8(Charity never faileth) but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
This passage is another testament to the power of love (you know your brain just went to Celine Dion). Not only will love never fail, it is also eternal.
In verses 1 – 3, we read about how love was superior to prophecy (“and though I have the gift of prophecy”), to language (though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels), and to knowledge (and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge). But now the passage takes it a step farther and claims that love will also outlast them.
The key to understanding this is in verse 9, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part”.Even though we have the book of Revelations, we do not know everything about the future. One day the Lord will return and claim this world one final time. After that, human knowledge will cease because it will become worthless, and prophecy will cease because it will have been fulfilled, and languages will no longer be needed because we will be made new and speak in a new praise to God. But love will continue!
Our human love towards each other is only a tiny picture meant to reflect the love of God towards us. So can you imagine it? A love stronger than any love we can have for each other? Stronger than marital love, stronger than the love of a parent towards their child, stronger than the love between friends. This love is perfect, this love is the definition of strength, this love is eternal.
This love is what eternity is going to be about. It’s going to be a celebration of His love for us and our forever gratefulness toward Him. Heaven is a place of love because it is the home of the God who is love.
