You Are Just Like Your Father!

 

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God  is love. This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us,  we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if  we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in  God. And so we know  and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in the world we are like him." I John  4:1-17

 

Standing before the Lord in judgment is such a terrifying thought that I imagine it would make an incredible Sci-Fi film.  Or a suspense thriller.  But I doubt anyone could fully capture the absolute terror of the unsaved on the day that they stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment.   On that day, no one will be deluded into thinking he is not the One True Way.  No one will doubt his utter holiness and righteousness.  Everyone will confess him as Lord.  But not everyone will be adjudicated "not guilty."

 

I am so grateful for the love of God that covers us and washes away all guilt.  As Christians, we are so blessed to know that we will not have to fear the judgment, but rather, have an eager expectation of reward.  Imagine the contrast between the Great White Throne Judgment and the Judgment Seat of Christ!   Thank God we can look forward to that day with confidence, rather than fear.

 

Pause and reflect on the part of today's passage that says, " ...because in the world we are like him."  This is true in many ways.  We are like him, because we are his representatives in this world. We are like him, in that we were created in his image and for his glory.  We are like him because we are not of this world- our home is in heaven with Christ.  We are like him in that we carry out his mission, declare his message, and perform his signs and wonders.  (Or at least we should!)

 

In the world we are like him.  That is a powerful mandate as well.  In the world, we are not like the world.  We do not think as they think, dress as they dress, desire what they desire or pursue the things that they pursue.  Jesus and the world are polar opposites.  Because of that, what treatment should we expect?  Being misunderstood?  Hated? Persecuted?  "Because in the world we are like him," is true in more ways than we can imagine.

 

Further, we are to choose to be like him.  We mimic those we respect.  We emulate those we admire.  Love is made complete among us, giving us confidence on the day of judgment because of our likeness to Christ.  Do you look just like your Father?  If not, what can you do to change that?

 

 

Father, help me to conform to your likeness and that of your own, dear son.  Help me to live as he did and to draw others to you.  Thank you for granting me confidence before you on the day of judgment.  In Jesus' Name..  Amen.

 

Sherri