“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:14 NASB

When I was a a child I came across a book written by a young Pentecostal pastor from Pennsylvania who felt ‘called’ by God to go to New York City and reach out to the street gangs there. How this book came to be in our devoutly Catholic home I have no idea, but I was a reader and once I opened it I could not put it down. “The Cross and the Switchblade” became an international bestseller and that young pastor’s name was, of course, David Wilkerson.

One of the most riveting pieces in the book is a conversation where Nicky Cruz, a street gang leader threatens David. “You come near me and I will kill you!” he says to the young pastor, who answers softly, “Yeah, you could do that. You could cut me up into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece will still love you.” I was shook! At age 11 I had heard of the sacrificial love of the martyrs of the church, who loved their enemies even those who took their lives. But this love, this passionate, deeply caring and fearless love? This was from MY generation.

And do you know what happened? That love, that triumphant fearless, even reckless love, won the heart of Nicky Cruz who would go on to become a pastor and an evangelist leading many out of a life of drugs and violence.

Because you know what my brothers and sisters? Love wins.

In my lifetime I have never seen our nation more divided. Politics and pandemics, vaccines and theologies. Literally it can feel as if we are at each other’s throats. Ready to pounce. Each feeling judged by the other. Our nerves are so jangled we often fall out with very people we love the most. My heart aches.

Is there hope, then, for this fallen and intransigent world? Is there a way forward in the darkness? Is there a Balm in Gilead?

“When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.” My bedrock, then has to be Christ and HIS love for this fallen world. His compassion for our friends, our neighbors, our family. HIS LOVE will hold us together, if we permit. If we permit.

For His perfect love CASTS OUT FEAR, because fear has torment. If we are tormented we need to stop what we are doing/thinking and allow His love to flood in. Change our minds. Change our thoughts. Transform us.

Because when we let His love in, LOVE WINS!

~ Debbie Ecker