There
are few things in life about which we can be absolutely certain. Some believed
their spouse’s love was a certainty until the affair was discovered. Some
believed their child was safe and healthy until the fever wouldn’t let up, and
the diagnosis came. Some thought their pension was safe until it was seized by
their government to pay off debt or create equity. But none of these things is
certain. No matter what we as humans point to, it is uncertain.
But
there is one thing about which we can have certainty. We can know we have
eternal life. We don’t have to guess or hope. We can know it. And this
knowledge is not some heady, abstract knowledge, but a knowledge that is
experienced, head, heart, soul and body. This kind of knowledge encompasses
every aspect of our being.
In
our world where there is so much turmoil and so much personal cost to following
Jesus, it can be a sweet relief to know that our eternity is secure. We may not
be paying the ultimate price yet, as some of our brothers and sisters are around
the world, but our time will come. There will come a time when the words
“Convert or die” will be spoken to us. So we had better get our hearts prepared
now for that moment.
John
wanted his readers to not listen to the false teachers who had infiltrated and
caused such dissention. They introduced doubt into an equation where there was
no need for doubt. We as Jesus-followers can know for certain, right here,
right now, that we have eternal life, here and now. And that eternal life that
we start to experience now is the same life we will experience when we
transition to heaven.
Now
these words of assurance are not written to everyone in the world. They are
written specifically to those who are Jesus-followers, those who believe in
Jesus as outlined in the Scriptures. And this kind of faith is followed by
obedience to His standards and commands. We don’t get to make up our own list
of rights and wrongs based on the way we would like the world to work. We must
accept His lists.
And
there are some lists here in the New Testament that were written after the
ceremonial laws of the Old Testament were superseded by Jesus sacrificial death,
once and for all. No need for pointers to the event when the event has already
happened. No need for guidelines for living when we now have a resident
guidance system, the Holy Spirit.
So
rest in the knowledge we have. Eternal life is promised for us who believe. We
begin to experience that life now in our present walk with Him. Enjoy and be
obedient.