We Were, We Are, We Will Be

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

1st John 3:1-3: 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 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.

There are three "states of life" for the Christian. First is, "Lost." We were lost in our sins. We were bound up to satisfy our sinful nature and desires only. Every day, I listen to babies in our Infant class yelling and crying. Why? Because they want something. It's either food, companionship, comfort, and a diaper change. There is nothing other than the self. Every person is born into that condition. And that condition is lost.

The second state is, "Found." It is when the love of God is received. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to the world so lost in sin that lives in darkness. Jesus was, is, and will always be, the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus paid the price so that people who only know gratification of self will se selflessness, sacrifice, forgiveness, and a whole lot of love. We then see ourselves so clearly that we repent of the sins, confess them to God, and rely on the forgiveness that He gave. Only Christians are found.

Christians strive to serve God, to "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself." Christians are equipped by the Word of God and their faith grows. Christians are encouraged to know and believe in the promised hope of life today as well as forever. And Christians, while we still live here on earth, engage the world with the grace of God that will save it from itself.

The final stage of life is, "Resurrected." Just as Jesus was raised to the glory of God the Father, we too shall be raised. We don't know what the stage will be like or what we'll be like. At the same time, we will know what we will be when Jesus returns to finally take us home. People who are found will be the only ones who will live with Jesus forever.

After reading this, do you think that you're "Lost?" Are you living life as if everything is okay? Are you struggling in life without hope and promise? Then I encourage you to check out Faith, or another Christian congregation in your area that recognizes that people are lost in sin, found by the grace of God through Jesus, and who will be raised from death to life eternal with God. If you want to know more, let's have a conversation. Dear God, lead all who are lost to know that Jesus wants to find them, Amen.