And that’s the contrast!

 

1 John 2:14-17

The word contrast can be defined as differences between the lightest and the darkest parts of something, for example to create a special effect in a painting, photograph, or in this case John’s letter to the church.  John was showing us a contrast between a Christian who has been taken captive by the desires of their flesh and the world system, and the Christian who is abiding in God.  The one taken captive often says the right words, is a member of their church, sings in the choir, and gives a token or more in its support, but their heart is about their kingdom, not the kingdom of God. 

This is John’s contrast, it begins in verse 14; “I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”  These Christians are not your average churchgoers; they know who the Creator is, and they know Jesus and these young men are being commended for spending time in the word of God and obeying it; the Scriptures have become their road map, their guide on how to live in victory on planet earth.  In no way is John saying they are going to have a easy time on planet earth, he is not implying they will have good health, or wealth, no, he is only stating they will live in victory over the evil one.  The contrast is the many who claim the name of Christ, they are morally good people, they do good and not bad, but Jesus said I have this against you; You are not hot or cold, your eyes are on the world system, on what you have or don’t have, and in Revelation 3:17, Jesus makes this observation: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”  The contrast is your stuff does not impress the One who gave His life for you, but the one who abides in and obeys His commandments He takes great pleasure in.  So how can a member of the body of Christ go from someone who Jesus says He wants to spit out of His mouth, to one He takes great pleasure in?  It’s simple, you stop loving self and you ask God to show you how to love Him with all your being.

The apostle John’s words are very confronting to this writer, he is addressing Christians, and it is a warning of what can happen if we take our eyes off the prize, the highest calling my utmost of His highest.  “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)  The contrast between verse 14, and verses 15-17 are so wide that I believe an example might be helpful.  My dermatologist is a great example of a man who abides in the word of God.  Vincent and his wife have three children, but God has put into their heart to make an investment in some older children, and they just adopted four, the oldest is a 15 year old girl, then two 13 year olds, both girls and a 9 year old boy, who has been in an institution almost from birth.  Vincent shared that they understood before obeying that this would not be easy, that it would bring many challenges into their family and home, but they wanted to obey more than they wanted ease of life. 

There are I’m sure many examples of people who listen and obey, but Vincent’s story is fresh, we have been praying and they have been open for over a year to invest in adopting older children who need to have a home, need to see the love of Jesus and that prayer has been answered, and now we are praying for those children.  They do not understand the price that Vincent’s family was willing to pay, they do not understand this new country or it customs, and they sure do not have any understanding of being a family, of being loved.

I am so glad you and I do not have to do as Vincent’s family has done to be obedient, but God does have a plan, and it may not fit into your plans at this time, but the apostle John will tell you that if you are in tune with God, and if you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, it comes down to a choice of kingdoms, yours or His.  And that’s the contrast!

Form the Back Porch,

Bob Rice