In the movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” a reporter makes a comment to a movie hero, “Don’t you still live with your mother?”

The hero replies, “No, she lives with me. There is a big difference.”

The difference has to do with love. Either the mother is living spiritually out of an unconditional love for her son or the son is living spiritually out of unconditional love for his mother.

Jesus says in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 12:28-34, that a certain Jewish man correctly answers the question, “What is the greatest Commandment?”

He says, “God is one and we should love him with all our heart, understanding, and strength.”

He also said, “Loving our neighbor as our self is more import than all our accomplishments (paraphrase) for our religion.” Jesus says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

Eventually Jesus removes the space separating us from the Kingdom of God. In John 15:12 Jesus gives us a new commandment, “Love each other as I have loved you.” This commandment fulfills the greatest of the Old Testament commandments.

In the Old Testament, people find value by following the religious laws. When Jesus gives us the new commandment, who among us is going to love another person like Jesus? The answer is easy, no one!

We do not create people; we did not create the universe to support people; we most likely will not give our life to help another person. The best we can do is to have faith that God loves us more than any person on earth. Jesus allows God’s spirit to be our guide and Jesus invites us to live with him in heaven forever.

Can we accept that all of us are equally undeserving of these promises?

In the Old Testament, we hoped to receive God’s favor by doing good things. In the New Testament, because of our love for God, it is the spirit of God working through us that good is done. In both Testaments good things are done. But, there is a huge spiritual difference.

Rev. George Hollis is the pastor at Harpersville United Methodist Church. He can be reached by e–mail at hollistree@aol.com.