The first commandment is to love God with all of our heart. The second commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The order here is of the utmost importance.

We cannot accomplish total love for God by loving our neighbor. But we can accomplish love for our neighbor by loving God.

It is absolutely true that we cannot love God and hate our neighbor. If we truly love God, He will help us love our neighbor as ourselves.

No, we cannot climb to Heaven by all getting together. God will frustrate these attempts every time. We ascend Jacob's ladder, Jesus Christ, as an individual. We come to know God, Person to person. We cannot bring any other person, any experience, any thing with us.

Every person, experience, or thing that we love, but do not love through God, is an idol. All we value must be given to God so He can give it back to us. If there is someone or something God does not give back to us, then it is harmful to us. Any person or thing we do not give to God is an idol and must be dealt with as such. Nothing is to be held back from the Lord. He will be Lord of all or He will not be Lord at all!

Do you have all on the altar—every person, every circumstance, every thing? If not you will be experiencing the fire of God on that idol. Better to give all to Christ right now.

We Christians do not have to fear what takes place in the political arena. We should pray for all in authority that we may serve God in peace. But whether we have political freedom or are harassed by the authorities, God will use the situation to bring us into His image and into union with Himself.

All things work together for good to those whom God has called to Himself.

The only fear a Christian is to have is that he is not serving God perfectly in every area, that in some aspect he is deceived and not following the Lord.

God created nationalism by dividing the one language into many languages and dialects. He did this deliberately in order to prevent cooperation among people.

Then on the Day of Pentecost He restored communication temporarily. But note that the Holy Spirit did not fall as a Dove, as on Jesus, but as tongues of fire. The tongues of fire show that God is ready to judge mankind by the preaching of the Word, beginning with His Church.

But will the Church ever become one? Will mankind ever be free from war? The answer is yes on both counts. However the unity of the Church and peace among the nations will come in God's way, not as man attempts to build a tower into Heaven or seeks to organize large numbers of people so great things can be accomplished.

To be continued.