Faith, Hope, Love
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:10-13).
In these verses Paul looks forward to an eternal day of perfection. In that day all the partial knowledge and understanding we have now will be superseded. He illustrates this with his own transition from childhood to maturity. When he became a man, he saw things with a clarity he never had as a child. He contrasts our present condition with our future heavenly position. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).
Paul recognises the limitations of our present circumstances and speaks with absolute certainty of the coming perfect eternal Day of God. Now we are in the dimension of time and the confines of our humanity. Now spiritual gifts are precious assets. They are given by God in Romans 12, empowered by the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, and are the fruits of the victorious Christ in Ephesians 4. They are vital for the building up of the people of God, but they will fulfil their purpose and run their course. Knowledge and prophesying, even when ministered in the power of the Spirit, give a partial view of eternal things. This environment of imperfection keeps us humble and exercises our faith, hope and love. Paul, for all his many spiritual gifts, lived his life looking up to Christ in glory and living in the power of the hope he had in Him. Although our vision is imperfect, we are given the assurance that, in the future, we shall know as we are known. No more mysteries, confusion or unanswered questions, but shining, holy, clarity! It is incredible to think that, in a future day, not only will the great questions be answered but also all the tiny aspects of our lives will be unfolded, and the purposes of God fully revealed. We are thankful to God for knowledge and prophecies. But faith, hope and love all look beyond time to God’s ultimate purposes fulfilled in Christ.
The three aspects of God’s life in us are faith, hope and love. Faith is exercised now. It makes the things of God real to our hearts now and stimulates faithful and holy living. Hope is about the future and will be fulfilled in an instant (see 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Our hope is in the Lord Jesus and purifies us as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3). Faith will give way to sight, and hope will be fulfilled. Love is eternal. Our destiny is to be embraced by and respond to the love of God eternally: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
Augustine said, “One loving heart sets another on fire.” 1 Corinthians 13 presents the love of Christ to set our hearts on fire to worship, follow and serve the Lord Jesus in faith, hope and love, in fellowship with one another, until the perfect day.
