Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Placating our conscience

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

The world knoweth us not.

This is such a very important statement.
 
The world didn't know Jesus. The world as a WHOLE did NOT know Jesus, they did not recognize Him for who He was.  Did some know Jesus and believe in Him as the Son of God? Yes. Were they few in number? Yes.

Remember when Jesus fed five thousand with fish and loaves? How many of those He fed, how many of those that followed Him that day and listened to Him speak continued on with Him?

Read the whole story in John.  Here is just a bit.

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Many of his disciples went back and walked NO MORE with Him.  Over 5000 men, women, and children were fed just the day before and they followed Jesus from one place to another, across a sea. They saw Him perform MIRACLES, they ate of a miracle. Bread and fish they took into their mouths was brought into existence supernaturally. And yet when it came right down to the nitty gritty, whether or not they truly believed Jesus was God's Son, sent from the Father God they worshipped, they folded. They were all set to accept Jesus as a man just like themselves with special powers- a magician of sorts but as the true Son of God- this they couldn't accept. Unable to accept Jesus for who He really was they left, all but the 12 disciples left Him and He asked them if they were going to go away too.

Today MANY follow Jesus but how many people truly, truly love Him. How many will keep following Him when that LAST spiritual call is made separating true disciples from false? We know the Lord will say to MANY the day of His return- 'I never knew you, get away from me.'  And that MANY truly believe they are His followers, His disciples.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Not every one that says, Lord, Lord will be saved. 

5000 people and none but the 12 disciples remained with Jesus. 

The world didn't know Jesus.

The world won't know US who are the sons of God either. 

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

If the world knows you, if you are understood by the world, if you mesh with the world you might just want to ask yourself why.  If you care more for the world and life here and now, if you care more for yourself than any other, you have to ask yourself if you truly know Jesus, if you truly believe in Him and all He stands for.   We are good at fooling ourselves. We are masters of placating our conscience. We love the darkness enveloping us because it hides our sins from us.  We don't want to see our filthiness, we'd much rather pretend we are wearing pure white garments unspotted from any stain of sin. As long as we continue to keep the spiritual blinders on our eyes we can count ourselves among those who believe we are Jesus' and will cry out Lord, Lord, only to have Him tell us He never knew us. If we strip off the spiritual blinders and understand that this world and its sinfulness is not something we want to know us, we just might be able to see our sin-filled state and truly understand our need to be saved by the grace of our Lord.

The world knoweth us not--

-- because it knew Him not.

By the grace of my Savior may I NOT be known by the world, may I not be numbered with the world, may I not be among those who believe they know You, but don't. I long to be Yours, to be a 'son' of God, known of God. Please Lord… save me.

Amen.

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