It is widely believed by many people in this world (age), be they secular or religious, that the polar opposite of love is hate.
Do you believe this to be true?
Yes, it is true that on the surface it seems as if these two stand in opposition but they do share a common bond.
That is to say that to love and or to hate requires a conscious decision between the two!
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies,
He that soweth discord among brethren.
(Pro 6:16-19)
There is however another state of being, one that stands in opposition to both love and hate and has no common bond with either love or hate,
a state which displeases our Father God more than hatred:
The State of INDIFFERENCE
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot (Rev 3:14-15)
The etymology of the praise "cold or hot" is in interesting one insomuch as:
the root of the word "cold" comes from a primary Greek verb ψύχω psuchō which means to breath voluntarily but gently; thus differing on the one hand from G4154 - πνέω pneō - to breath hard, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and on the other from the base of G109 - ἀήρ aēr, which refers properly to an inanimate breeze), that is, (by implication of reduction of temperature by evaporation) to chill (figuratively): - wax cold
the word "hot" on the other hand, zestos - dzes-tos' - boiled, that is, (by implication) calid (figuratively fervent): - hot, from the primairy verb ζέω - zeō - to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), that is, (figuratively) be fervid (earnest): - be fervent.
So then because thou art lukewarm (χλιαρός - chliaros - (literally) tepid, lukewarm - (metaphorically) of the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor (a state of physical or mental inactivity) and a fervor of love) and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see. (Rev 3:16-18).
It is so easy to live in this narcissistic world during these trouble times, look at others, and forget from where we ourselves have fallen. We forget about the beam within our own eyes, the darkness within all of our hearts, the natural passions that run deep within our souls, and the truth that there is none that is good, not one (Romans 3:10-12,Psalm 14:1-3,Psalm 53:1-3) save the Son of God.
It is a difficult thing to love the rioters and the looters. It is impossible to love the corrupt politicians and global elitists who are hell bent on destroying the world to establish the one world government and religion. But our Lord Jesus hung upon the tree for them as well, and we (those who are His disciples) are "commanded" by Him to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, and to bless those who curse us.
And this not out of a spirit of mere abeyance, rather out of no less than a loving heart!
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity I am nothing and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity it profiteth me nothing. (1Co 13:1-3)
How do we overcome the evil in the world today?
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain glory provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal 5:16-7 & 22-26)
The End Result?
Blessed (Happy) Are:
The Poor in Spirit
They That Morn
The Meek
They Which Do Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness
The Merciful
The Pure In Heart
The Peacemakers
They Which Are Persecuted For Righteousness' Sake
Ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Remember from where you have fallen, turn back to your first love,
enter into His peace and rest, and Be Blessed!
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