Scripture
VS 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.
VS 8 … the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
VS 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
VS 10 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
VS 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
VS 18 Children, it is the last hour …
VS 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
VS 28 … when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
Observation
John makes several definitive statements about the current state of being …
Some for the bad: “darkness is passing away” … “the world is passing away” … “it is the last hour”
Some for the good: “the true light is already shining: … “this is the promise – eternal life” … “we may have confidence”
If you trust Jesus about these descriptions … then live like it!
Application
The world is a tumultuous place … that’s putting it mildly. Anxiety and depression run rampant.
The awful phrase “deaths of despair” has even been coined to describe the phenomenon.
But it doesn’t have to be this way …
It’s only this way if I trust “the world” to be the only truth I see and experience.
But I can know better … I can know a greater reality … “true light is already shining.
In this reality, even when I can’t see it, or experience it, I can have hope in the midst of turmoil.
John is rather plain in his descriptions … there is dark … and there is light.
I shouldn’t overcomplicate it. Not everything is nuanced.
Don’t play nuance games with the dark. Flee from it. … “do not sin”.
I must “have confidence” even when I can’t see it …
The bad is fading … the good is rising … LIVE LIKE IT NOW!!
Prayer
Thank you God, for you word!
Help me Holy Spirit to have confidence in the promises in it.
Help me live that confidence today
In Jesus name,
Amen