gunning down of innocent men and the police brutality that has taken place in several states resulting in unnecessary deaths. All these incidents sparked one riot after another. Civil unrest plagues our nation as badly as Covid-19 pandemic.
What do I make of this “tragedy?” Here is my opinion:
Fifty-eight years ago we took God out of our classrooms. Since that time, we have attempted to take God out of our government and out of every other facet of this culture. The result is: what was once one of the most devout, committed, and spiritually sensitive societies on the planet has now become a culture of corruption. Scientific fact: anytime you take away “one thing” it creates a void, and thus a need is born. Because of the laws of nature and man, when a void is created there will always be “something else” to come and fill that void. From my experience, observation, study, and belief, when you take away the goodness of God, there exists only one other force in the universe which dares to fill that void, and that is the face of evil. Today, in the events of recent weeks, we are witnesses of the Biblical principle we call “sowing and reaping”. My prayer is this, “God, be merciful to us and give us one more opportunity to right this sinking ship.”
In reviewing history, the 1960s give us a preview of things to come. The rebellions and revolutions, which have been so much applauded today, have just begun to take their toll on our society.
What has taken place recently does not need to be laid at the feet of foreigners, false gods, or flawed leadership. We have always had these among us. Here is the question for the day: Will we admit and accept the truth that the reason this country (or county, community, city) faces these types of situations is not because of the darkness which is resident in the world, but rather, because those who claim to be believers and those which are identified as churches, have not been on the journey of letting “our lights shine” in such a way that this lost and dying world could see our “Father in Heaven.” Rather, we have been on the quest of protecting our traditions, proclaiming our heritage, promoting our personal agendas and calling it “Christianity.”
It is my conviction that people in this country and around the world are looking for answers. They are not particularly looking for religion, church, or another meeting to attend, but rather, they are sincerely looking for answers to life. Since Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” should it not follow that His believers, His followers, those who claim to be His - that we should be demonstrating with our lives and declaring with our lips that He indeed, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Should we not be living in such a way that it would be said of us, “they have been with Jesus”? Is it not true that this country and world needs a firsthand experience with Jehovah God and His Son, Jesus? Is this not what this country and this world needs?
One more time, let me mention the 1960s. It was in 1965 that Jackie DeShannon released the Burt Bacharach song, “What the world needs now is love.” Candidly, no truer words have ever been spoken. However, the concept forged by these lyrics are quite different than the true need. Let us put in place a Biblical perspective of this love.
Let’s look at 1 John 4: 7-12.
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (9) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
This is a very powerful passage. The last three words in verse 8 constitute the axis, the hub, and the heart of this teaching. It matters not which order it is read. Whether it reads “God is Love” or “Love is God” matters little because both give the eternal truth. Notice what the scripture does not say. It does not say, “God did love” or “God can love” or “God will love.” The New Testament says things like “God proves His loves” or “God demonstrates His loves” or “God loves so much”, but all of these spring from the central truth that “God is the very epitome” of love. It is His nature, His character, and His makeup. He is the author and finisher of our faith as well as our “hope” and our “love”.
When we come to grips with the truth that “God is love” it prepares us for the journey through our text. This is a message for those who claim to know Jesus as savior, are a part of His family, and as such, are attempting to give the people of this world exactly that for which they are searching. So, the first question we ask is this: Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Have you admitted your sinfulness and need for forgiveness? Have you asked Jesus for this forgiveness?
Let us consider seven actions, activities, and/or appeals which John makes to the family of God which will help us to comprehend, act, and declare His love to the world. And I submit, what the world truly needs is God’s Love.
(1) The Request to the believers is a request to “love one another.” In other texts Jesus makes this a requirement, but here John seems to be saying a simple, “let us love one another.” To illustrate the spirit of this request brings me to reflect on a familiar statement heard in our culture; “can’t we all just get along?” This is always stated with somewhat of a condescending attitude as the intent is to minimize the differences between right and wrong. Yet, the answer to the query of “can’t we all just get along?” is “no” we really can’t because left to ourselves we are deeply entrenched in our sin and selfishness. To love is to become like God the Father. To love is to demonstrate the Father’s character. To love one is to have a change of heart and mind and become like Christ. One statement of application is this; “love must be returned to the church.” This must be authentic love. Why do I say authentic love?
