This infamous Three Sisters mountain is located in Canmore Alberta, Canada. Canmore was officially named in 1884 by Canadian Pacific Railway director Donald A. Canmore in Gaelic means “Big Chief ”. In the traditional Stoney language, the peaks refers to the story of an old trickster who would promise the “Three Sisters” in marriage whenever he was in trouble.
In 1883, Albert Rogers, was caught in a snow storm that after left the peaks snow-capped—resembling nuns in white veils; so Rogers titled the the mountain the “Three Nuns”.
In 1886, George Dawson, a Canadian geologist, and surveyor, named the mountain the “Three Sisters” on his map. The “Three Sisters” is recognized as the “Big Sister, Middle Sister, and Little Sister”—but is actually inscribed as Faith (Big Sister), Hope (Little Sister), and Charity (Middle Sister), as Dawson decided this was most appropriate. (I'm a middle sister so I LOVE that Charity represents it 😊; I certainly identify myself following after the love of Jesus)
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith in Christianity, represents our confidence in Christ-Jesus, through the Crucifixion on the Cross; and our dying to the flesh (worldly pleasures) so we can have the hope of Salvation.
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Hope represents our faith in Christ—who we cling to for our Salvation. True hope, has just as much substance as faith; this is why we say 'NO' to ourselves when our desires are out of line with God's Will. As we continually say no to ourselves (having our lives reflect His death and burial of our sin), His life - by the power of the Holy Spirit raises us up. (I have recently put this into practice - It Works!)
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Charity represents the heart and soul—associated with the God the Father, God (Jesus) the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Charity is God's love at work in us: this is what moves us to think favorably of those who are not favorable. By doing so, we demonstrate the supreme love God has for us, through Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior. If it wasn't for the Love of God, men would know God even exists because we live in a fallen world. You will also note, those who are the farthest from God don't believe love exists either. Charity is most important because it's a kingdom building—soul winning virtue.
Without God (love), human existence would not make any sense, because love, is the only substance or foundation, in which all relationships are established upon. Without relationships, life is not worth living. 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Relationships are the most important thing to God; as Christians, they need to be important to us too!
1 Corinthians 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake 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 through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
We see from this passage that Charity or Love is eternal whereas all the other virtues are not. This is because God is eternal 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
In the conclusion of Paul's Epistle, Paul ponders the elementary stage of our ability to recognize our own failings. He helps us understand the importance of putting away our selfish ambition (sin) as this breaks our relationship with the LORD. When God shows us our sin, we respond in two ways: we either ignore the conviction, or we are convicted by it—and desire to make things right.
There are those who see (only) sins of others rather than their own; these people are blind to their own lusts whether it's ostentatiousness, an addiction, or even benignity, pride—envy and wrath. This represents the “dark glass” we see through in 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. There is a motive behind each thing we do—and it's those motives that we will account for at the judgment seat.
I have heard many people ask, “How can God forgive specific people—you don't know what they've done”? Well, let God be the merciful judge of them, and you go and worry about your own sin that will you separate from God. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The “face to face” term in1 Corinthians13 represents God's confrontation of the sin we carry in our hearts. We only see ourselves “in part”—so we need to rely on a Holy God to anchor us, because He is the only one who knows us completely; To understand ourselves fully IS to recognize our own evil. St Augustine knew perfectly well when he prayed; “Forgive me OH LORD, that evil man—myself!”
If we don't perceive or accept our own sin, the Love of God cannot possibly be in us. We will never understand what Jesus did for us—and never come to appreciate His love. We need to accept the fact that our sin helped put Him there because if it didn't, then it could not have been taken away. And if it wasn't taken away, that proves that we rejected Jesus. 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee... When we disregard our own sin, we will never know what we were forgiven of. As a result, we remain outside of God's Love. You see, your sin has not only broken God's heart, but it has also hurt others as well—even if you don't perceive or accept it. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. We need to come to terms and be honest with ourselves...
When Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 “but then shall I know”—he meant that we only come to know God by recognizing how evil we are (not someone else)! This is something that cannot be done by looking at the failings of others—only our own! As we continually recognize and correct our failings, we grow in the faith, have eternal hope, and walk in His Love.
“the greatest of these is charity.”
God Bless,
Maria
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