In the end, there is only one question we will all be called to face.

We will not be asked if we believed all the right doctrines about the nature of God and life. We will not be asked to prove how moral we were, how flawless our lives were, or how hard we worked for God.

In the end the only question we must all face is the question Jesus asked Peter:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’(John 21:15)

It is not clear what Jesus was referring to when he said “more than these.” But the important part of the question is “do you love me?”

That is the only question that interests God throughout our lives and which we will be called to answer in the end.

According to Jesus, the greatest commandment given by God is the commandment to love:

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ 37He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38This is the greatest and first commandment.(Matthew 22:34-38)

What does it mean to love God?

To love God means to love those qualities and attributes that are characteristic of God. According to biblical tradition God is characterized by beauty, truth, goodness, light, purity, compassion, gentleness, kindness, patience, wisdom, strength, faithfulness, and a deep yearning for the prospering of all life.

So, to love God is to love:

beauty
truth
goodness
light
purity
compassion
gentleness
kindness
patience
wisdom
strength
faithfulness

and to have:

a deep yearning for the prospering of all life

These are the touchstones of a truly human life. These are the qualities that will flow naturally from a heart that loves God.

The challenge of the spiritual journey is to find our way to that place within ourselves where this natural life-force of  love exists and then to manifest this energy-field of love in all our interactions. This does not require an effort of the will. It requires surrender.

Jesus said,

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28)

The Greek word for “rest” is ä-nä-pau-‘ō. It means “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect strength.” When we stop and enter into the stillness of God’s presence, we reconnect with that deep well-spring of love that is our true nature.

Everything starts with love. We will live in accordance with the will and purpose of our true created nature when we flow in tune with that energy of love that is the fundamental force of all life.

The only thing we need to get right is the “love” part. Perhaps when Jesus asked Peter “do you love me more than these?” he swept his hand around to indicate everything visible. Do you love me first, before everything else? Are you willing to let go of everything except love? Are you willing to lay down your determination to be right, to be successful, to receive glory, simply for love?

Love is always within reach of every person. It does not require any special intellectual capability to love. We do not need to be gifted in any particular way in order to be able to love. The only requirement for love to emerge is an open trusting heart willing to let go of everything other than the force of love which sustains all life.