(2) The Reason we are to love. The answer is very simple: “love is from God.” Scripture tells us that “God is love”, “God loved the world so much”, and that “God manifested or proved His love.” Interestingly, every time God’s love is mentioned it seems that is cost Him something to show it. When we love with the love of God, it costs us. The love of God might be free, but it’s not cheap. We can only show this type of love when we are connected to the Father, which is;
(3) The Reality about this love which the world needs. True love is not something we can conjure up, nor is it something we can fabricate. The Bible says, 7 “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God.” Seems to me there is no middle ground. We do or we don’t. And whether we “do or don’t” love is determined by whether we “do or don’t” truly KNOW God . Consider this, how can an individual know the goodness, grace, and graciousness of God and keep it away from the people he or she says I love? How can an individual receive forgiveness, release, and relief from sin and not want that for those around him/her? The reality is this: “if” we know God we display God’s love in a way that permeates every part of our life just like it did Jesus. Now some will say, “Preacher, how can you make this claim about the love of God. Don’t you know about the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Achan? Is that love?
(4) The Revealing of God’s love. Truth is, if you think any of the punishments found in the Old Testament were not an act of God’s love for His creation, I can give you a “one up.” How about Jesus in the New Testament? If anyone didn’t deserve to die a cruel death, it was Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God. Yet, the very way God’s love was and is revealed to us and the world is in the truth that God didn’t just allow Jesus to come, nor did He simply hope Jesus would fulfill His assignment; God “sent” Jesus for the expressed purpose of “giving His life” for us. The cross is God’s love revealed. In the cross there was immense pain, yet through the cross there is immense pardon. Even today the cross stands as a monument to God’s love.
(5) The Recognition about the distinctive of God’s love. Love, as demonstrated by God, is not necessarily a reciprocal issue. God’s love (and the love we should offer) did not begin with “US” loving Him, but rather, 19 We love Him because He first loved us. He even loved us for no apparent reason. God found us in our sin, loved us in our sin, and wants to retrieve us from our sin. He doesn’t wait for us to become like Him. The best way to convey it is to say, “God loves the unlovely, the unlikely, and the unlikable.” The world around us is aching to see a people who are showing God’s love in authentic ways. We have walked through this text and yet these last two thoughts are where the rubber hits the road for us.
(6) The Response to God’s love. Look at what the scriptures teach us. “If” God loves us like this or in this way (and He does and has proved it time and time again) then our response is a requirement, v. 21 we “MUST” love one another. The Greek word for must indicates a “debt” or an “obligation.” Thoughts like “ought- v.14”, “need”, or “behooves” are used, but the truth is, we simply have no choice. Now let’s flesh this out a little. When we love like God loves, we become the givers and not the takers, the encouragers not the discouragers, the initiator of good and not the instigator of evil. To love like God loves is to “lay your life on the line for others.” The story is told about the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, who couldn’t afford to send a lengthy message or telegram to the discouraged workers and so He sent a one word telegram, “Others”. May I submit, that this one word distinctly declares God’s love? Additionally, it serves as the call and challenge for us.
(7) The Results of displaying God’s love. When our lives are actively demonstrating the love of God, a couple of divine things happen; first, God remains in us. The KJV word is dwelleth. The NKJV “abides”. The Greek word actually means that He “tarries”, He doesn’t depart, He doesn’t leave, and He continues to be present until the very last. As an aside, wherever He is, wonderful things happen. You might be thinking, “how can I or we change the world?” The answer is, by changing your part of the world. But not only does God remain in us, but His love is then “perfected in us” v. 17. (completed, finished, fulfilled) and accomplished in us. This means that God’s love is revealed to this world through ME, and His love will change the landscape of this world. This is the love which the world desperately needs!