1 JOHN 2:28 – And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”
THEME OF THE DAY: LIVE ALWAYS READY. The Christian life is to be lived daily in the now, not yet. In the now, that means striving for a Christ-centered life motivated, driven and sustained by the love of Christ that prompts a daily life of obedience to His commands. This is illustrated by the life of the Apostle Paul – For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account (Philippians 1:21-24).
To live in the not yet points to a mindset focused on the certainty of seeing Jesus Christ either by His Second Coming or our death and that being at any moment. Again, from the Apostle Paul – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).
In today’s scripture, the Apostle John emphasizes this now, not yet type of living as well. He does so in the context of abiding in Christ and looking for His Second Coming.
As we seek this type of life, it does a practical work within us. It promotes the reason why we are Christians – to become like the Lord Jesus in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). And does that not make sense? To strive for obedience today with an “eye” on seeing Jesus today weans us from what hinders the pursuit of Christ-likeness, the world and the pleasures of sin.
Further into the Apostle John’s first letter, he makes this application – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3:1-3).
So the Christian life lived in the now, not yet, might be accurately titled “Live Always Ready” for we don’t know when our now will become the not yet!
PRAYER: “Father, please help me to live today as if Jesus is coming today.”
QUOTE: “Today might be the day we see Jesus. Live as if it were for someday will be that day.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim